One To Proper Chlorination: Choosing The Right Chlorine
This is where it gets technical. The ideal chlorine combination of your pool is between 1 and 3 parts per million . In order to kill pathogenic viruses, youll want to make sure your chlorine concentration doesnt fall below 1 ppm. Go above 3 ppm and while youre sure to wipe out bacteria, youre also vulnerable to that irritation in your eyes, nose, lungs, and throat. Now that youve got the numbers, its time to choose between stabilized or unstabilized chlorine for your pooland trust me, it wont take more than sixty seconds to find out.
Before Starting Please Remember To
1. Read entire label of each bottle and use in accordance with precautionary statements and directions.
2. All chemicals should be handled by adults only, and kept out of the reach of children. Filter system must always be on and running when adding chemicals to pool.
3. All chemicals should be added to pool separately and must not be mixed together.
4. For existing pools, remove cover, connect filter to pool and remove any winter plates and plugs. Add water if needed, and clean and vacuum pool.
What Is The Best Way To Put Chlorine Into My Pool
A key part of proper swimming pool maintenance is adding the appropriate chlorine to your swimming pool. People ask us all the time, what is best? Should I add chlorine to my skimmer baskets? Should I add a floater to my swimming pool? Is it best to use an in-line chlorinator? Here are the basic facts about each option.
The best way to put chlorine into a swimming pool is by using an in-line chlorinator. At Executive Blue Pools, we usually install the Pentair Rainbow 320 chlorinator. An in-line chlorinator is exactly what it says it is. An in-line chlorinator allows water to flow into it. The water flow causes a very small bit of chlorine tablet to mix with the water flowing through the chlorinator.
Then the freshly chlorinated water flows out of the chlorinator and into the pool. So the chlorinator is in-line with the water flowing through it. An in-line chlorinator is best because it introduces very small amounts of diluted chlorine into the pool.
A pool should have 3-5 parts per million of chlorine in it. This is a very little amount of chlorine. If a swimming pool has higher than 5 parts per million of chlorine in the swimming pool, it can do damage. We can help with all these questions. Call us today at Executive Blue Pools at 469-340-2757 or visit us at https://executivebluepools.com.
How Should I Chlorinate My Pool If I Dont Have an In-Line Chlorinator?
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How Much Chlorine To Add To Pool Per Gallon
Pool cleaning and maintenance is the language of pool owners anywhere. Whether you are hands on with your pool or you outsource the tasks to someone else, you have a fairly good idea about this subject. If you have done your research on pool cleaning and maintenance, you would know by now that Chlorine is a very important element in that process.
If you want to look at all the other importance of pool cleaning , I would recommend reading âbenefits of pool maintenanceâ. I listed out what you would need to keep your pool in pristine condition year-round.
Some of it runs automatically and requires minimal input from you. Just install it, put the device on the right setting and you can rest easy knowing that your pool will be clean.
Chlorine does its job of sanitizing your pool without any help from you. But , you need to get it right with chlorine or else, your pool could quickly turn into a chemical death trap.
In very small doses, Chlorine barely affects the bacteria life in your pool. In massive doses, you pool will definitely be free of bacteriaâ¦and any other life form for that matter, including humans. With the right dose, you get the best of both worlds.
A pool where you and your family can enjoy without worrying about the presence of bacteria. Of course, you might want to take certain precautions to prevent problems like skin irritations which can be caused by chlorine even in small doses. Want to know more about what chlorine does to the body? .
Liquid Chlorine Vs Bleach In Shocking Of Pool
It is essential to point out that the same amount of base chemical a bleach carries is the same as that of the pool chlorine. The chemical in question is chlorine. What distinguishes the liquid chlorine and bleach, however, is the strength of their concentration levels.
Whenever there is the liquid chlorine vs. bleach discussion, it is also worth noting that both contain the Sodium Hypochlorite, which puts them in the same bracket regarding water purification.
What differs majorly between the two is that bleach is commonly at a more diluted level and will need a lot of it to be put in the pool to bring about the same effectiveness. This is not the same with the usage or application of liquid chlorine.
Comparison between liquid chlorine and bleach
| Liquid Chlorine | |
| Consists of 65% calcium hypochlorite and other inert ingredients | Bleach is made of sodium hypochlorite, which is essentially chlorine in its liquid form |
| Relatively stronger and proves to be more effective | Not as strong as liquid chlorine and requires having more on-demand |
| Contains a stabilizer, thus holds up a bit longer | Does not contain a stabilizer and will require putting quite a bit more into your pool |
| Quite expensive and not as easier to find | Very affordable and can be easily bought from stores near you |
If you use liquid chlorine vs. bleach, be rest assured that either of them can be used according to the importance of need at any given time.
