Pool School
Welcome to Pool Care 101 with your host, Al G. Free, the go-to source for all things swimming pool maintenance! Whether you're a new pool owner or just looking to brush up on the basics, Al G. is here every Wednesday at 9 PM Eastern to break down the essentials of pool care. From balancing chemicals and cleaning tips to troubleshooting common pool issues, Al G. covers it all in easy-to-understand, bite-sized episodes. Tune in each week to get practical advice, actionable tips, and expert insights that will help you keep your pool sparkling clean and swim-ready. Pool Care 101 – your weekly guide to pool perfection!
Pool School
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Its Effect on Swimming Pool Maintenance.
In this episode of the Pool School Podcast, your host Roy "Al. G." Free dives deep into the often-overlooked yet crucial aspect of pool maintenance: Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Its Effect on Swimming Pool Maintenance.
Al. G. begins by explaining what TDS is—basically, everything dissolved in your pool water that isn’t water, from salts and minerals to sunscreens, oils, and even sweat. It's a combination of all the substances in the water that can directly affect the overall water quality.
As TDS builds up, it can lead to a series of headaches for pool owners, such as reduced effectiveness of chlorine, scaling on pool tiles and equipment, and even cloudy water. Al. G. explains how these issues arise when TDS levels go above the ideal range of 500 to 1,500 ppm and what that means for your pool. He also shares some practical tips for controlling and managing TDS, including regular testing, proper chemical use, filtration maintenance, and the ultimate fix—water replacement (yes, sometimes you’ll need to dilute your pool!).
And of course, what would a Pool School Podcast episode be without some dad jokes? Al. G. drops one or two zingers to keep the mood light, including one about a pool with a “bad attitude” due to “too many dissolved issues” (you’ll get it when you hear it!).
Tune in to get all the essential info you need to keep your pool TDS in check and ensure a sparkling, healthy swimming environment.