Pool Supplies

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A typical swimming pool needs eight major components:

• A basin
• A pump
• A filter
• A chemical feeder
• A heater
• Drains
• Returns
• PVC plastic plumbing connecting all of these elements

The heart of the pool system is the water pump. In a typical pump system, an electric motor spins an impeller inside the pump housing. The impeller drives the water from the various drains through the filter and back out to the water inlets.

Pool filters are useful tools in keeping your swimming pool clean and clear from debris. Pool filters are situated between inflow and outflow hoses going into and out of the pool, respectively. Skimmers can also be used in addition to a pool filter. Skimmers can remove larger pieces of debris, leaving the smaller debris to be removed by the filter.

A pool's filter system does the heavy lifting in keeping the water clean, but it takes chemistry to do the fine-tuning. It's important to carefully manipulate the chemical balance in pools for several reasons:

• Dangerous pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, algae and insect larvae, thrive in water. A pool filled with untreated water would be a perfect place for disease-carrying microorganisms to move from one person to another.
• Water with the wrong chemical balance can damage the various parts of the pool.
• Improperly balanced water can irritate the skin and eyes.
• Improperly balanced water can get very cloudy.

The guidelines set by The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals are widely used, but to be certain, you should also check the health codes of the jurisdiction where you live. The chemicals a pool needs to maintain the required standards differ from pool to pool - and day to day. Keeping records to "get to know" a pool can help you interpret its characteristics and perform the correct task.

THE ASSOCIATION OF POOL & SPA PROFESSIONALS Suggested Chemical Standards for Swimming Pools
Free chlorine, ppm	2.0 - 4.0
Combined chlorine, ppm	None
pH	7.2 - 7.8 (ideal range of 7.4 - 7.6)
Total alkalinity, ppm For liquid chlorine, cal hypo, lithium hypo For gas chlorine, dichlor, trichlor and bromine compounds	80 - 100 100 - 120
Total dissolved solids, ppm	Not to exceed 1500 greater than at pool start-up
Calcium hardness, ppm	200 - 400
Cyanuric acid, ppm	30 - 50

To take care of pathogens in the water, you have to introduce a disinfecting agent that will get rid of them. The most popular pool disinfectant is the element chlorine. Pool experts generally recommend adding it just after the filtering process, using a chemical feeder or a salt chlorine generator.

To keep your pool warm during the months you want to swim, swimming pool heaters are a great source of quick, controlled heat for your pool. Your existing pool pump circulates the water through the heater and warms the pool.

All of these pool components can be purchased through AmazingPoolSupplies.com at the lowest prices in the market and with free shipping!