It’s easy to maintain a crystal clear swimming pool because hth put the numbered steps right on all their containers! This is such a simple maintenance system to follow and you will be an expert in no time at all! Here we will go through the steps and products in numerical order. It’s all very straightforward and you’ll learn everything you need to know in an easy to understand and quick to decipher nut shell.  Ready? Now let’s “jump in”!

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hth is a simple regime to follow. Just test your water regularly with a Pool Test Strip then follow the 4 step maintenance system. The chemical containers are both color coded and numbered, so it’s really easy to understand and know exactly what to do. I suggest testing daily when you first set up your pool to make sure your water is balanced, and then test at least 3-4 times a week to keep an eye on it. This will also help you know the ups and downs of you pool and when to add the needed chemicals. You’ll also want to test the water more often during times of high use, during a heat wave, after adding water and after a lot of rain as these will all change your waters balance. Especially the chlorine levels, and without the correct amount of chlorine, algae has free reign to rapidly grow.

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Let’s start at the beginning.

You have 2 choices:

1)  Purchase the initial products you need separately: Test Strips, Shock, Chlorine Tablets, Floating Chlorine Dispenser, Metal & Stain Defense and Algae Guard.

2)  Purchase a convenient readymade, all in one  Pool Care Kit for opening/closing.

Either way, these are the chemicals you’ll need to prevent bacteria and algae from growing in your pool right at the get go. The kit also includes 10 Test Strips so you can test your water to see what you’ll need next to keep the water clean and safe. You will still need other items once you have added the Metal & Stain Defense,  Shock and Algae Guard  that come in the kit. Follow the label instructions and only add 1 chemical at a time.

So now you’re pool is all set up and filling with water.

To prevent the minerals in the water from staining and adding scale formation to your pool add the Metal & Stain Defense right away, as it’s filling. When the water gets to the level above the inflow and outflow valves, you can now turn your pump on and have the water circulating around your pool. This is the time to add in the Shock and 12 hours later add in the Algae Guard. I talk more of these products towards the end of this article and explain why they are so important to add to your water.

After you have completed the initial steps using the Pool Opening Kit, then  it’s time to test the water so you’ll know exactly what to purchase next to keep your water crystal clear all season long. So, let’s move on to test strips and how they help you monitor your pool water.

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Ok, you’ve added all the pool opening products. Now it’s time to test the water and balance it.

When you test your water just quickly plunge your arm about elbow deep, with the Test Strip, into the pool for 2 seconds, hold in the air for 15 seconds and do not shake off. Read by matching up the Test Strip to the chart colors on the back of the container to see your levels for the 6 key elements that will keep your pool water working efficiently. There is also an option to scan and text your water test for results if you desire.

The 6 elements tested for are: Free Available Chlorine (FAC), Bromine, Total Chlorine (TCl), Alkalinity (Alk), pH, Total Hardness (TH), Cyanuric Acid  (CyA)  also called Stabilizer. Don’t be intimidated by the chemical names. Basically they all help each other to work efficiently to keep your pool clean, clear and  safe, and you will spend less time cleaning and more time relaxing, which is exactly what you deserve!

So far, so good!

Once you have checked your chemical levels you can use the 4 color coded and numbered steps to get your pool to the ideal range in each category for maximum efficiency. This basically means all the products work together as a team to create a safe swimming environment for you and your family. Just follow the easy directions on each container to see how much of each product you’ll need as it depends on the volume of water in your pool.

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Now, don’t get over whelmed and think that you are going to be putting a ridiculous amount of products into your pool. The amounts are so small compared to the volume of water. And believe me; you will be so thankful you maintained your pool properly from the beginning! As you will see a little further down in this article, the problems of not maintaining the chemical levels properly will steal your precious time, rob you of fun swim time and be incredibly frustrating to clean up! 

Also, the initial costs may be a little higher, but again, you are not putting that much product in your pool each time, so each container will usually last quite a while, if not all summer. Once you get the knack of it you’ll know best the volume of products to purchase for your pool. The variables of type of water, weather and use will decide how much and how often you will need to top up what your pool needs.

Most of the hth products are sold with 2 options: pods or granules. The pods are a little more expensive but convenient, so it depends on your preference which will work better for you.

