Did you know that you may have a calcium imbalance in your pool? That’s right, calcium is more than an element in teeth and bones. It’s a critical component of your pool’s water makeup. Experts measure water’s calcium levels in terms of “hardness.” You may know that your city has either hard or soft water. The same applies to pool water. Calcium hardness measures how much calcium (and magnesium) is dissolved in your swimming pool. For reference, Delaware’s water is, on average, considered hard to very hard.In general, you want your calcium hardness level to be between 150 parts per million (ppm) and 300 ppm. If your pool has a vinyl or fiberglass liner, the calcium hardness level should be between 175 parts per million (ppm) and 225 ppm. If you have a concrete or plaster pool, keep the level between 200 ppm and 275 ppm. Of course, your ideal calcium level will vary based on your local climate and city water system. In order to perform pool maintenance service for a calcium imbalance, you must first recognize the telltale signs of too much or too little calcium. Then you can treat it appropriately.Start Your Pool Maintenance Service with TestingTest your water and avoid common causes of calcium imbalancesIt’s recommended that you perform a weekly calcium hardness test. In addition, you should test the calcium when you balance the pool with chemicals, drain or add water from the pool, receive a large amount of rain water, or have a higher than normal number of people using your pool. All of these events can cause your pool’s calcium hardness to fluctuate.Water temperature also affects your calcium levels. Calcium dissolves more easily in cold water. Therefore, as water temperature rises, you might notice more calcium scaling, especially on your water heater.Signs That Calcium is Too HighCloudy WaterThe main indicator that your pool is high in calcium is cloudy water. The extra calcium will collect on the water’s surface, and you’ll wonder where your clear water went.Water ScaleThe second indicator is water scale. Although some of the calcium might free-float in the water, much of it will adhere to pool surfaces. This film can be disastrous to your pool system. Scaling can plug pool filters, reducing water circulation through pipes, valves, and fittings. It will also cause your pool’s pump to work harder to keep the water flowing, reducing its lifespan.Signs That Calcium is Too LowCorrosionCorrosion is a serious indicator of low calcium. If your swimming pool water doesn’t have enough calcium, the water will actually try to balance itself out by drawing calcium from your plaster pool walls in order to satisfy its need for the mineral. If you own a vinyl or fiberglass pool, the water will attack metal fittings and heat exchangers, causing corrosion that can destroy the fittings and cause pinhole leaks.Again, don’t wait until you notice the damaging effects of imbalanced water. Check your water content regularly so that you can perform pool maintenance service before any damage occurs.Now it’s time to treat the symptoms with the correct pool maintenance service.How to Lower Hardness in a PoolDrain and ReplaceAn effective way to reduce calcium hardness in your pool is to partially drain it and replace the old water with fresh water. This can be an involved process, but it works.Pool FlocculantAlthough we do not recommend floc, if you can’t or don’t want to drain any water from the pool, try using pool flocculant to clump the excess calcium. Once the clumps form, you’ll need to manually vacuum your pool to remove them.How to Raise Hardness in a PoolPool Hardness IncreaserIf your swimming pool doesn’t have enough calcium, you can add a pool water hardness increaser to the water. You can buy a bucket of granular hardness increaser at just about any swimming pool retailer. Calcium chloride is the primary pool additive to raise the pool calcium hardness level.A calcium imbalance can be a silent pool killer. It can corrode your pool pump system and eat away at certain linings. However, performing regular pool maintenance service and adding a dash of chemicals before things get bad can keep these damaging effects at bay.-----Are you having trouble with the calcium content of your pool? Give Family Pool Maintenance a call and we can recommend the best additives and service procedures for your exact pool.Contact us today!