CalculateDid you know that your swimming pool is like a scientific experiment? Each pool is different and if you don’t use the proper quantity of treatments in the right order then everything could go wrong. But combine them correctly and your pool or hot tub will be gleaming.

How deep is your pool?

Just like an experiment in a scientific laboratory, individual ingredients and elements need to complement each other without being overpowering. And before you can even contemplate pool chemical usage and calculate the correct quantities, you need to know your pool inside out. How many litres of water does it hold?

Most pools will come complete with their total water capacity when they’re installed, but if you’re not aware of its depth, it’s simple to approximate the figure. Simply multiply its total width, length and depth. If your pool is deeper at one end than the other you can add the depth of the shallow and deep ends of the pool together and divide them in two – offering an approximate figure of its total depth.

Test the water

A pool can look great but still be unprotected for the long-term without the right chemicals. As a result, every pool owner should use test strips in order to establish how healthy a pool really is. Our 5 in 1 test strips can tell you about your pool’s chemical balance and whether your swimming area needs more treatment.

Get calculating

If your testing kits have told you that there are some parts of your pool that need a little chemical care, then all you have to do is establish how much you need to use. For that, we recommend using poolcalculator.com, a website that that lets you know how to treat chlorine and pH levels as well as total and alkalinity and maintaining calcium hardness. All you have to do is enter the size of your pool, state your current levels and where you’d like to be and the calculator informs you of what else you need to do.

Remember what the correct levels should be:

• pH – between 7.2 and 7.6
• Total alkalinity – between 80 and 150 parts per million
• Calcium hardness – between 200 and 400 parts per million
• Chlorine – below 3.0 parts per million

Use your discretion

While the Pool Calculator is a very handy tool for pool owners to establish how to care for their wet area, we have to stress that it’s important to stay aware of what you’re doing. Be sure to read the guidelines of the chemicals that you use – and pay attention to how your pool reacts. Is it preventing algae and keeping the area safe?

What do you use to calculate your pool chemical usage? Do you make the most of online tools? Or do you belong to the old-school clique of pool owners who use their own nous when applying the right chemicals?