Easy hth Pool Care Steps:

Step 1. purple coded balance products

These products balance the water and prevent stains and scale forming on your pool and equipment, (which is incredibly difficult to scrub off!). They will help your sanitizer, (chlorine and shock) to work more efficiently and most important of all they increase swimmers comfort by reducing eye and skin irritations. Depending on where you live and your water quality, you may not need all the products or you may need very little of a product. But the key to knowing what you need is to test your water. 

The first Step 1 product is Stabilizer and this will help prevent chlorine dissipation caused by sunlight. Chlorine is the product that needs to be replenished the most often in a pool, so the extra protection to keep it sanitizing the water and preventing bacteria and algae is always helpful. Stabilizer come in pods or granules. If you use pods just place 1 at a time in your skimmer basket and don’t back wash for 48 hours. A good time to add it to your pool is after your weekly back wash and then you don’t have to worry about it. 

The second Step 1 product is Calcium Hardness Up  which will prevent corrosion of items such as your ladder, pool frame t-bars, poles and pool tools. When these items corrode they rust, become weak and that goes into your water and contaminates it. 

The third Step 1 products are pH and Alkalinity pH helps the chlorine to work more effectively. If your pH levels are high you would use pH Down. This will lower pH and total alkalinity and prevents stain and scale. There isn’t an Alkalinity down since the alkalinity will naturally decrease when you use pH Down.

If your pH and alkalinity are low you would use pH Up and Alkalinity Up Pods or Alkalinity Up Granules. The alkalinity of your water tends to follow the pH, so if the pH is low, the alkalinity will also be low and you will need to increase it. Would I choose pods or granules? I’d probably  go with pods and put it in my filter basket. But, if you only need a small amount you would have more control with granules.

You have a choice of either Alkalinity Up Pods or Granules. 

So far so good, right!? Now, as long as you follow the steps and test your water that was the most difficult part of the lesson! Let’s continue now! On to step 2 ….

Step 2. yellow or orange coded sanitizing products 

Chlorinating products sanitize the water, remove waste and protect against germs. They come in 3″ Chlorinating Tablets and Chlorinating Granules. The dual action Chlorinating Tablets have both algaecide and bactericide in them. They will both sanitize and clarify your pool water. I like the Chlorinating Tablets because I can put them in a Floating Chlorine Dispenser and it will slowly dissolve into my pool water as the dispenser floats around on top. If my chlorine is low when I test it, then I can always add extra Chlorinating Tablets into the Floating Chlorine Dispenser as needed. I always start with 1, wait 24 hours then test and add another if necessary. Also, these tablets are stabilized, so you may not need to add Stabilizer. Test your water to be sure. On the hth test strips Stabilizer is Cyanuric Acid (CyA).

Chlorinating Granules can be used instead of the chlorinating tablets. These mineral brilliance Chlorinating Granules are an enhanced formula that contains a built-in clarifier, stain and scale preventer, water softener, controls algae and has a visible blue action so you know its working. Whether you use Chlorinating Tablets or Chlorinating Granules be sure to monitor your chlorine regularly because keeping it at the proper level will help prevent bacteria growth.

Floating Chlorine Dispenser

Step 3. red coded Shock

Step 3 – red coded Pool Shock Treatment is part of the Pool Opening Kit and should be added to your water weekly as a regular part of your maintenance routine. Pool Shock Treatment is a super chlorinating product which kills bacteria and algae in your pool water and will make your water crystal clear. It also reduces eye irritations and it won’t fade your liner when used as directed. A good time to add shock is after a back wash to waste, which should be done once a week. Pick a day to do that and make it a part of your weekly routine. I usually add it to the pool at the end of the day after the last swim. Fresh water usually needs to be added after a backwash, so it is the perfect time to add shock. Keep your pump running over night or for 8 hours to ensure the water and Shock are well circulated.

