• What is the difference between shock and chlorine?
    JABCO: Shock is a chlorine compound, usually calcium hypochlorite that is applied every two weeks in doses large enough to kill algae and eliminate chloramines in the water. Chlorine is the most widely used bacterial-killing agent for pool water.
  • How often and with how much should I shock my pool? JABCO: A regular application of 1 pound of shock per 10,000 gallons of water every two weeks will keep a pool sparkling clear.
  • What level of chlorine should I maintain in my pool?
    JABCO: Usually, a reading of 1.5 to 3.0 ppm is recommended.
  • What causes cloudy water?
    JABCO: There could be a number of reasons:
    • Time to shock
    • High ph
    • Lack of filtration
    • Improper sanitizer level
  • What are chloramines?
    JABCO: Chloramines are substances formed when chlorine combines with swimmer wastes, causing chlorine odor and irritation to eyes and skin.
  • What is the correct procedure for shocking a pool?
    JABCO: The correct procedure is:
    • Calculate the correct amount - 1 pound per 10,000 gallons of water.
    • Dissolve in a bucket. Always add chemicals to water!
    • Apply directly to the pool, never put shock through the skimmer.
  • Why does my pool smell like chlorine?
    JABCO: This smell usually indicates a chloramine buildup and lets you know that it's time to shock.
  • I heard that you can use Clorox in a pool instead of chlorine...
    JABCO: Clorox has a negligable amount of free chlorine and causes a buildup of total dissolved solids, which will lead to cloudy water.
  • How soon after I shock is it safe to swim?
    Usually within two hours.
  • Why does my pool turn green?
    JABCO: Often, this is due to low sanitizer levels and/or poor pool maintenance.
  • How do I treat my pool for green algae?
    JABCO: For the best results, use a 60% non-copper algaecide, along with 2lbs of shock per 10,000 gallons of water.
  • What is mustard algae?
    JABCO: It is a fine, yellowish algae that typically sits on the bottom of the pool and is sometimes mistaken for sand.
  • How do I treat my pool for mustard algae?
    JABCO: Use a mustard algae algaecide such as ProTeam® Mustard and Black Magic along with 2 pounds of shock per 10,000 gallons.
  • What is black algae?
    JABCO: A particularly tough strain of algae that is black in appearance and is often seen on pool walls.
  • How do I treat my pool for black algae?
    JABCO: Use the same procedure as for mustard algae.
  • How much algaecide should I use?
    JABCO: Maintanence algaecide should be applied at the rate of 2 oz. per 5,000 gallons every 2 weeks.
  • Is a copper-based algaecide safe to use in my pool?
    JABCO: Only in small, infrequent dosages. High copper levels can cause staining of the liner, steps, and ladder.
  • My liner is bleached out. Why?
    JABCO: This is usually indicative of excessively high chlorine levels.
  • Can I use plain sand in my filter?
    JABCO: Absolutely not! Regular sand will compact inside the filter and stop water flow completely.
  • What is stabilizer?
    JABCO: Stabilizer, or cyanuric acid, reduces degradation of chlorine by sunlight.
  • What is pH?
    JABCO: pH is a measurement that indicates how acidic or basic the water is.
  • What is alkalinity?
    JABCO: Alkalinity is the measure of carbonate compounds in the water which acts as a buffer for pH.
  • Why are alkalinity and pH important to my pool?
    JABCO: Low alkalinity causes eye irritation and pH flucuation and also makes sanitizer ineffective.
  • Why should I backwash and how often should I do it?
    JABCO: Backwashing forces water to flow in reverse through the filter, cleaning the sand of debris. This is usually done one time per week.
  • Why does my hair turn green after I swim?
    JABCO: This is usually indicative of excessive chlorine levels.
  • What causes stains in my pool?
    JABCO: This can be caused by metals present in the water. For example high levels of copper will cause brown stains to appear on pool walls, steps, and bottom.
  • What does it mean to 'floc' a pool?
    JABCO: To flocculate a pool means to add a substance to the pool that combines with suspended particles in the water, causing them to sink to the bottom where they are easily vacuumed to waste.
  • How long should a liner last?
    JABCO: On the average, a vinyl liner lasts 7 to 10 years.
  • Our pool water burns my kids eyes! Why?
    JABCO: Probably because there is a buildup of chloramines, or excessive sanitizer levels.
  • My water test showed a high calcium level. What does that mean?
    JABCO: That means you have a high level of dissolved calcium. This can lead to cloudy water, scale buildup, and deposits inside the pump.
  • What is mineral demand?
    JABCO: Water has a natural occurance of certain minerals. These must be present in the proper levels to balance the water.
  • What are the dangers of acidic water?
    JABCO: Among the dangers of low pH are:
    • Corrosion of equipment,
    • Eye and skin irritation, and
    • Ineffective sanitizer production.
  • How often do I use filter cleaner?
    JABCO: Twice a season.
  • Can I buy the same chemicals you have at a mass merchant?
    JABCO: More often than not, a mass merchant's chemicals will be poor quality products with low percentages of active ingredients.
  • My pH fluctuates, why?
    JABCO: pH fluctuation is caused by low alkalinity. Stabilize the pH by raising alkalinity to the proper level.
  • When should I use a clarifier?
    JABCO: Use clarifier when the water is chemically balaced and water filtration is good but the pool remains hazy or cloudy.
  • What is a biguanide?
    JABCO: A biguanide is a non-chlorine pool sanitizer.
  • How often should I change my sand?
    JABCO: The filter sand should be changed every 4 years if you use chlorine and every 2 years if you use a biguanide.
  • How can I determine how many gallons there are in my pool?
    Click Here!

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