Pool Chemicals: You Only Need 7!

So what chemicals do you REALLY need to have to maintain your pool on a weekly basis? It’s hard to know when you look at your local pool supply store.
So many products!
In this video I’ll tell you the 7 chemicals you should have on hand to care for your pool on a weekly basis. Hey! This isn’t rocket science (if it was I wouldn’t be in the pool service business for over 20 years!).
Hope you’ll subscribe to my channel and also, please check out my website poolschooler.com for exclusive DIY pool maintenance tools and more direct and priority communication with my for your pool maintenance needs.
The 7 Chemicals Your (Chorine) Pool Needs (and video links about their use):
1. 3” Stabilized Chlorine Tablets
Adding Chlorine Tablets To Your Pool: • Adding Chlorine Tablet...
Chlorine Tablets How Many Do You Use: • Cholorine Tablets Ho...
2. Soda Ash (to raise pH) Use NO MORE THAN 1 lb. at a time.
3. Muriatic Acid (to lower pH) Use NO MORE THAN -2 qts. at a time.
Adjusting the pH of Your Pool: • Adjusting the Ph of Yo...
4. Bicarbonate of Soda (to raise Alkalinity) Use NO MORE THAN 1 lb. at a time.
5. Dry Acid (to lower Alkalinity) Use NO MORE THAN 1 lb. at a time.
Adjusting the Alkalinity of Your Pool: • Adjusting the Akalinit...
6. TriChlor Granules (as Shock or to help battle visible algae) Use NO MORE than 1 lb. at a time. Suggested Brands:
EZ Chlor Granular Algae Out
Pool Season Super Algae Destroyer
Pool Shock: • Pool Shock And Why I...
Cleaning a Green Pool: • Cleaning A Green Pool:...
Treating Black Algae: • Black Algae and How To...
7. Phosphate Remover (to kill and/or control algae of all kinds) Follow label guidelines.
Favorite Brand: PR 10,000 by Orenda Technologies.
Algae and Algaecides And Why You Don’t Need Them: • Algae and Algaecides (...
For DE Filters you should have a 10lb Bag of DE on hand - I love CelaPool’s Low Dust DE Filter Powder:
Backwashing a DE Filter: • Backwashing a DE filter
When doing a “Start Up” on a new pool or FRESH WATER you’ll want to have 2-5 lbs of Cyanuric Acid (also called Stabilizer or Conditioner):
Pool Start Up Chemicals: • Pool Start Up - Chemic...
If you have a salt pool you sometimes need pool salt - bring a water sample to your local pool store and have them test the salinity (or test it yourself) and add pool salt as needed. BUT you don’t need to have bags of it laying around!
Testing your Pools Salt Level: • Testing Salt Levels in...
Please remember to Like, Subscribe and Share!
DIY Pool Care

[@carloscarpinteyro332]

Great advice! My original pool company boss from 1975 told me "you should only need to use 3 or 4 types of chemicals to maintain a pool." I chuckle if I ever enter a retail pool store, and see the chemistry type sets, that some have on display, some that may be manned by "an armchair pool expert", that does not do in field service calls, to really diagnose a problem. Having a DE type filter, is important as well for efficiency. You pay so much a kilowatt hour to run the pool pump, you might as well have it filtering though the most efficient type of filter. It is great Ken that you show people "in the field" pool situations that they can relate to their particular maintenace/repair issue.

[@PoolSchooler]

I'm so glad you like the video. Thanks so much for your kind comment. Hope you'll subscribe to and share my channel,.

[@jmackinjersey1]

Thanks for all of this extremely useful information. I wish I had found them when we first bought this house a few years ago. I could have probably saved a lot of money, but also a ton of frustration.

[@PoolSchooler]

Better late than never tho. 👍😉.

[@guyincognito210]

I usually have to add Calcium Chloride once in the beginning of the season.

[@paulbillings1986]

Your videos are by far the most informative, and to the point, I've come across. Thanks for all the help you've given me with my new home and pool that came with it!

