What is Hardness Increaser
In the pool and spa industry “hardness” is used to discuss the amount of calcium that is in the water.
It is referred to as “calcium hardness” or just “hardness” and the chemical used in hardness increaser is Calcium chloride,(CaCl2).
Having too much calcium in your water can easily be spotted by observing scaling and/or cloudy water and maintaining your water hardness is essential to preventing unsightly scale or causing damage to pool (or spa) finishes and equipment.
On the other end of the spectrum, having too little calcium can cause water to pull it from other materials, like your plaster or grout.
What Forms Do Hardness Increaser Products Come In And How Do I Use them?
Hardness increaser for use in pools is typically sold in granular form in boxes or buckets, and for spas, it is typically sold as a liquid in 12 ounces or larger containers.
Granular hardness increaser should be dissolved in a bucket of water before adding it to your water and it should be circulated in the pool until it is fully distributed.
Liquid hardness increaser should be added in front of a return jet and allowed to circulate.
As with all pool (or spa) chemicals, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s directions for their specific product.
Safety Information About Hardness Increaser Products
You should always read and follow all safety precautions on the product labels.
Keeping your pool (or spa) safe means keeping yourself and others around you safe while maintaining your chemistry and your equipment. Some common recommendations include:
- Wearing protective gear such as gloves and eye protection.
- Store chemicals in ventilated areas and separate from one another to avoid chemical reactions from leaks.
- Do not mix chemicals.
Interesting Facts About Calcium Chloride
- It is used for melting ice on sidewalks and in parking lots
- It can be used in tractor tires
- It is used in the food industry
Don't know what chemicals to add or when? Sutro will tell you!