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Liquid Chlorine Vs Powder Chlorine
Ive taught you all I know about liquid chlorine today, but that doesnt necessarily mean it is the best choice for your pool. That choice is up to you, so heres the basic differences:
Liquid chlorine has a higher pH level than its powder form. It’s used primarily by commercial pool owners or pools with a lot of activity, and it’s cheaper than powder, so when it needs to be added in bulk to large pools, it makes more sense economically.
Liquid chlorine is also unstabilized, so in outdoor pools, you’ll usually have to add cyanuric acid with it to protect it from the sun and to keep it from corroding your pool.
Powder chlorine is a little more expensive than liquid, but it has a lower pH level and you can buy it in stabilized form so that you dont have to add much cyanuric acid, if any, with it. This makes it a little easier to use.
There are a few types of powder chlorine: di-chlor, lithium hypochlorite, and calcium hypochlorite.
They each have their own advantages, but calcium hypochlorite is the most popular and most effective.
Which Chlorine Test Kit Should I Use
After you figure out how much chlorine to put in water storage tank, you may want to have a chlorine test kit on hand to know the chlorine residual after you have chlorinated your storage tank.
Having test kits offer two main benefits:
There are two main types of chlorine test kits for easy home use, and they are liquid drop types and test strips.
A common low-range chlorine test kit uses Orthotolidine which turns yellow if chlorine is present so it is easy to use.
Test strips are easier to use but for low range, the reagent type may work better in our experience.
You also may want a High Range Kit if you are shock chlorinating the tank with high levels of chlorine over 5 PPM.
A low range kit allows you to check for chlorine levels if you are adding chlorine to maintain a low level residual, or you want to know when it is safe to use the water.
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How Much Chlorine And Ph To Maintain Proper Pool Water
If youre not using a salt system, learning How Much Chlorine and PH To Maintain Proper Pool Water level is crucial. Its what keeps your pool free of microorganisms and infectious contaminants as well as keeping swimmers happy and comfortable. Not quite sure how these elements work? Weve got the answers to all the most common questions about swimming pool chlorination and pH levels, learn how much Chlorine and pH For Good Pool Water!
Before we start:
- Buy only what you think youll use for the season- pool chemicals generally lose potency over time.
- Store your pool chemicals in a dry, cool, dark place. Sunlight can affect the chemical composition of some liquids.
- Avoid chemical vapor inhalation. This can be dangerous, especially in people with existing respiratory issues.
- Always make sure to follow the manufacturers instructions.
What Is Total Chlorine
Total chlorine is the sum of free chlorine and combined chlorine. Inexpensive chlorine tests, such as the common OTO test, which shows total chlorine as different shades of yellow, measure true chlorine because it is easier to test for than free chlorine and combined chlorine. In normal operation total chlorine can be used as if it was free chlorine because combined chlorine is usually zero. However when you have algae or some other problems, combined chlorine levels can be significant and total chlorine becomes useless.
PRO TIP: Save money on testing equipment by using a low-cost testing kit or test strips that measure total chlorine. Under normal conditions, you may simply assume total chlorine is the same as free chlorine. If you notice any algae, or experience a lingering chlorine smell, you may want to shock your pool.
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Amount Of Chlorine To Use Per Gallon Of Pool Water
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Keeping a pool sparkling clear isn’t the easiest project. Whether you have a round ring-top pool or an in-ground pool, maintaining the chlorine balance in the pool prevents bacteria from growing in the water. The basic balance of chlorine to water is between 1 and 3 ppm, or 0.00013 ounces of chlorine per gallon of water.
Test The Chlorine Level
Chlorine is essential for pool water because it kills harmful algae, bacteria and microorganisms. Unfortunately, chlorine breaks down when exposed to the sun and chemicals from sunscreen, sweat and more. A pool should have a chlorine level between two and four parts per million . Make sure your above ground pool has enough by testing your water about every other day with chlorine test strips, such as these Aqua Chek Test Strips. Learn more about maintaining your pools chemicals.
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When Should I Winterize My Pool
When to WinterizePoolWinter Pool Chemical Kit Use Instructions:
- Before Closing the Pool, remove all debris.
- Kill any algae, brush and vacuum from pool.
- Adjust pH to 7.2-7.4, and chlorine level to 2-3ppm.
- Add Winter Pool Stain Preventer follow label instructions.
- Add Winter Pool Algaecide follow label instructions.
How Does Chlorine Ensure Safe Swimming
This one is pretty simple: when added to your pool properly, sodium hypochlorite inactivates the bacteria in your water. This doesnt mean that the bacteria is technically completely removedyoull need the right pool filter and the help of pool shock for thatbut the bacteria will be dead in the water.
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How To Choose The Right Chlorine Tablets For Your Pool
Chlorine tablets come in one-inch and three-inch sizes. We recommend the three-inch tablets because theyre easier to handle and, depending on their popularity in your area, might even be less expensive than the one-inch version.
