Sources

References behind the pool calculator formulas.

This page lists the outside references used to check formulas, conversions, and safety language. It is not a claim that every source endorses this site. Product labels, safety data sheets, equipment manuals, and local rules still take priority for final dosing decisions.

Chemical safety and public-health context

These references inform safety reminders, handling language, and the warning that pool chemicals should be used according to labels and local requirements.

CDC pool chemical safety Storage, handling, and mixing precautions for pool chemicals. CDC healthy swimming General public-health context for recreational water and swimmer safety. CDC Model Aquatic Health Code Public pool health-code context for cyanuric acid, stabilized chlorine, and the way CYA changes chlorine effectiveness; useful for safety framing but not a residential pool rulebook.

Volume, ppm, and water-treatment math

These sources support the conversions used for gallons, cubic feet, ppm changes, and the pounds-per-million-gallons relationship behind several calculators.

USGS conversion factors Reference for cubic feet, gallons, and unit conversion checks. Florida DEP water formulas Public operator formula sheet that includes pounds, dose, flow, and 8.34 water-treatment relationships. North Carolina DEQ formula sheet Public drinking-water formula reference used to cross-check ppm and pounds relationships.

Manufacturer range context

Manufacturer documentation is used to cross-check common operating ranges, especially where saltwater chlorine generators and product strengths vary by brand.

Pentair IntelliChlor installation and user guide Manufacturer PDF used to check IntelliChlor salt-level and operating-range context. Hayward salt addition guidance Manufacturer guidance for saltwater pool salt additions and typical target context. Hayward high-salt guidance Manufacturer guidance for lowering salt levels when readings are above range.

Pool chemistry adjustment tables

These references are used only where the calculator page names the limitation and recommends staged dosing with retesting.

Pool chemistry adjustment guide Public-health pool adjustment table for pH, alkalinity, and staged dosing. Trouble Free Pool FC/CYA Chart Published residential FC/CYA planning chart used for the exact automatic shock targets from 20 through 80 ppm CYA; it is a community methodology, not CDC guidance, a code, or a product label.

Pump flow and equipment sizing context

These references are used to frame pump sizing as flow-rate planning that must be checked against pump curves, system resistance, filter ratings, and equipment manuals.

ENERGY STAR pool pump specification Defines pump performance curve, system curve, operating point, flow rate, and energy-factor context for pool pumps. Pentair IntelliFlo3 VSF pump information Manufacturer context for variable-speed and variable-flow pumps, including why flow planning depends on equipment and operating conditions rather than a simple horsepower lookup.

Pool heating and energy-cost context

These references support heat-up energy conversions and unit checks. The calculator treats weather, evaporation, cover use, and equipment performance as limitations rather than pretending to model an exact monthly bill.

U.S. EIA energy units and calculators Reference for Btu definition and common conversions between Btu, kWh, therms, and fuel units used in heating-cost estimates. USGS conversion factors Reference for cubic feet, gallons, and unit conversion checks.

How sources are used

Sources are used to check constants, unit conversions, common chemical relationships, safety warnings, and manufacturer context. Calculator pages still show their own assumptions because the same product category can have different strengths, labels, and equipment requirements.

When a calculator uses a simplified rule of thumb, the page describes it as an estimate. Large chemical changes should be added in stages and retested.

Last reviewed

Each calculator records its own review date beside the formula and assumptions. Source links are checked when that calculator changes, when a new calculator page is added, or when manufacturer guidance appears to conflict with an existing assumption.

A broken source link does not change the calculator result by itself, but it does mean the reference needs replacement or the formula needs another check.