CHEMICALS AND WATER
Pool chemicals, and a counter that reads your water with you
Chlorine-based sanitizers, balancers, algaecides and specialty chemicals, plus straight advice on products and dosages from the people who sold the pool.
When the strip says one thing and the water says another
Most water trouble is easy to see and hard to name. The pool goes cloudy a day after you shocked it. A green tint comes in along the shaded wall. A chalky ring builds at the waterline, or the hot tub foams every time the jets run. Each of those is a chemistry problem, and each has more than one possible cause, which is why a single tester strip can leave you more confused than when you started.
A strip is a good first look. It is not the whole story. Rain, heavy use, a hot week and a full filter all change what is in the water, and the readings move together, so changing one thing in the dark often upsets another. That is the moment to stop guessing and bring a sample to the store.
Clear water in a kidney-shaped in-ground pool with a paver patio and outdoor kitchen beyond
What happens when you set a sample on the counter
Fill a clean bottle from the pool or the tub, away from the returns and a little below the surface, and bring it to 1001 12th Ave South in Onalaska. We test it with you, and we show you the reading rather than just handing back a bag of product. The order never changes: test, then balance, then sanitize. Balancing first matters because a sanitizer works poorly in water that is out of balance, and adding more of it only wastes the product.
The shelves cover what a pool or spa actually needs. Chlorine-based sanitizers, balancers, algaecides and specialty chemicals for the odd problems, and expert advice on which product to use and how much of it. We explain the reason behind each dose so that next time you can read your own strip with some confidence, and so you are not buying anything you do not need.
Dosing around the swim schedule
Chemicals are only half the job. When you add them matters just as much, especially in a house where the pool is in use all afternoon. We will tell you what to add, in what amount, and when, so the water is back to ready without shutting the pool for days. Dosing in the evening and letting the filter run overnight is often the plain answer.
Bring a fresh sample after heavy rain, after a party, and whenever the water looks different than it did last week. In a hot tub, a regular water change and a clean filter do more than any extra product. If it is easier to ask first, call (608) 783-4477 and describe what you see.
Quality Pool & Spa — Call (608) 783-4477.
A regular at the counter
“Every time I doubt myself or get confused by the tester strip readings I just bring a sample here and they help me get it figured out. They are very knowledgeable and they share that knowledge with you so that you know how to take care of your pool or spa.”
“The thing that keeps me coming back is how much they care about my kids getting in and swimming. They're always telling me when to put the chemicals in so that my kids are still able to swim without having to shut the whole pool down.”
“Holly and Joe have been so helpful with keeping our pool in great shape. They are just a phone call away and have been very helpful giving advice on all of our needs. Their explanations are so easy to understand.”
“Joe and Holly are top notch along with all of their staff. They have been knowledgeable and helpful every time I've had questions and I had A LOT as we got started with our pool.”
Where the counter is
1001 12th Ave South, Onalaska, WI 54650
- Mon-Fri: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
A pool that needs more than chemistry is a repair question. Starting from scratch, see the Radiant pools and the Sundance hot tubs. The learn about pools page has the longer reading, and the full list of what we do is on the services page. Or send the store a message.