When you picture having a good time in the swimming pool, you envision diving boards, slides, inflatable toys and relaxing floating chairs, but no one ever pays much attention to the most important piece of pool fun: pool chemicals.

Having the perfect mix of pool chemicals delivers that perfect crystal clear water we dream of on warm, sunny days. Pool chemicals such as chlorine, bromine and algaecide keep the pool water safe to use as well, killing harmful bacteria and other germs that can make a swimmer sick. Yes, the pool filter plays an important role in having clear water, but it only removes dirt and debris while recirculating harmful elements that could possibly lead to an illness. The chemicals make the water safer.

Typically, every in-ground and above ground pool will need the same set of chemicals, but every pool is different when it comes to the details. Using too much chemicals can be as irritating or harmful as not using enough by raising pH levels or alkalinity. It’s important to test your pool’s water with either the tried-and-true method of test strips or with newer technologies that digitally test water for many different chemical levels with the press of a button.

Perfectly clear, clean water that is safe to swim in is a balancing act of chemistry and art. However, with a little research, an understanding and proper testing the water for proper pool chemical balance, you will find it’s rather easy to have the ideal pool water throughout the swimming season.