If you love swimming in pools, I’m sure you’ve somehow smelled a disinfectant like smell whenever you are in one. That is what most people associate with chlorine pools.
When I was a kid, I knew that smell was called chlorine, but I didn’t know its purpose.
Whenever I ask what it is for, the adults will say it is to make the pool clean without further details.
So today I'm going to teach you everything there is to know about chlorine pools.
Chlorine is a natural chemical element. It is from ordinary salt and can become chlorine by passing an electric current from a common salt that can be dissolved in water. This process is what we call electrolysis.
Chlorine is known to have disinfection properties that’s been helping a lot of people around the world. It is used to make a lot of products that help improve public health, technology, transportation, and security all around us.
Products like food, water, medicine, and technology products like cell phones, computers, and other gadgets depend on what chlorine has to offer.
Chlorine has been known as a cleaning agent, especially when it comes to pool. In my article today, I will tell you the things you needed to know when it comes to chlorine. If you are a pool owner, it is advisable that you need to know everything that you need to know to keep your pool nice and clean.
Chlorine is a highly efficient cleaning agent that helps eradicate germs and bacteria in the pool. It is accessible, affordable, and comes in different forms, like in tablets, granules, and liquids that can effectively disinfect water in the pool. Chlorine can kill various kinds of bacteria and germs and can prevent algae growth. Pool chlorine can also be used and suitable for SPAs and Jacuzzis.
Using chlorine requires a lot of extra care and caution because it is hazardous and can impact your health and the environment if not handled properly.
Chlorine is an essential component of swimming pools; that is why it can also be called chlorine pools because it is the main element that can be found in pools.
Chlorine is added to the water to disinfect the water, and it is a great way to kill germs that can be found or formed in the swimming pool. Whenever chlorine is added to water, it creates an acid called hypochlorous that kills different bacteria.
There are a lot of dangerous bacteria that can be found in water like salmonella, E.coli, and a lot of germs that can cause sickness to whoever comes in contact with it. With the help of chlorine, these germs will be eradicated, and people will be saved from diseases.
The best thing about chlorine compared to others that can fight bacteria is that it works even for a long time after you add it into the pool water. Yes, it may not be the only product that can eradicate germs and bacteria, but it is the most reliable of them all when it comes to swimming pools.
There are a lot of benefits when it comes to having a chlorine pool, and one of them that it can clear water fast, and it is easy to operate. You have options for what kind of chlorine you want, and in this case, there are available chlorine tablets, which makes it easier for you to get.
Having a chlorine pool can lower your up-front costs if you are planning to build one for your house, and maintenance of it is accessible at it is safer on pools compared to salt pools that can ruin your pool accessories.
Aside from killing waterborne diseases, chlorine can also kill mildew, mold buildup, and bacteria that can live in the water.
If there are advantages of having a chlorine pool, there are some disadvantages that you should take note of if you want to use chlorine as a pool disinfectant.
Chlorine can fade clothing and can be harmful to your skin and eyes, especially if you have a history of skin allergies from chlorine. Having a chlorine pool means that you need to continually maintain and monitor its pH level so it won’t harm people when they swim. So you must get the chemistry of the pool right.
Chlorine is a chemical that could be dangerous and a hazard to your health if it is not stored correctly. Always be careful in handling chlorine and store it well where a child can’t reach it. Also, chlorine evaporates, so you need to check if it is sealed right.
Using chlorine can give you higher ongoing costs, and it is not economical if you are on a budget.
There are three kinds of chlorine that you can put in your pool. You have the option to use granular chlorine, tablet chlorine, or liquid chlorine.
These are simple ways on how you add chlorine to your pool and gentle reminders on how to use them properly.
Step 1 - Test your pool water and check the water for available chlorine. You need to record the results. Check your packet instructions and how many granules you should prepare.
Step 2 - You need to use a bucket and dip it in the pool until it ¾ full then slowly pour the measured chlorine granule into the bucket.
Step 3 - Stir the granules until it is completely dissolved then slowly pour into the pool. Make sure it is diluted.
It is a type of chlorine that is in tablet form, and it requires a specialized feeder system that will help dissolve the tablets fast. It can also help with circulating the chlorine in the pool. Always make sure that you use the correct tablet to the feeder as it is hazardous, and an explosion can occur if you put a wrong one.
Chlorine tablet is dangerous if not handled correctly, and it is advised that it should be put on skimmer baskets as it is very acidic. If you have chlorine floaters, make sure that you remove it when swimmers are going to use the pool. It can cause people harm, especially kids, if they grab into the floaters.
