Question 1

What is a good pool health score?

Accepted Answer

A score of 90–100 is Excellent. 75–89 is Good. 55–74 is Fair. Below 55 means your pool needs attention. The score is calculated from pH, free chlorine, alkalinity, CYA, calcium hardness, and combined chlorine.

Question 2

What should pool pH be?

Accepted Answer

Pool pH should be between 7.2 and 7.6. Below 7.2 is acidic and can irritate eyes and corrode equipment. Above 7.6 reduces chlorine effectiveness and can cause scale buildup.

Question 3

What is the ideal free chlorine level for a pool?

Accepted Answer

For a chlorine pool, aim for 2–4 ppm free chlorine. Salt water pools typically run 1–3 ppm. The safe minimum depends on your CYA level — higher CYA requires more chlorine to be effective.

Question 4

What should pool alkalinity be?

Accepted Answer

Total alkalinity should be between 80 and 120 ppm. Low alkalinity causes pH to swing wildly. High alkalinity makes pH hard to adjust and can cause cloudy water.

Question 5

What is CYA in a pool?

Accepted Answer

CYA (cyanuric acid) is a stabilizer that protects chlorine from UV degradation. Chlorine pools should have 30–50 ppm. Salt water pools need 60–80 ppm to protect the salt cell. Too much CYA (above 70–90 ppm) reduces chlorine effectiveness.

Question 6

How often should I test my pool water?

Accepted Answer

Test pH and free chlorine at least 2–3 times per week. Test alkalinity, CYA, and calcium hardness monthly or after heavy rain or high bather loads. PoolTrack makes it easy to log and track readings over time.

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