How To Calculate How Many Gallons Your Pool Has
If you dont know how many gallons your swimming pool has, just use the basic formula that well give you. The formula for calculating a pool area in square feet or meters is the following:
- Length x width x depth x 7.5 = volume
By multiplying the length of the pool with width and depth gives the volume in cubic feet. Since each cubic foot has 7.5 gallons of water, multiply the cubic feet of the pool by 7.5 and you will get the volume of the pool in gallons.
If you have a round pool, then you need to multiply the volume of the pool by 5.9. For the oval pool, you need to multiply it by 6.7. I hope that you know now how to calculate the pool gallons. If not, you can use the calculator below in which you just need to type the basic data and you will get the results.
Now that you know how to calculate the volume of your pool and how many gallons you have, you now need to know how much ppm you have in your pool.
To Make 1 Gallon Of Bleach From Pool Shock
- 11 Tablespoons of ~ 70% Calcium Hypochlorite
- 1 Gallon of water
You might be wondering why the seemingly odd amount of solution for my initial formula . It was the basis for my testing:
It started with a document titled TB MED 577 from the United States Department of the Army. Sanitary Control and Surveillance of Field Water Supplies.
In it, while referencing tables I-1 and I-2, , the 1-1/2 cups comes from a note regarding dissolving an amount of Calcium Hypochlorite in a half canteen cup of water. Their reference was canteen cups. So thats where I started
I began with the data from those two tables and then interpolated the amount of Calcium Hypochlorite necessary for the equivalent amount of Regular Bleach one would use to disinfect water.
Long story short, the direct math from their tables worked out be about 2 teaspoons Calcium Hypochlorite per 1-1/2 cups water. However my real world chemistry lab tests revealed that 3 teaspoons of high test Calcium Hypochlorite is closer to matching regular bleach with a 6% concentration of sodium hypochlorite.
This also matches with some of what I found while searching the internet in general.
How To Repair A Cracked Pool Deck
After cleaning a pool deck, you might realize that there are some cracks and chips in need of repair. If the crack is so small that you cannot see the ground under it, you can typically fix it with store-bought materials. A professional contractor, however, should patch deeper cracks, chips, missing concrete, and other such significant damage.
To repair small cracks in a pool deck, ensure the deck is cleaned thoroughly, and remove any loose pieces of concrete from the damaged area. Mix concrete patching powder in a bucket, according to the package directions. Use a trowel to apply this bonding agent to the crack, smoothing its surface as you go. Wipe any excess mixture with a sponge and allow the repair to dry thoroughly before walking over it.
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Tips For Keeping A Pool Deck Clean
A pool deck needs regular professional cleaning no matter what you do to protect it, but note some tips on how to keep that deck as clean as possible and reduce otherwise unnecessary cleaning:
- Consider a glass or other solid panel fence around the pool deck, versus a chain link or mesh fence. Solid panel fencing stops dirt, sand, grit, and other debris from blowing onto the pool’s deck.
- Avoid metal patio furniture, to reduce the chances of rust stains on the pool deck.
- Be careful about eating on the deck, and use caution when drinking coffee, tea, and other beverages that cause stains when spilled. When planning pool deck ideas, invest in an outdoor dining table or side tables for the deck area and ensure that family and guest use them for eating and drinking!
- Have the concrete, stone, or wood of a pool’s deck sealed on a consistent basis. Sealant protects concrete from absorbing moisture that leads to cracking and chips. A sealant also keeps sand, grit, and other such dirt and grime out of the pits and pores of concrete, for added protection.
Note, too, that a quick rinse with a garden hose on a consistent basis is not as effective as scrubbing the concrete with a bleach solution or hiring a professional power washer to clean the deck around your homeâs pool, but rinsing will remove sand, silt, dirt, and other residues, reducing how much of that grime gets ground into the concrete.
Test The Ph Of Pool Water
Test The pH Of Pool Water
The first step is to test the pH of your pool water with a pH meter and to add sodium bisulfate to lower it if its too high. Keep in mind that if pH is above 7.8, chlorine quickly loses its effectiveness. Ideally, the pH level should be in the range of 7.2 and 7.8. If you dont have it, you can order your pH Meter Here.
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How Much Bleach Does It Take To Shock A Pool
Shocking your pool means raising the concentration of chlorine available in it. The thing is that you can use bleach to do this.
But first, you need to know how much beach it takes to shock your pool.
Doing this, you will have to use 0.5 gallons of bleach for a pool of 10 000 gallons of water to raise the chlorine level by five ppm.
