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What Chemicals Do I Put In My Intex Pool

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Metal Frame Intex Pools

Advice & easy guide on swimming pool chemicals for above ground Intex & Bestway splasher pools

Metal frame Intex pools are two steps above basic Intex pools in terms of durability and long-term usability. However, dont be fooled by its sturdy look. Theyre also simple to put together and to keep clean.

The steel frame of these circular pools is powder-coated to improve their weather resistance. An extra strong ring surrounds them to support the pool material and maintain it where it should be.

Sizes range from: 10 ft x 30 in, 12 ft x 30 in, and 15 ft x 48 in.

Stain Removal And Prevention

Stains and ugly water lines are another issue that most pool owners have to deal with. Pool Stain Removal & Stain Prevention Chemicals effectively remove and prevent stains that can be caused by metals such as copper, iron, lead, silver, nickel, manganese, and cobalt. These metals are a major cause for discoloration and scaling in your pool water pool stain removers disperse these metals from your water, leaving it clear and clean. By using stain prevention chemicals on regular basis, the need for backbreaking scrubbing and cleaning will be greatly reduced and it will be far easier to maintain a beautifully clean pool environment.

Do Inflatable Pools Need Chemicals

No, inflatable pools do not need chemicals to stay clean and safe to swim in. However many larger inflatable pools will use chlorine to kill harmful bacteria. Other chemicals in larger pools such as pH increasers, reducers, alkalinity increaser, and cyanuric acid are all used in addition to chlorine.

If your inflatable pool is large enough, it will probably have a pump included when you buy, or it will have three openings in the liner to add a pump to it. Check out my 12 Best Inflatable Pools By Category to see a list of different types of pools. Notice the ones that come with a pump are larger, those are the pools that will most likely need to be chlorinated.

Chlorine will keep your pool sanitized, but keeping your water balanced will help the chlorine to do its job more efficiently.

Here are the chemicals to help keep your water balanced and your chlorine working effectively. You most likely wont need to worry about cyanuric acid, but it is important so I added it to this list.

Cyanuric Acid

Most large inflatable pools that need chlorine to be kept clean will be fine with just some chlorine tabs. There are other chemicals in most chlorine tabs like, cyanuric acid, to help make the chlorine last longer. Make sure you purchase stabilized chlorine, or you will need to add cyanuric acid yourself to stabilize the chlorine in the water.

pH Increaser / Reducer

Alkalinity Increaser

Heres a great video explaining these chemicals in an easy to understand way.

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How Much Chlorine Do You Need In An Intex Pool

For all chlorine pools, including Intex pools, the chlorine levels should be maintained at 1-5 ppm. Around 3 ppm is ideal.

You can raise these levels by adding:

  • Pool shock
  • Dichlor
  • Liquid chlorine or household bleach

The table below shows how much chlorine per 10,000 gallons of pool water is needed to raise the chlorine level by 1 ppm.

Chlorine Type
Cal-Hypo 1.8 oz

Buy A Pool Cover To Protect Your Intex Pool When Not In Use

7 Best Above Ground Pools Under $300

You want to protect your pool from rain and snow, as well as from any weather damage. In the winter, its essential to have a winter cover that can withstand frost. You can also use a pool cover in the summer season where the temperature gets too hot.

Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of installing pool covers.

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How To Remove Calcium Deposits From A Water Tank In A Camper

The Intex salt water system generates chlorine for swimming pools by adding salt to the pool’s water, without the use of expensive, toxic chemicals to keep it clean. The salt dissolves in the water, and the pump pushes it through a chlorine generator that separates the sodium chloride in the water, producing chlorine. The Intex system gives the pool a low dose of chlorine keeping the pool clean without irritating skin, eyes or bleaching clothes.

Items you will need

  • Plain salt

  • Water

  • Chlorine tester strips

  • Sodium tester strips

Install the Intex chlorine generator to your existing pool pump system according to the instruction manual. Intex chlorine generators are made for all models of above ground pools, but are not available for concrete pools. The models each hook up in different ways, so you need to consult the manual. Make sure that water is flowing in the direction indicated on the chlorine generator.

Test the water with a sodium tester strip according to the instructions on the label. Place the strip in a small cup of pool water for five minutes, and check the strip. The salt/water ratio should be in the 3,000 to 3,500 parts of salt per gallon range. If there isn’t enough salt add a couple pounds, and check the sodium level again with another test strip. If you have too much salt, run plain water into the pool for about 20 minutes and check the sodium level again.

Warnings

  • Never swim in a pool when the chlorine level is too high.

Tips

References

Is Stabilized Or Unstabilized Chlorine Better For Intex Pools

Chlorine types are divided into two categories stabilized and unstabilized. Which one should you use in your Intex pool?

A combination of both stabilized and unstabilized chlorines for an outdoor Intex pool is best. If your pool is indoors, unstabilized chlorine is best.

This may sound a little confusing. How do you know which chlorine to use when? And how much of each do you need?

Lets take a look at each type of chlorine.

