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Greater Houston Water Chemistry Cheat Sheet

Built from thousands of calibrated digital readings across Conroe, The Woodlands, Katy, Kingwood, Humble, and beyond. Use this guide to keep your water balanced before storms, after heavy bather loads, or when pollen spikes hit.

Target Ranges (Weekly Baseline)

  • Free Chlorine: 3.0 – 5.0 ppm (push to 6 ppm during heat waves or after parties)
  • pH: 7.4 – 7.6 (expect mid-week creep toward 7.8 in high-alkalinity areas like Montgomery)
  • Total Alkalinity: 80 – 100 ppm for plaster, 60 – 80 ppm for pebble/aggregate surfaces
  • Calcium Hardness: 250 – 350 ppm (bump toward 375 ppm in older plaster pools)
  • Cyanuric Acid: 35 – 50 ppm for liquid chlorination, 60 – 70 ppm for salt cells
  • Salt (if applicable): Follow OEM spec; most Pentair/Hayward systems like 3,200 – 3,500 ppm

Seasonal Adjustments

Spring Pollen Surge

  • Increase weekly filter clean frequency or bump PSI trigger down by 3 points.
  • Add enzyme/pollen treatments after heavy tree shedding (especially in Spring, The Woodlands).
  • Verify phosphate levels < 500 ppb to reduce chlorine demand.

Peak Summer Heat

  • Target free chlorine at 5 ppm before weekends.
  • Check salt cell output logs for increased production or scale warnings weekly.
  • Schedule additional brushing to prevent algae in shaded areas.

Tropical Rain & Storm Events

  • After 1"+ rainfall, test within 24 hours and restore chlorine to 5 ppm.
  • Lower pH to 7.2 ahead of expected heavy rain to offset dilution-driven rise.
  • Backwash or clean filters if turbidity climbs or PSI jumps ≥5 psi.

Cooler Months

  • Dial salt cells down but continue weekly testing to avoid overdosing.
  • Keep TA closer to 90–100 ppm to stabilize pH swings with heaters in use.
  • Inspect freeze protection settings on automation prior to first cold snap.

Storm Recovery Checklist

  1. Skim and remove debris before running the pump to prevent impeller clogs.
  2. Set pump to high speed for 24 hours and manually circulate if automation is offline.
  3. Test and document Free Chlorine, Combined Chlorine, pH, TA, CH, CYA, Salt (if applicable).
  4. Shock to breakpoint (10x Combined Chlorine) or 10 ppm whichever is greater.
  5. Add clarifier or floc if turbidity persists after 24 hours.
  6. Submit photos/notes to your insurance or HOA if damage occurred.

Equipment-Friendly Chemical Handling

Always pre-dissolve calcium chloride, distribute acid slowly along the deep end with the pump running, and keep automated feeders downstream from heaters to avoid corrosion. For salt systems, clean cells only when diagnostics confirm, and never exceed the manufacturer’s acid soak time.

Want Blue Fox to monitor these numbers for you?

Our technicians log every reading and push alerts when chemistry starts to drift—so you never have to memorize cheat sheets.

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