What Is A Residual Sanitizer
The big trick of a residual sanitizer is that it is right there in the water, all around the swimmers. Unlike a filter or UV system that the water must pass through to be cleaned.
A residual not only maintains the pool, it actively kills bacteria as it is introduced to the water. This is really important when bathers are in the water. A residual can prevent the spread of germs that can make multiple people sick. Some residual options also prevent algae and biofilm from building up as well.
A residual is usually fed into the water or dispensed in some way. Once you maintain the proper residual level in the water the water is kept clean at all times. The residual is available to sanitize, even if the pump is off and the chemical is not being fed into the water 24/7.
There are many options for a residual sanitizer. Lets break them into a few categories to explain the pros and cons of each option.
TLDR: Heres a quick summary!
Use mineral systems as a complement to chlorine. You can try biguanide to truly go chlorine free, just make sure you understand the quirks. For the most reliable and effective residual, chlorine is still the way to go. Keep reading for details!
Reduction In Water Temperature:
Reducing your water temperature to colder than normal will help slow bacterial and algal growth. Most of these microorganisms thrive and proliferate in warm to hot environments. Also, it reduces the speed of chemicals reacting with each other or human skin. So, while reducing temperature is not an independent solution, it can definitely reduce the quantity of chlorine you would have to use otherwise. The drawback here is that it is difficult for some people to swim comfortably in cold water. The method you adopt to reduce the water temperature would largely depend on the outside weather. If the climate is warm and pleasant, you can go for a pool chiller. If the outside weather is cold, you can opt for aeration or oxygenation through fountains. If you have a water heater installed, lower the thermostat level. Heaters and chillers are very expensive in comparison to other pool equipment options. Chlorine, or other sanitation systems, still must be used. However, the amount required is reduced. Probably not enough to justify the expense.
What Is A Pool Sanitizer
A pool sanitizer cleans and sanitizes the swimming pools water and makes it safe for swimming. It does this by eliminating harmful pathogens that can cause illness for swimmers. As an added bonus, pool sanitizers also help to keep algae at bay.
As you may already know, chlorine is the most popular pool sanitizer, but there are a host of other sanitation methods that you can use to keep your pool clean.
Before we get into these various methods, let’s talk about pool chlorine and explain why it is so popular and effective for sanitizing pool water.
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What Is The Best Pool Sanitizer
Poolpool sanitizingbest pool sanitizerpool sanitizingPools
. Considering this, are UV pool sanitizers worth it?
So adding germ-killing chlorine to a UV system is ideal for a residential pool. But you should still consider installing a UV sanitizer since it should help you decrease the amount of chlorine needed for your pool. UV systems are expensive, ranging from $500 to $2000.
is there an alternative to chlorine in a pool? There are alternatives to chlorine including bromine, ionizers, and ozonators, though with each you’ll still need to use some chlorine. A fourth alternative is PHMB, which doesn’t require the use of any chlorine. All four have drawbacks, including cost. Chlorine is relatively cheap.
Hereof, what is sanitizer for pool?
Sanitizers are used to kill bacteria and inhibit the growth of viruses, algae and other organic contaminants that enter your pool water by way of wind, rain, dust and swimmers. The most common pool water sanitizer is chlorine. Chlorine may be added daily, weekly or monthly depending on the type used.
Is chlorine and shock the same thing?
Shock is chlorine, in a high dose, meant to shock your pool and raise the chlorine level quickly. Chlorine tabs maintain a chlorine residual in the water. You do need to use both tabs and shock.
Q What Is The Best Pool Sanitizer
Although there are now many options to supplement chlorine, ozone and UV stand out as the most effective and practical. In fact, only UV and ozone are able to effectively eliminate pathogens that chlorine alone cannot. There is a key difference on how these two supplemental forms of sanitation work. Ozone is released in the water and dissipates rapidly, providing oxidation. The ozone gases are then released into the air or directed to a degasser vessel. An ultraviolet system sanitizes the water as it passes by the lamp in the UV chamber. There is no residual with a UV system, making it the better choice.
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Q How Much Electrical Power Is Required To Operate The Uv System
A. Another one of the big advantages to the Ultra UV pool sanitizer and the UV-C50 sanitizer is their low power draw and resulting low operating cost. Even an Ultra UV system with 3 lamps draws less power than a 200W bulb. All Ultra UV and UV-C50 systems are cord connected Plugs used in most countries are normally available.
Q Can The Ultra Uv Pool Sanitizer Be Upgraded In The Field To Accommodate A Higher Flow
A. One of the key features of the Ultra UV pool sanitizer is its ability to be upgraded by adding one of more additional UV lamps to the system. This way, the pool owner who has not accurately calculated the output of their pool pump and finds the system they chose to be undersized, it is a simple matter of obtaining an upgrade kit from their supplier and making the upgrade right at the installation, in a matter of minutes. This unique feature also allows the pool owners Ultra UV supplier to provide the full range of Ultra UV systems from inventory, simply by upgrading a unit they have in stock to the desired unit, without waiting for the desired unit to arrive from Ultraviolet Systems Inc.