[@PoolSchooler]

I'm so glad my channel and videos have been helpful. And thank you for your comment. I hope you'll subscribe to my channel and help spread the word about my channel by sharing it and some of the videos with your friends and family who own pools.

[@vseddonvs]

Really informative x

[@PoolSchooler]

Glad it was helpful!

[@vcrph]

Great videos. Super helpful. Thanks so much for creating these. Makes pool work fun.

[@PoolSchooler]

Glad they're helpful. And please do subscribe.

[@emilievanhaelst976]

Really great informative video! I've watched a bunch now and you've done an excellent job explaining it all! Thank you!!!

[@PoolSchooler]

So glad it was helpful. Hope you'll subscribe to and share my channel

[@antg8005]

Thank for the help.

[@PoolSchooler]

You're welcome. Please do subscribe..

[@robertobma9548]

Hi great video thanks for information, question using those products that you refer this video I can stop using liquid chlorine? Please let me know thanks

[@PoolSchooler]

That really depends on if you are switching to chlorine tablets and if you use them regularly as your primary chlorine. If so then you can. But occasionally you may have to supplement with liquid chlorine. For example, if you have a lot of people in your pool, one day or over the weekend, it may create a higher demand for chlorine in which case you might have to add a gallon to help it out

[@michaelsalcido3736]

My question concerns products that say use a “pound” of this & a “pound” of that. I think I’m like must pool owners…we don’t have scales to measure how much is a “pound.” I always laugh when the directions indicate “use 1-2 lbs” of whatever product. Yeah sure! I have one of those fruit scales that one finds in groceries stores to measure. I also realize that the density of certain products affects the weight. So a cup of granular chlorine shock is normally what weight? Is there a hack to determining the weight of a dry product that is needed for one’s pool? Example: directions indicate 1 pound for every 10K gallons. ??? What? So, how many cups would that be? That’s so aggravating having to guess. Any suggestions?

[@PoolSchooler]

I know and feel your pain my friend. Honestly I use a two pound pool scoop like the one in this link: www.amazon.com/Hayward-EC10SC50-Measured-Scoop-1-Pound/dp/B004VU8D40/ref=asc_df_B004VU8D40/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=242000810768&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8930482209907493708&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030039&hvtargid=pla-495175146148&psc=1 I know it depends on density etc. but don't drive yourself crazy with exacts. Pool water chemistry is not an exact science. Just use the scoop as a general guide and you'll be fine.

[@albertmyers7176]

Great vid thanks

[@PoolSchooler]

You’re welcome, and thank you for watching and for your comment. I hope you will subscribe to my channel and share it with everyone you know who owns a pool.

[@rafitafijess719]

i cant find a dry acid any where can you put a link? thank you.

[@PoolSchooler]

Here's a link to Leslies: lesliespool.com/leslies-dry-acid-25-lb/14357.html?B17328397131%7D&B%7D_%7B%7D&B%7D&gclid=CjwKCAjw7vuUBhBUEiwAEdu2pDcSEqKgNK5G8j5C2Sa8vOTFp_cd9S_gTu190KhHVhy9pfNd4IQZjBoC-U4QAvD_BwE

[@grassthief1280]

Hi Kenny awsome vid, informative once again QUESTION for ya where should I close my pool as to CHLORINE LEVEL PPM , where should I B ???

[@PoolSchooler]

When you're pool is open :Total Chlorine should be between 1 and 5 ppm and Free Chlorine between 1 and 5 ppm. Unfortunately I don't have experience closing down pools for the winter because we just don't have to do that in AZ. Sorry.

[@831CROW]

Thank u

[@PoolSchooler]

Of course.

[@seascape0881]

Great video, thanks for posting. How much do I need to buy of all these chemicals? Is there a way to guesstimate? My pool is 20 ft round above ground, 4 ft deep and I live in MO.

[@PoolSchooler]

It really depends on how much you want to have on hand, and how much you want to spend and if you have the ability to store it safely. Typically the larger quantities are a bit cheaper. It also depends on the chemical needs of your particular pool. Some pools in some areas use more of one chemical than the other. So to be really accurate I'd be guessing and I'd rather not take a guess.