To shock your pools with bleach, you should follow these necessary steps:
- Sample the water pH and add sodium bisulfate or muriatic acid to reduce it if its too high. It should be between 7.2 and 7.8.
- Review the level of cyanuric acid in your pool. This should also be between 20 and 50 ppm.
- Calculate the volume of water in your pool.
- Add bleach to your swimming pool.
Theres one more hack you have to learn. You have to wait till the evening before you add the bleach to the pool. And this is to give the bleach adequate time to work in the dark. More, it ensures that the afternoon sun doesnt degrade the bleach and render it ineffective.
Should You Use Clorox Instead Of Pool Chlorine
Household bleaches such as Clorox are effective sanitizers for your pool and you can use it. However you need to be very careful not to purchase bleaches with fragrances, colors and other additives that could cause big issues in your pool.
In some areas, perhaps household bleach works out cheaper but we didnt see that in our cost calculations.
The decision whether to use Clorox instead of pool chlorine is really a personal one. Weighing the pros and cons and seeing what matters to you is going to help you make the best choice for yourself.
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Keep Sunscreen Build Up Off The Sides
What do you do right before the kids head outside to splash? Cover them in sunscreen of course!
The damage caused to our skin from the sun and summer heat is well documented, so using the best sunscreen is important. No matter what sunscreen you use, you will surely see an oily film on the top of the water surface soon after the kids enter the pool.
There is nothing inherently bad about this, but over time you will see a build-up of sunscreen oils on the sides of the pool.
There are two ways to combat this build-up. You can either scrub it off when you are draining the pool, or prevent the build-up in the first place. To prevent the build-up, we recommend the Scum Ball which is a special sponge-like ball that absorbs the oil before it can build up on the sides!
- Helps eliminate scum line from body oils, lotions and make-up in your pool or spa
- Increases time between cleanings
- Specialty patented foam absorbs 43 times its weight in oils / lotions
- Includes 2 Scum Balls per pack
What Do You Need To Know Concerning Bleach
Most of you know bleach to be a laundry detergent for its role in removing tough stains from clothes. However, chlorine, a pool cleaner, and bleach are similar and perform the same function in pool maintenance.
This bleach forms hypochlorous acid which is important to kill all contamination in your pool. Although bleach is produced in a 6% solution due to its use in the laundry, you will need to use enough bleach to gain the same effect as chlorine. You also have not to use scented bleach when cleaning your pool because it will add further contaminants to the pool.
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How Much Bleach Do You Use
Theres no specified amount of bleach to use in your pool. You can only determine the amount of bleach to use by testing the level of chlorine in your pool. Your aim of adding bleach to your pool is to improve the chlorine level to 1-3 PPM to keep your pool free from all contaminants. The reason for this ppm level is that its perfect for swimmers as they dont get to suffer from eye or skin irritation.
The most common bleach used is Clorox because of its concentration level which rests at 5.7% conc. If you dont know the quantity of water your pool holds, you need to do some calculation that will point you in that direction. You need to multiply the length of the pool by the width and the depth. This would give you an estimated volume.
When you get that estimated volume, you can multiply it by 7.5 for rectangular pools, 6.7 for oval pools, and 5.9 for round pools. This would provide you with the estimated gallons of water your pool contains.
How To Treat Spots On A Pool Deck
Leaving metal furniture, a grill, and other such items on a pool’s deck can result in rust spots and similar stains food and beverages like tea and coffee can also leave behind stains on a concrete deck. To treat these spots, use a bit of tri-sodium phosphate or muriatic acid, available at most home goods, hardware, and cleaning supply stores.
When applying such spot treatments, remember that these chemicals are typically strong and can damage a pool’s deck if left too long or if misused. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and use the products as directed. Do not mix these materials with other chemicals, to avoid dangerous reactions.
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How To Use Bleach In Pool For Algae Removal
Green pools are as a result of algae that accumulate in the pool making it unsafe for swimming. Bleach can be used to destroy the algae and make the pool clear again. Before shocking the pool, you should consider factors such as the pH level and also the alkalinity of the pool.
More bleach is required to increase the level of free chlorine in the pool since that is the main purpose of the bleach.
When the bleach is added to the pool, the chlorine kills all the bacteria since chlorine contains ions that are negatively charged destroy the outer membranes of bacteria. This makes them harmless and prevents them from growing again.
Here are a few steps on how to use bleach in the pool to get rid of algae:
Steps
With these easy steps, you are able to clear and sanitize your pool. However, you will need to add bleach to your pool frequently so as to avoid the accumulation of algae again and other microorganisms as well.