We also recommend the three-inch chlorine tablets because they provide sanitation for 5,000 gallons of water per tablet, meaning you can use fewer of them, which can also save you money.
To know how many tablets to use, youll need to know your pools volume. If you dont already know how much water your pool holds, use this pool calculator to quickly and easily figure it out.
To use the right number of tablets, always round your pool volume up to the nearest unit of 5,000 gallons. For instance, your pool has a capacity of 20,000 gallons, you would add four chlorine tablets. But if your pool holds just 16,000 gallons, youd still use four, three-inch chlorine tablets. Its that easy.
How Long After Adding Liquid Chlorine Can You Swim
This usually not less than 8 hours for shock treatments done with chlorine. To gain entrance into the swimming pool to swim again, you will have to wait until the amount of time recommended on the packages instructions is reached.
You are advised not to enter the swimming pool until the chlorine levels have gone below 3 ppm.
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United Chemical No Mor Problems
No Mor Problems is designed to work synergistically with the chlorine in your pool. The special formulation breaks up chloramines and reduces the need to add extra chlorine back into the pool. It also works to clarify your pool water and unclog filters to speed up filtration times. No Mor Problems is also an algaecide, which means that it eliminates algae and prevents regrowth. Best of all, it is completely biodegradable and non-toxic, so it is safe for your family.
How To Raise/lower Ph
To lower pH: The most common way people lower their pH is by using muriatic acid, also known as hydrochloric acid.
To raise pH: Typically, soda ash is used, though baking soda can also be used. It should be noted, however, that baking soda will also raise alkalinity .
In both cases, make sure that you add small amounts before retesting your water to ensure thorough circulation. A local pool chemical supply store should be able to help you determine how much chemical you need based on your individual water test.
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How Much Liquid Chlorine To Add To A Pool
First conduct a water test to determine the chlorine level. Water test kits are readily available at numerous stores and online, and come with detailed instructions to decipher how to read the results.
An important thing to mention here is that the chlorine that is measured is actually free chlorine, there is no differential.
To determine the amount of liquid chlorine you need to add, first consider the total water capacity of your pool. Most chlorine comes in packing suitable to be used per 1000 gallons of water. If the water capacity of your pool falls outside of that, there are chlorine calculators online to assist you in determining the correct quantity of chlorine to add.
It is recommended to keep chlorine levels maintained between 1 ppm and 3 ppm. Above 3 ppm concentration of chlorine in pool water can cause irritation to the eyes and skin of swimmers.
When adding chlorine, keep the pool pump running for proper dispersion and refrain from swimming until the level is below 3 ppm.
IMPORTANT NOTE! Liquid chlorine is an extremely harsh chemical and must be handled with precaution. It has a higher pH value than the powder form so it is highly likely the pH will need to be re-balanced after adding it. It is also highly corrosive and can cause burns or damage to pool equipment if not used correctly. Always handle any pool chemical with caution and wear protective clothing, gloves, and eye protection.
Understanding Chlorine Vs Bromine
In most pools, there will be one of these halogens. Chlorine and bromine share several characteristics on the chemical level. Since they have an identical number of valence electrons, they behave similarly. Thus, you can use them in the same applications to produce substantially comparable results.
Chlorine:In most instances, chlorine is the pool sanitizer of choice. Once you add some of this, none of those bacteria can thrive.
Bromine:If you are sensitive to chlorine, then bromine might be an appropriate substitute. Sometimes, people develop rashes when swimming in chlorinated water. If you are in those truths, then try some of this. Typically, it will perform much better.
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How To Tell If Your Pool Has Too Much Chlorine
The chlorine in your pool is made up of two types of chlorine compounds. Free chlorine is the âgoodâ type of chlorine that is still available to eliminate bacteria and microorganisms. Combined chlorine, also known as chloramines, is what happens after the chlorine has combined with organic matter and is responsible for the characteristic smell associated with chlorinated pools.
Contrary to popular belief, you cannot smell how much chlorine is in your pool. Dry hair, sensitive skin and irritated eyes are all indicators of an over-chlorinated pool, but there is a less inconvenient and safer way to find out whether your pool has too much chlorine.
A DPD testing kit measures free and combined chlorine levels to give a total chlorine count. You could also use an OTO kit, but this only measures the free chlorine available in your pool. These types of titration tests are the most accurate method for determining the chlorine levels in your pool and help you better assess how to lower the chlorine levels in your pool if necessary.
To use the DPD testing kit, measure out a small amount of pool water and add buffered DPD powder to the water, which turns pink. Next, add a specialized FAS compound one drop at a time until the water transforms from pink to clear. Each drop of FAS compound is equivalent to 0.2 ppm of chlorine.
