pH
7.4 – 7.6
Controls how comfortable the water feels and how well chlorine works. Low pH etches plaster and corrodes metal. High pH causes cloudy water and scale.
Water chemistry & pool protection
The science behind a sparkling pool.
Clear water isn’t always balanced water. Here’s what we test every week, the ranges we aim for, and why each one protects your pool, equipment and swimmers.
What we test
Your pool’s vital signs
These are general target ranges for residential pools. Exact targets depend on your pool’s surface, sanitizer system and equipment, and we adjust for each pool.
Free chlorine
1 – 3 ppm
Your sanitizer. It kills bacteria and algae. Florida sun burns it off quickly, so it’s checked every week.
Total alkalinity
80 – 120 ppm
Acts as a buffer that keeps pH from swinging after rain, heavy swim days or added chemicals.
Cyanuric acid (stabilizer)
30 – 50 ppm
Shields chlorine from UV rays. Too little and chlorine disappears in hours. Too much and chlorine can’t do its job.
Calcium hardness
200 – 400 ppm
Too low and water pulls calcium from plaster and grout. Too high and you get scale on tile and equipment.
Salt (salt pools)
Per manufacturer
Salt systems make their own chlorine but still need balanced pH, alkalinity and stabilizer to protect the cell.
Florida pool protection
Tips for Southwest Florida pool owners
Our climate gives us year-round swimming, and it means year-round care. Here’s what makes the biggest difference.
After summer storms
Heavy afternoon rain dilutes chlorine and lowers pH and alkalinity, while washing in debris and nutrients. That’s a perfect recipe for algae. Run your pump and skim out debris. Weekly testing catches what storms leave behind.
In the heat of summer
Water above 85°F uses up chlorine fast and helps algae grow. Run your pump long enough to turn over the water daily, and don’t let the water level drop below the skimmer.
Keep the water level right
Aim for the middle of the skimmer opening. Too low and the pump can run dry. Too high and the skimmer can’t pull in floating debris.
Protect your surfaces
Balanced water is the cheapest way to protect plaster, pebble finishes, tile grout and pool equipment. Most staining, etching and scale starts with water that has been out of balance for weeks.
Be careful with chemicals
Never mix pool chemicals together, and always add chemicals to water, never water to chemicals. Store them in a cool, dry place away from kids and pets.
Watch for early warning signs
Cloudy water, slippery walls, green tints in corners or a strong “chlorine” smell (which actually means chloramines) are all signs your water needs attention.
Why weekly matters
Small corrections every week beat big fixes later.
Pool chemistry drifts every day. Weekly testing and balancing keeps it in range before it becomes a green pool, a stained finish or a worn-out pump. That’s what a weekly service plan is built for.
Spend your weekends in the pool, not cleaning it.
Get a free, no-obligation quote for weekly pool service in Naples, Marco Island and nearby communities.