Here is a quick example of using hth Super Shock Treatment after a lot of rain:

Not sure when to Shock your pool. Well no need to guess any longer. hth has you covered with their Time To Shock Test Strips These will test for both free available chlorine (FAC) and total chlorine (TCI). But, to be honest, the 6-way test strips also measure for those plus the 4 other factors necessary to balance a healthy swimming pool: Alkalinity (ALK), pH, Total Hardness (TH) and Cyanuric Acid (CyA) (also called Stabilizer). So, if having a backyard pool is new to you and you feel you need an extra guiding hand of when to shock your pool, the Time To Shock Test Strips are a great way to go. If your pool starts to look cloudy that is a sure sign it’s time to Shock. That cloudiness is caused by excessive bacteria. A Shock treatment will usually eliminate the problem within 24 hours. The best way to prevent the problem in the first place is to make Shock a part of your weekly routine. 

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Step 4  – green coded, prevent

Step 4  – green coded Algaecide Algae Guard is part of the Pool Opening Kit and should be added to your water weekly as a regular part of your maintenance routine. Use this to prevent green, black or yellow algae from forming and growing in your pool. You can kill algae and prevent it from growing, but the only way to remove it from your pool once it starts, is with a vacuum to waste through your filter system, which means vacuumed right out of your pool. So it is best to prevent it from forming in the first place. If you have a small pool and a vacuum with only a fabric bag, that will not get the algae out of your pool. The algae slips right through the bag and back into your water. Prevention is far easier then trying to eliminate algae after an invasion.  With weekly use of Algaecide Algae Guard you will be able to keep the invasive algae out of your pool all summer long.

Here is a Home Depot clip with a quick explanation of most of the products described in this article:

The following clip describes the hth pool care test station. These aren’t located at all selling locations and to be honest I think using the test strips would be more accurate since you’re testing the water immediately and the bacteria doesn’t have a chance to grow as it would when you transport your water sample. Besides, you get the results within seconds and you’ll know exactly which chemicals you’ll need to use to keep your water safe.

If you do use the test station at your local store please keep your water sample cool and don’t wait too long before testing it as the bacteria will multiply quickly and your results won’t be accurate.

Although it may seem like a lot, pool owners quickly realize that by buying larger quantities, it does save money and time in the long run, especially since proper chemical balance and addition is needed to maintain a lovely pool. Also, buying in larger quantities will last most, if not all of your summer.

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Metal & Stain Defense is part of the Pool Opening Kit and should be added to your water throughout the season as a regular part of your maintenance routine. If your pool equipment is not protected it begins to dissolve and this contributes to cloudy water. Metal & Stain Defense helps prevent minerals from rain and hose water from staining and scaling pool surfaces, helps to remove fresh metal stains and prevents mineral deposits on your equipment, such as your ladder. The amounts needed depend on your pool size so measure and add according to the package directions.

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Here is a great page with a pool volume calculator if you require it.

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The most important bit of advice I can give you is to test your water and maintain the proper chemical levels or you will end up with a problem like this:

In the following video, this sweet man used the hth Green to Blue Shock System Kit to help rectify his green pool. Ultimately it did work but, because it is a flocculant he had to deal with cleaning up all the particles that clumped together and solidified. I’ve used a flocculant before and it is a huge pain, (especially if you have a small vacuum with a fabric bag and very little suction), and it’s also very time consuming, as you will see in his video.

Or you may end up with the following problem…also salt is not usually recommended for above ground pools as it deteriorates the metals ( her ladder) and that will also result in the legs of the pool deteriorating and collapsing, which would create an even bigger problem. Be sure to check and see if your pool will accept a salt water system before you head down that road.

One thing for sure, if you maintain your pool chemicals you can have amazing results like this:

I hope this information has helped you in understanding the need for chemicals in your pool. Just remember the 3 keys to a great pool: circulation, filtration and chemicals and you will have a great swimming pool to enjoy all summer long.

Here’s a video I created where I speak about the hth pool care regime I use. 

These are the essentials – buy all these first:   

1. Test Strips
2.  Shock  
3. Chlorine Tablets  or Chlorine Granules
4. floating chlorine dispenser
5. Metal and Stain Defense
6. Algae Guard

After you test your water and see what you need you can purchase:

1. pH down or
2. pH Up & Alkalinity Up 
3. Calcium Hardness Up
4. Stabilizer   

The 3 keys to a great pool: circulation, filtration and chemicals

You will never regret investing in the products that will keep your pool crystal clear! Have a fun summer! 

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