How to Keep Your Above Ground Pool Water Clean and Balance

Did you know that maintaining the right chlorine and pH levels in your above-ground pool is a weekly must? These are the two most volatile components in your water, and if they’re out of sync, you’re looking at potential algae growth, murky water, irritated eyes, and even costly damage to your pool system.

So, how do you properly check and adjust your pool water? And what about other key levels like cyanuric acid or calcium hardness? Understanding the correct testing and balancing routine can prevent major pool headaches down the line. Here’s your easy-to-follow guide to keeping your pool water pristine.

Test Your Pool Water Before Adding Chemicals

To get started, grab either test strips or a liquid testing kit. If you struggle with color matching on test strips, a digital test reader can help simplify the process.

Test strips are an affordable, user-friendly choice for routine checks. They typically measure key factors like pH, chlorine, and alkalinity, while specialized strips can also detect copper, iron, and salt levels.

For the most accurate reading, collect a proper water sample. Using a clean cup, hold it upside down and submerge it elbow-deep before flipping it upright to capture the sample. Avoid gathering water near the skimmer or return jets.

Dip a test strip into the water, remove it quickly, and hold it still for about 15 seconds. Then, compare the color results with the chart on the packaging.

Plan to check your pool water at least once a week—or more often after heavy pool use, significant rainfall, or adding fresh water or chemicals.

How to Interpret Pool Test Results

Most chemical levels are measured in PPM (parts per million). Since different brands of test strips may vary slightly, always refer to the instructions that come with your kit. However, here are the standard readings you should aim for:

1. Total Hardness

Indicates calcium content in the water, which affects pool surfaces and equipment over time.

Ideal range: 175–275 ppm.

2. Total Chlorine (or Total Bromine)

Measures the sum of free and combined chlorine.

Target: Around 3 ppm, and as close as possible to your free chlorine reading.

Free chlorine ideal range: 1–3 ppm (3 ppm is optimal).

If the difference between total and free chlorine is high, your water may have excessive combined chlorine, leading to inefficiency and a strong chlorine odor.

4. pH Levels

Determines how acidic or basic your pool water is.

Imbalanced pH can cause irritation, equipment damage, and chlorine inefficiency.

Recommended range: 7.4–7.6.

5. Total Alkalinity

Helps maintain stable pH levels.

Best range: 80–120 ppm (higher alkalinity provides better pH stability).

6. Cyanuric Acid (CYA or Stabilizer)

Shields chlorine from sunlight degradation.

Essential for outdoor pools; levels should be between 30–50 ppm.

Essential Chemicals for Your Above-Ground Pool

To maintain balance, keep these chemicals stocked:

• Alkalinity booster (baking soda)
• pH increaser (soda ash)
• pH reducer (muriatic acid)
• Chlorine (tablets, granules, or liquid)
• Chlorine stabilizer
• Calcium hardness increaser
• Pool shock
• Protective gear (gloves and goggles)
• Metal sequestrant (if needed)

When adding chemicals, always go slow—you can add more but can’t remove excess easily. Ensure your pump and filter are running to help distribute the chemicals evenly.

Wait at least 20 minutes between adding different chemicals, and never mix them outside the pool—some combinations can create toxic fumes or even explode.

The Correct Order to Add Pool Chemicals

Adding chemicals in the wrong sequence can cause ineffective treatment or cloudy water. Here’s the best order:

1. Adjust Total Alkalinity

Alkalinity stabilizes pH, so correct this first.

2. Balance pH Levels

Once alkalinity is set, tweak pH as needed.

3. Check Cyanuric Acid (CYA)

If you use dichlor or trichlor chlorine, these already contain stabilizers. If using liquid chlorine or a salt system, add a stabilizer if your pool is exposed to sunlight.

4. Manage Calcium Hardness

High or low calcium levels can impact pool surfaces, but if you replace water annually, this isn’t a major concern.

5. Shock the pool

• Regular shock treatments keep chlorine working efficiently and eliminate contaminants.
• Non-chlorine shock is great for weekly maintenance, allowing swimmers back in after just 15–20 minutes.
• Chlorine shock is stronger and best used after rain or heavy pool use.

After shocking, retest your water to ensure proper chemical balance before diving in.

By following this structured approach, you’ll keep your pool water crystal clear, comfortable, and safe all season long!