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Is It Necessary To Use Chlorine In My Intex Pool In This Manner

Intex Pool Sanitizers are a kind of pool disinfectant. If you want to use the Intex Salt Chlorinator, you may create your own chlorine by adding Pool Salt to the water before using it. 1.0 parts per million is the very bare minimum, and for improved protection against algae, germs, and cloudiness, I suggest that Intex pools have a chlorine level of 2 to 3 parts per million .

Cover Your Pool When It Is Not In Use

INTEX POOL Chemistry 101 (Above Ground Pool) | Swim University

The most important tip we can give you is to cover your pool when you are not using it. By doing so, you can prevent many problems, no dirt such as leaves and insects get into the water. You also protect the pool material with a cover.

The SunnyTent can be used perfectly for this. The additional advantage of the SunnyTent is that it is foldable and that the SunnyTent not only ensures that your water temperature is maintained, but that it even heats the water.

Also Check: How To Heat Up Above Ground Pool

Is Sodium Hypochlorite Suitable For Intex Pools

Liquid chlorine or bleach aka sodium hypochlorite is a great choice of chlorine for Intex pools. Liquid chlorine is not a strong chlorine and mixes extremely quickly in your pool. Its these two things that help to protect your Intex pool liner.

Liquid chlorine designed from swimming pools is about twice as strong as household bleach. Household bleach is usually around 6% strength, whereas liquid chlorine for pools is around 12%. Aside from this, they are the same thing.

If you use household bleach in your Intex pool, youll need to use twice the amount, by volume, as you would for liquid chlorine sold for swimming pools. The other important factor is to check that the bleach you use doesnt contain added chemicals like perfumes or colors. It needs to be pure sodium hypochlorite.

Do You Put Chemicals In An Intex Pool

While Intex pools arent the same as permanent swimming pools, they still require similar chemical maintenance. This is why adding chemicals to your Intex swimming pool is so important. That said, the process itself is fairly simple. Youll need a pool water test kit and a couple of startup chemicals.

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So Can Chlorine Tablets Damage The Pool Bottom Or Liner

If chlorine tablets come in contact with your pool liner in your Intex pool, they will damage it. Chlorine is a strong chemical, which means it will weaken the pool liner and likely bleach it too if it touches the liner or pool bottom.

That doesnt mean you shouldnt use chlorine tablets though. You can use them if youre careful and use them properly. The safest way to use chlorine tablets in an Intex pool is to use a chlorine floater or chlorine feeder .

If you do use a chlorine floater, make sure it doesnt get stuck in a corner or near the steps. This will cause an area of the pool that has a high concentration of chlorine and it can damage the liner.

Using a chlorinator is the safest way as it slowly dissolves chlorine tablets in a controlled way.

The Perfect Chemical Balance For A Pool Start Up

Intex Rectangular Pools Reviews

To decide what chemicals you need to use to start up your pool, you need to know what youre working with. This is a good target for pool water.

  • pH 7.2-7.6
  • Cyanuric Acid 30-50 ppm
  • Chlorine 1-3 ppm

It is quite unlikely that your pool will hit these targets as soon as its filled. If by some bizarre miracle your water comes out at this level, you dont need to do anything to your pool!

Otherwise, you need to make a good note of your actual readings. Keeping a record of how your pool was when filled up will help you control the amount of chemicals you add.

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Why You Need To Use Chemicals For Intex Pools

Chemicals for Intex pools does not only let you have a good swimming environment to enjoy your pool, but also helps prolong the lifespan of your Intex pool.

A well-balanced pool water is great for your pool interiors and for the pool accessories youre using, while an unbalanced water may damage them. This also means that adding chemicals in your Intex pools can save you money in the long run since you dont need to replace your pool accessories due to having an unbalanced pool water.

Also, despite being referred to as chemicals for Intex pools, they can be beneficial to keep you and your family healthy when you use your Intex pool. Since these Intex pool chemicals help eliminate harmful bacteria, viruses, microbes, and algae in your swimming pool.

Warm Up To Solar Pool Heating

Installing a gas heater on your Intex pool would probably lead to some pretty epic Wicked Witch of the West-style melting action, but vinyl-based psychological trauma doesnt really play well on a sunny summer afternoon. Instead, harness the suns power to heat your pool water with an Intex solar pool cover.

Using this cover warms your your water during the day, and helps your pool maintain that heat even after the sun sets. Upgrade your standard cover to the solar model designed for your pool and get cookin.

If youre not interested in a physical cover, you can try one of the liquid solar covers on the market. Just pour it on once a month to help conserve water while gently, and safely, heating your Intex pool.

Want more power? Rev things up with a solar mat from Intex. Attach it to your pools filter line, and water will travel through its serpentine tubes, warming as the sun blasts the pitch-black mat. Every cycle warms your pool a little more.

Use an Intex solar pool coverwith the solar mat for a killer combo. The solar mat brings the heat, and the cover seals it in like Tupperware. Well, if Tupperware harnessed THE MIGHTY POWER OF THE SUN, that is.

