The Smart Pool
Chemistry Calculator

During the swimming season, you should test your Free Chlorine and pH levels at least 2 to 3 times a week. Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness, and Cyanuric Acid (CYA) should be tested once a month. Check out the Pool Owner's Blueprint for a complete maintenance schedule.

For a standard non-saltwater pool, the ideal Free Chlorine level is between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm. However, this target shifts depending on your Cyanuric Acid (CYA) level. A higher CYA requires a higher Free Chlorine baseline to remain effective. Use our Dosage Calculator to find exactly how much to add.

Cloudy pool water is typically caused by one of three things: poor filtration (a dirty filter or dying pump), early-stage algae growth due to low chlorine, or severe chemical imbalances like high pH and Calcium Hardness. Learn the exact steps to diagnose and clear cloudy water here.

To lower your pool's pH, you must add an acid, typically Muriatic Acid (liquid) or Sodium Bisulfate (dry acid). Run your numbers through our chemistry dosage calculator to ensure you add the exact right amount without accidentally crashing your Total Alkalinity.

Free Chlorine is the active sanitizer ready to kill bacteria. Combined Chlorine is the 'used up' chlorine attached to contaminants (which actually causes that strong "pool smell"). Total Chlorine is the sum of both. If your Total Chlorine is higher than your Free Chlorine, it is time to shock the pool.

Cyanuric acid acts as a sunscreen for your chlorine. Without it, the sun's UV rays will destroy your chlorine in hours. However, if CYA levels get too high (above 50-70 ppm), it will 'lock' your chlorine and render it useless. If your CYA is too high, use our CYA Drain Calculator to fix it.

To clear a green pool, you must execute the SLAM method (Shock Level And Maintain). First, use our Shock Target Calculator to find your highly elevated chlorine target based on your CYA, and maintain that exact level with liquid chlorine until the water is clear.

A humming pool pump means the motor is receiving electricity but the shaft is physically locked. Turn off the breaker immediately to prevent a fire. This is usually caused by a dead start capacitor, a jammed impeller, or seized bearings. Learn how to diagnose the humming here.

A standard pool can lose up to 1/4 inch of water per day to natural evaporation. If you are losing more than that, you likely have a leak. To be sure, perform the "Bucket Test" and plug the results into our Smart Leak Analyzer tool.

Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) filters provide the highest water clarity, filtering down to 3 microns. However, cartridge filters are often considered the "best" overall for homeowners because they filter down to 10 microns, waste zero water, and require very little maintenance. Read our Ultimate Filter Guide to find your perfect match.