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What Does Baquacil Do
As we mentioned, the Baquacil product is designed to keep the pool clean and remove contaminants in the water. The product helps with this because it takes any of the particles or debris in the water and makes them stick together. When the products are sticking together, it is easier for the filter to clean them out.
Think of this kind of like sending sugar through a pasta strainer or sending spaghetti through a pasta strainer. Clearly, the sugar is going to pass right through without much impact on the particles. Therefore they would return directly to the water.
Which Pool System Is Right For You
Claire McDaniel
If youre a first-time pool owner or upgrading your pool features, choosing a pool system is one of the most important decisions and investments youll make for your pool. With so many water treatment options available, its important to do your research and find a pool system that best fits your households needs.
The purpose of any pool water treatment system is to keep pool water clean, clear and safe. However, not all systems provide the same features, required maintenance, price, health benefits and water quality.
To help narrow down your pool system search, lets dive into some of the pros and cons of the five most common pool systems available: chlorine, salt water, UV, ozone and hydroxyl-based advanced oxidation, or AOP.
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What Is Chlorine Gas For Pools
Chlorine gas contains 100% chlorine and is the most potent type of chlorine product available. As a result, pool maintenance specialists and public pool owners may use it to increase free chlorine levels in pools much more effectively than they can with conventional chlorine acid liquid solutions.
Because of its efficiency in both time and expense, chlorine gas is widely employed by professionals. In addition, chlorine gas is a great disinfectant, and it is available at a reasonable cost.
However, the expensive budget of maintaining equipment, increasing insurance rates, training requirements, transportation needs, and high toxicity levels have all contributed to a substantial reduction in its usage over the last several decades.
As a result, gas chlorine has been outlawed in several areas due to concerns about its safety. If chlorine gas is not handled properly, it may be hazardous and even fatal to health.
How Ozone Generators Maintain Pool Water:
Ozone water purification accounts for more than 90% of the worlds purified water. Its popular for a reason: A naturally occurring substance, ozone immediately reverts back to regular oxygen after use, without leaving anything toxic behind. This purification process requires an ozone generator using either UV bulb or a corona discharge system. A regular molecule of oxygen contains two atoms of oxygen ozone is created when a third is added. Produced ozone is passed into a diffuser, which creates bubbles and saturates them with ozone. These ozone-saturated bubbles are then mixed with pool water in a tank. There, ozone breaks down pathogens, resulting in healthy, swim-ready water. Benefits and considerations:
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Pros And Cons Of A Saltwater Pool
Pros:
- It provides powerful sanitation and soft, clear water.
- No need for chlorine tablets.
- It continuously eliminates chloramines from the water without having to shock the pool.
- It reduces the risk of skin and eye irritation.
- You will hardly feel any chlorine smell.
- Its very easy to maintain, however you have to test the water at least once a week.
Cons:
- High initial cost.
- You have to replace the salt cell unit regularly .
- Salt being corrosive may damage certain metal equipment of the pool, especially if the water chemistry or the chlorine generator is not maintained properly. Also, saltwater may harm nearby plants if theyre regularly exposed to it.
- The pH usually rises rapidly in a saltwater pool that you have to adjust regularly.
- If you want to reduce or avoid all forms of chlorine in your pool, this solution is not meant for you.
What Is Chlorine Gas
Chlorine gas is the most potent form of chlorine product as it is 100% chlorine. It is used by pool maintenance professionals and public pool complexes to raise free chlorine levels very efficiently, compared to chlorine acid liquid solutions. Even though chlorine gas is commonly used by professionals because of its efficiency in terms of both time and cost, it is probably overkill for most residential needs. Chlorine gas may also be dangerous and lead to poisoning if not handled correctly.
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Can A Uv Pool Sanitizer Get Rid Of That Chlorine Smell
A hint of chlorine in the water signifies to most people that a swimming pool is clean, but that smell can be too strong sometimes. Plus, it can wreak havoc on the body. However, its not the chlorine itself thats responsible for that distinct odor.
When people swim in a pool, sunscreen, sweat, natural body oils and urine build up over time. These substances react with the chlorine in the water, creating an off-gas known as chloramine. Its the chloramine, not the chlorine, that makes the knock-you-over chemical smell.
Indoor swimming pools tend to have a bigger problem with chloramines due to the lack of circulation in the surrounding atmosphere. Shocking the pool by adding more chlorine is the traditional way to get rid of chloramines. However, a UV sanitizer can greatly reduce the chloramine level in a swimming pool and eliminate that accompanying smell.
What To Use Besides A Residual
Other than biguanide mentioned above there really isnt a true chlorine-free option for residuals. However, you can get the most out of a chlorine system by adding a powerful advanced sanitizer.
The chlorine residual works in the body of water. A second system like UV, Ozone or AOP treats the water before it gets to the pool.