Clorox Bleach Vs Pool Shock To Disinfect
Bleach is a product that can sometimes be hard to find on store shelves. So, the question Is there some difference between swimming Pool Shock and Clorox bleach, and can they be used to pool shock? You can use pool shock instead of Clorox bleach, but make sure to dilute it first.
The chlorine that is in the bleach is actually sodium hypochlorite. Swimming pool shock usually has 12% sodium hypochlorite compared to 6-8% of Clorox bleach.
With a 12% concentrate, the liquid pool shock is around 2 times stronger than Clorox bleach. The CDC suggests 5 tablespoons of normal bleach per one gallon of water to normally disinfect a surface. Therefore, when you are using a liquid pool shock, try to dilute it at a rate of around 2.5 to 3 tablespoons per gallon of water.
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Whats The Difference Between Chlorine And Bleach
Standard bleach and liquid chlorine are the same, except for the concentration of chlorine.
Liquid chlorine has a higher percentage of chlorine per bottle than bleach does. Chlorine is generally around 10% to 12% chlorine, while bleach can run anywhere from 5.25% to 8.25% chlorine. This means that if you use bleach instead of chlorine, you will need to use more to get the same sanitation levels.
Whether you buy bleach or liquid chlorine, check the percentage of chlorine listed on the label and dose accordingly.
How To Use Household Bleach As Sanitizer In Swimming Pools
Using bleach as sanitizer in your swimming pool is much like using liquid chlorine. You simply dump in the amount you have measured out to add the desired amount of chlorine and let it do its job.
You want to make sure youre adding the correct amount as too little will do nothing to sanitize your pool and too much and your pool could be un-swimmable until the chlorine drops back down.
Clorox doesnt contain any stabilizer so it should be added at night when the sun has gone down so that it wont degrade too quickly. This will give it a chance to sanitize overnight with no UV rays or swimming activity.
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Household Bleach In Swimming Pools
| In many parts of the country, plain 6% household bleach is the cheapest, and sometimes the easiest, way to chlorinate your pool. What you want is plain, generic bleach — no scent, no easy pour spout, no national brand. Clorox used to be an acceptable source of bleach, but they’ve begun trying to ‘spice’ up the brand, by adding this and that to their bleach. As a result, you should AVOID the Clorox brand product, and select a store brand instead. |
| Occasionally, stores will try to boost their margin by diluting bleach further, to 3% or lower. Watch for this, and purchase products with 6% sodium hypochlorite.It would be simpler if Chlorox had left well enough alone. Unfortunately, forbleach-using pool ownersthey’ve been busy ‘enhancing’ their brand, turning ordinary bleach into ‘Ultra Bleach‘!How? They’ve increased the concentration slightly, , raised the price a lot, and added ‘goo’! What ‘goo’? I don’t know . . . and that’s the problem. I try very hard to keep unknown chemicals out of pools. If you can findgeneric 6% bleach, that’s your best bet. If not, here’s a ‘Ultra Bleach‘ page, to help you separate theplain bleach from the bleach with ‘goo’! |
| Just in case you aren’t sure, you can check the side label for the ingredient name: |
Ascorbic Acid Citric Acid Or Vitamin C
These acids can be used to release iron stains from pool surfaces, along with metal sequestrants. You can spot test by placing a vitamin C tablet over a stain and checking after a few minutes to see if the stain has released in that spot. If so, your stain is from iron in the water.
Ascorbic acid or citric acid can be added to the water and/or directly on stains to remove these tough iron stains. Check here for specific instructions and to find out how this will affect your pool chemistry.
It is especially important to raise the chlorine level very slowly after doing a citric acid treatment.
Bonus tip: If you have a lot of iron in your water, these will also work well at cleaning your sinks and bathtubs!
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Using Bleach To Shock Your Pool
Bleach contains sodium hypochlorite , but at a lower concentration. The level of sodium hypochlorite in bleach is between 5% and 6%, while chlorine is between 10% to 15%.
What that means is that you would need twice the amount of bleach as normal chlorine. And to ensure that the bleach doesnt get degraded by the sun, you should add it late in the afternoon.
How To Clean A Green Pool With Bleach
Some of you may wonder, is bleach good enough to solve the green pool problem? The answer is yes. Bleach contains 50% of chlorine which is contained in liquid chlorine for the swimming pool. It has 3 powers that can kill the algae, which are:
- Sanitizing keep the hygiene of the water by killing microorganisms
- Disinfecting help to kill living contaminants that may carry diseases.
- Oxidizing eradicate waste and ammonia excreted by the swimmers.
Using bleach is only effective for green algae, the least severe case of the problem. If you experience much worse kinds of algae like the ones with black and yellow appearance, you may need a more complicated solution.
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