[@harleyinred]

can you mix soda ash in water first?

[@PoolSchooler]

Once again, and to be honest, you shouldn’t have to mix it with water first. In my above ground pools and I’ve had three over the course of 15 years. I have never had to mix any of my chemicals with water first. Soda, ash, baking soda, liquid chlorine, liquid acid, faucet remover, none of those need to be pre-diluted with water. If you’re concerned about granular chlorine, the vinyl liner of your pool, then you could, mix that with freshwater in a clean bucket.

[@harleyinred]

@@PoolSchooler yes i use baking soda and just put little bits all around my pool 30'x 15' above ground

[@daefash]

Another great video, greetings from Arizona. Would you be able to share where i can get those chemicals in Phoenix at a reasonable price. Thank you

[@PoolSchooler]

Hello, unfortunately I don’t shop retail for chemicals, since I am a pool service professional I get my supplies from a wholesaler out here and their prices are substantially lower than retail. Unless you have a business license as a full-service professional you can’t get your supplies or chemicals from this company. Sorry I can’t be of more help. My suggestion would be to do an online search for the products and the chemicals and try and find the best prices. They were still really good deals out there.

[@mitchelld7130]

what about calcium/hardness??

[@PoolSchooler]

If your water source is hard (high calcium) like our Arizona water there's nothing you can really do to help that. But if you have low calcium in your source water (and the water hardness is not enough) then you can supplement with calcium.

[@freespirit3818]

@@PoolSchooler here in Spain we add hydrochloric acid to reduce the calcium. Other wise we end up with a huge crustration on the tiles.

[@gastcast2959]

What's your opinion on using enzymes (pool perfect or something similar)

[@PoolSchooler]

I really don't have much experience with enzymes so it'd be hard for me to comment.

[@kalinamckee-koa-puna-kona]

Can you add chlorine instead of TriChor?

[@PoolSchooler]

Trichlor is a form of chlorine. Another is dichlor and between the two I would go with Trichlor because it’s more potent. But if you’re talking about using liquid chlorine instead of trichlor and yes you could.

[@maria_machuca]

I live in California and my inground pool has black algae in different parts of the pool wall. What do you recommend me to purchase?

[@PoolSchooler]

Check out my video on getting rid of Black Algae. It'll really help ya out. Here's a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2nVdoKgorSVgpo

[@maria_machuca]

Pool School ok thank you

[@PoolSchooler]

@@maria_machuca You'e welcome..

[@ReefMimic]

Is it only a matter of time when one is forced to drain their pool due to the usage of chlorine tablets? I’d like to think I could use liquid chlorine and have just enough cya for proper sanitation. The host sun destroys my liquid chlorine and I’m forced to use tablets it seem. Because of this it’s only a matter of time before I have to drain the pool again. I’m still a little foggy on understanding the differences between stabilized and non stabilized chlorine. I know tablets are considered stabilized. Liquid chlorine is not Stabilized .Shock stabilized? I’m thinking of a system I saw on KZbin that doses liquid chlorine automatically from a tank reservoir.

[@PoolSchooler]

Liquid chlorine is by far the most pure (except for gas which is dangerous and I don't believe available to the general public). BUT liquid chlorine is not as convenient as it dissipates more rapidly necessitating testing the water daily and adding usually daily as well. The reason most of us use tablets is because they are more convenient and last longer (usually only needing to be added once a week). "Stabilized" means the tablets have CYA in them which is stabilizer or Cyanuric Acid. It's the CYA that eventually builds up over time. There is non stabilized tablets but they're much more expensive and not as common. If there is CYA in any shock then it would be considered "stabilized". But again, stabilized only means that there is Cyanuric Acid (stabilizer) in it. I'd be interested in the liquid chlorine system. That sounds really cool.

[@kalinamckee-koa-puna-kona]

MAHALOS

[@markten61]

What do you use to close and winterize your pool?

[@PoolSchooler]

Unfortunately where I live in Arizona we don’t close down a pool for the winter. So it’s not some thing I have experience or knowledge about. My apologies.