Powerful disinfection or oxidation takes the water to a whole new level. Chloramines are reduced and removed. With ozone and AOP, contaminants are destroyed much faster than with chlorine alone. And chlorine-resistant bacteria are broken down, making swimmers safer.
Find The Right System For You With The Best Residual And The Best Advanced Sanitizer. Check out all of the options at c-m-p.com/pool-products/pool-sanitizers.
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Types Of Pool Chlorine
We are not listing all sanitizerssuch as chlorine alternativesin this article. We have another article about these alternatives. We are also not talking about secondary disinfection systems because they do not provide a residual sanitizer. Let’s stay focused on different chlorine types.
A few notes:
- Different chlorine types are volatile and hazardous if mixed together. Two types of chlorine together can spontaneously combust or even explode. NEVER store, handle, or mix different chlorines together.
- Never mix any type of chlorine with acid directly. The fumes are toxic and the reaction can be flammable.
- Elemental chlorine is a halogen gas . It is extremely strong and effective, but because of safety hazards, it is outlawed in most places. We mention it here for informational reasons, but it is not a common solution anymore.
- There are two categories of chlorine we will cover: non-stabilized and stabilized. The difference is cyanuric acid is blended into stabilized chlorine.
For more detailed chemistry info, we hyperlink to some of our online sources. Our primary resource for this chlorine information is the IPSSA Basic Training Manual, Chapters 5 and 6.
What Is Hot Tub Sanitizer
What is hot tub sanitizer exactly? The simple answer is that sanitizer is the component of hot tub chemistry that kills all the bad stuff. You need a sanitizer otherwise your hot tub would become a soup of bacteria and other living organisms that may be harmful or nasty. We all want to relax in a tub that is crystal clear and of course safe, and without a sanitizer and a maintenance schedule that just can’t happen.
A hot tub sanitizer system can come in the form of a powder or liquid that’s added to the water as needed. It can also consist of a device that converts salt water to chlorine so you don’t need to add anything other than salt once or twice a year. We’ll take a look at the the different sanitizer methods available.
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Ultraviolet Pool Sanitizing Light
Ultraviolet sanitation is a powerful disinfection method that uses short-wavelength UV light to kill or inactivate microorganisms by disrupting their DNA. UV light destroys cysts, algae, viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, and even kills pathogens that are chlorine-resistant, such as E. Coli, Giardia, Cyclospora, and Cryptosporidium.
Mineral Sanitizers For Pools And Spas
You may have heard of people using minerals to sanitize their pool or spa water. But what does that mean, and why all the hype? Were here to answer some of the most common questions related to mineral sanitation systems. In this blog post, you’ll find all the facts you need to help you decide if a mineral sanitizer is right for you.
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How To Convert To Baquacil
Now that you have a better understanding of the Baquacil products, its important to know what will be involved in the conversion process. If you think this chemical could be the best choice for your pool, then you need to be careful in how you introduce it. Here are some of the steps you should follow to ensure that your pool water is ready to be switched to a Baquacil treated pool.
Pool Chlorine Pros And Cons
To summarize the benefits and drawbacks of using chlorine in your swimming pool, here is a quick list of pros and cons:
Pros
- Effectively kills or inactivates pathogens and algae
- Multiple use options
- Oxidizes materials in the water
- Works in indoor and outdoor pools
- Works with all three pool types
- Maintains a residual concentration in the water
Cons
- Can leave a strong smell
- May cause eye or skin irritation
- Salt chlorine systems can wear down vinyl liner and concrete pools
- Can bleach vinyl liners if there is prolonged contact
- Chlorine products sometimes contain other ingredients that dilute the amount of available chlorine content
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Advantages And Disadvantages Of Solar Pool Ionizers
Knowing exactly what these are is essential for a buyer so that they will know what to expect from their device. With this, they can truly know if the product will meet and satisfy their needs and decide if they really want to buy the product or not.
Advantages
Eco-friendly
Like all solar devices, the first and foremost benefit given by solar pool ionizers is their environmental-friendliness. In this device, you only need the suns energy that is a clean and renewable source. Thus, you can reduce your familys footprint.
Economical
Using solar energy can definitely help reduce household expenses as pools need frequent cleaning. For one, you can save since it relies on solar energy, which is essentially free.
Moreover, due to the minerals and ions, you can also reduce your chlorine use. Some users claim that they reduced their chlorine use by up to 50% since you only need to have a chlorine level of at least of .2 ppm.
Easy to maintain
Pools with pool ionizers are easier to maintain compared to their counterparts. This is because the minerals and ions have a long lifespan in the water and remain there for a long time. Thus, they still actively fight off and prevent bacteria growth.
With this, you dont have to clean it as often.
Safe
Since pool ionizers release minerals and ions, they are safer compared to using chemical cleaners such as chlorine and bromine.
Disadvantages
Staining
Slow process
Check TDS levels