Also Check: Best Way To Heat Above Ground Pool

How To Clean An Intex Pool

Pools get dirty. Theres no way around it! And keeping it clean is a chore, but thats something you probably figured out before you ever bought one.

This might not seem like a big deal. After all, a lot of people swim in lakes and other murky bodies of water. But unless you want a swamp thing going on in your backyard, youll want to stay on top of your maintenance.

So, how exactly do you clean your new intex pool? Here we go

The first thing youll need to do is to remove any visible debris with a skimmer . This is something that should be done daily because the longer debris is in the water, the better chance it has of clogging your filters or breaking down and getting icky.

Next, with a nylon bristle pool brush, brush down the walls as thoroughly as you can. Then use your pool vacuum to suck up anything loose.

Brushing and vacuuming should be done at least once a week. But if you find its getting to be a huge chore because of the buildup, you may need to do it more often. This is usually the case for pools that get a lot of use and pools that are located close to trees.

Once this is done, youll want to retest your chemicals and balance anything thats off.

The Impact Of The Wrong Chlorine On An Intex Pool

Pool Start Up – Chemicals and How to Add Them

Choosing the best chlorine for your Intex pool will often make a difference in whether an Intex pool lasts for half a decade or whether you need to get a new one each summer.

Pools with liners, Intex pools, need a certain amount of care and should not be subjected to having strong chlorine, such as dichlor or trichlor touching them.

Using strong chlorines that dissolve slowly in Intex pools can:

  • Cause wrinkles in the liner
  • Bleach the liner
  • Shorten the liners lifespan

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My Pool Guy Told Me I Could Use Vaseline To Lubricate My O

You should never, ever use Vaseline or any petroleum-based lubricants for any of your o-rings. Most manufacturers recommend a silicone or a Teflon-based lubricant for all o-rings and gaskets. The oil composites of the petroleum jelly will cause the rubber to break down and will completely eat away your o-ring. Although o-rings range in size from really small to very large, never underestimate their power or the importance of their job. Using the wrong type of lubricant can cause leaks and ruin your system.

Upgrade To An Intex Salt System

Why settle for a pool when you can rule your own tiny sanitized sea? Stop adding chlorine to your pool and convert your Intex pool with a salt generator system.

The Intex saltwater system is a two-stage mechanism that pulls the salts chlorine out in the first stage, and then creates powerful, pool-sanitizing oxidizers from salt water in the second.

With this system installed, you add salt to your pool instead of chlorine. The salty water then runs through the generator, producing a steady flow of chlorinated water. The second stage, called electrocatalytic oxidation, pulls compounds out of the water that work in concert with the chlorine to kill bacteria and algae. Poseidon himself would be hard pressed to do a better job.

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Why Do You Need To Put Anything Under Your Pool

Temporary above-ground pools like Intex, Summer Waves, Bestway, or Coleman all have one thing in common. They have a thin vinyl liner that is susceptible to punctures if installed incorrectly. Roots, stones, pebbles, and anything else on the ground below the pool are potential sources of leak-causing punctures.

For this reason, it is important to not put your temporary pool directly on the grass, dirt, or concrete.

No matter what style of Intex Pool you are installing, this decision can make a big difference in how long your pool will last.

Keep Pool Cleaned And Covered

Intex Ultra

The last step is to simply clean out any dirt and debris that has built up inside the pool. The filter pump should take care of most of this, but it wont get everything. Keeping dirt, leaves, and other debris out of the pool will allow the chlorine to do its job better, and last longer.

Keeping the pool covered will help the chlorine last longer as well. Chlorine can be eaten away or burnt up by the sun. Covering the pool when its not in use can extend how long your chlorine works, and reduce your maintenance time and costs.

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Freshly Filled Pool Chemical Guide

What start-up chemicals are needed for a new pool, or for a pool that has been drained and refilled with fresh water?

That depends on the water balance of your source water – some tap water makes excellent pool water, while other sources need major adjustment, for water balance that works well with chlorine and won’t stain, scale, fade or corrode your soft and shiny pool surfaces.

Its Easy To Keep Your New Intex Pool Clean

In the last year, the sales of outdoor living products has exploded. That holds true for above ground pools as well!

This is why we brought in our new Intex above ground pools. If youre thinking about buying a new pool, but youre worried about maintenance, this is the article for you.

Its easy to keep your new Intex pool clean, and were going to show you how!

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Make Sure You Use Tap Water To Fill Up The Pool

Filling your pool with tap water is always the safest option. Water from wells or groundwater has minerals or other potential contaminants to your pool. If these minerals fused with chlorine, they could discolor the pool water.

Before adding chlorine, make sure youve got the right amount to achieve the optimal levels. Standard chlorine ranges from 1 to 3 ppm. However, once algae infest the pool water, its time to increase the chlorine concentration to 3 ppm.

To ensure you reach the optimal levels, make sure you measure and add chlorine carefully. The typical chlorine concentration ranges from 1 to 2 ppm. If you suspect algae in your pool, then this is the time to increase the chlorine concentration to 3 ppm. You can use a test strip to gauge the levels.

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