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4-Step Pool Care Program
Your local Ace Hardware has all your pool supplies for the 4-Step Pool Care Pool Care program plus all your other pool maintenance needs.
Testing & Balance
Testing water is a simple process. Simply use an HTH® test kit or test strips to measure pH, free available chlorine (FAC), total chlorine (TCL), calcium hardness (CH), total alkalinity (TA), and cyanuric acid/stabilizer (CYA).
Along with testing, the first step in maintaining safe, sparkling clear water is to balance your water. Balanced water prevents corrosion, etching, equipment damage and scale buildup. It also ensures maximum sanitizer efficiency. The chlorine in your pool water can work most effectively when ideal ranges are maintained.
Be sure to adjust your alkalinity levels first before adjusting your pH levels. Once you have reached an ideal range for alkalinity then test your pH levels again and add the recommended amount of HTH® pH Plus or HTH® pH Minus to your pool water.
Sanitize
HTH® Pool Care offers two types of chlorine-based sanitizers; stabilized and unstabilized. Stabilized chlorine contains cyanuric acid (also referred to as stabilizer), which protects the water from chlorine loss caused by the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays; however, this can be too much of a good thing. If the cyanuric acid levels are too high in your pool water, overstabilization or chlorine-lock can occur.
Yellow HTH® Sanitizers will not cause overstabilization. HTH® 3-in-1 Chlorinating Skimmer Tablets dissolve slowly and are for use in skimmers. HTH® Chlorinating Granules can be broadcast directly into your pool or added through the skimmer. With these products, it is easier to control the amount of stabilizer that is added to your pool.
We recommend using HTH® Stabilizer & Conditioner with our unstabilized (yellow) sanitizers. This product doesn't need to be added regularly, since cyanuric acid stays in the water. Cyanuric acid does not dissipate and is only reduced through splash out or draining your pool.
HTH® Pool Care offers a variety of stabilized (orange) sanitizers. HTH® 3" Chlorinating Tablets and when used as directed, are an effective swimming pool sanitizer. These convenient and easy to use tablets are formulated to protect against chlorine loss in direct sunlight. In addition to sanitizing, HTH® Super 3" Chlorinating Tablets prevent algae growth and clarifies your pool water. They are designed to dissolve slowly to provide a steady source of available chlorine. If you are looking for additional benefits in a swimming pool sanitizer, the NEW Advanced Formula HTH® Ultra 3" Chlorinating Tablets is exactly what you need. HTH® Ultra 3" Chlorinating Tablets not only sanitizes your pool water, prevents algae growth and clarifies your pool water but these tablets also soften your water as well as offer a stain and scale preventer.
Shocks
Shock treating your pool weekly is important because it protects you and your family from bacteria and organic contaminants. Super chlorination or shock treating removes chloramines, which cause eye irritation and "chlorine" odors from the pool water by adding free available chlorine (FAC).
We suggest shocking at the same time and day each week. Sundown is the best time to shock your pool because the chlorine can work without fighting the sun's UV rays. Shocking after sundown also gives chlorine more time to restore water clarity. In some cases, you may need to shock more than once a week.
Apply an additional shock treatment when any of the following situations occur:
•After heavy swimmer load
•After strong rains and winds
•During periods of extreme sun
•Swimmers complain of burning eyes
•Unpleasant odors
•Signs of algae growth appear
•Water appears dull, hazy, or cloudy
Algaecides
Algae are microscopic forms of plant life that can inhabit your pool water. Some algae float in the water, while others cling to the sides of your pool. Below are three common types of algae:
•Green algae - tend to be free floating, making the water cloudy
•Mustard algae - cling to walls, leaving the water clear unless they are physically disturbed. When brushed, mustard algae appears to be a fine brown powder
•Black algae - clings to walls and are very difficult to brush
Algae are constantly blown into the pool by wind, dust storms and rain. Your water then becomes cloudy, discolored and eventually slimy and smelly. That's why Step 4 of the HTH® 4-Step Pool Care Program suggests using a preventative algaecide on a weekly basis, in order to safeguard against an algae problem.
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