This is much easier to use as they have a straightforward procedure. All you need to do is measure and pour the measured chlorine around the perimeter of your pool. You can also put it on top of your inlet that pumps back water into the pool. Always remember to wear protective gear and be careful with pouring.
For some families, it may not be wise to have a chlorine pools, maybe its a skin issue or someone doesn't like the smell, whatever the reason the most popular chlorine pool alternative is a salt water pool.
If you want your pool water to be clean and safe to swim in, you will need to have chlorine as part of your pool maintenance. Chlorine makes your water safe because it attacks and neutralizes harmful bacteria and other organisms that is bad for you. The chemicals in the chlorine once in the water attack and breakdown the lipids that will kill the microorganisms.
Chlorine is the most effective way to disinfect your pool and make it fresh and clean. There are different kinds of chlorine that can be used in your pool. They are Dichloride, Trichloride, Calcium, and Sodium Hypochlorite. So here are a brief description of each that will help you choose what kind of chlorinated products that will be a suitable one for your pool.
Dichloride is the fast-acting, or you could say shock treatment and commonly used if your pool needs drastic disinfection. It is used if your pool hasn’t received chlorine treatment for a long time or if your pool was used for a party where a lot of people swam in it. This type of chlorine dissolves fast and acts quickly compared to other kinds of chlorines.
Trichloride is the opposite of dichloride because it is slow-acting chlorine. It is mainly used for keeping the pool water in good condition and very important in maintaining the water from any harmful microorganisms that may get into it after disinfecting. Trichloride as an active ingredient that dissolves and released slowly compared to dichloride. If you are going to use trichloride to your pool water, make sure it is always above 1ppm. However, it depends how many people are swimming and the temperature of the water as well as sun exposure.
Hypochlorites is the cheapest among the other chlorines. It may be cheap, but it works successfully, and a lot of people use it for their pools. Calcium hypochlorite is in the form of white powder or granules that clean germs and bacteria. Like Tricholride, it is slow-dissolving, but it can clog up your pool and reduce the pH level and even increase alkalinity.
While Sodium Hypochlrorite is yellow and dissolves fast like dichloride, however, using it may need more precaution because it is more corrosive and unstable. Acid should be used to prevent the water for too much alkaline.
Chlorine is beneficial in cleaning your pool, but too much chlorine has side effects on people who are swimming in it. It is why you should be meticulous in using chlorine and knows how to maintain it.
As much as chlorine helps in disinfecting pools, it could create a harmful effect on our body like red eyes, making our skin and hair dry and can have a strong odor. However, without chlorine in swimming pools may endanger lives because of bacterias and nasty microbes that you can get. But then the real danger in swimming pools with chlorine is when it is combined with other chemicals that people may bring when they swim in the pool. Body care products such as shampoos, conditioners, and sunblock lotion may react not so nicely with chlorine.
Chlorine itself may be dangerous to people who have existing skin allergies and asthmas and can develop it. There are also some studies that exposure to chlorine can be linked to bladder and rectal cancer and can increase heart disease.
Chemically treated pools are safe to swim in, and it is much better compared to not treated ones. Make sure that your pool is well maintained and always remind people not to pee in it.
Chlorine does not stay forever in your pool once you put it in. That is why you need constant maintenance because the chlorine in pools can last for about 4 ½ days. Some factors can make it last longer, but making sure that your pool is well maintained and cared for.
If your pool water turns into green color, then you might have an algae problem. There are a lot of ways to treat and kill algae, but it may take a long time to kill them, and you need to wait for several days that might make time for the algae to build up. The most effective way to eradicate algae from your pool and prevent it from growing is to use chlorine.
Chlorine is an algae killer, and using a large dose can shock your pool that will effectively kill the algae. It will take you 1-3 days for them to be gone, but some pools needed a week if the conditions are poor.
If you love swimming, I’m sure you have a lot of exposure to chlorinated pools. Chlorine is useful in disinfecting pools but not too much when it comes to our body as some people can experience red eyes, drying of skin, and skin allergies.
In order not to aggravate the effects of chlorine on your body. It is not advisable not to shower after swimming in chlorinated pools as you may end up with dry skin and brittleness of hair. It should be a habit to always shower after swimming and apply a moisturizer so you can replenish your natural oils that the chlorine stripped away.
Chlorine pools are the most popular type of pools we have today, as a lot of people are using it. You can see it in hotels, resorts and even in people's backyards. It is a conventional pool as it is easy to maintain compared to others.
The best thing about chlorine pools is that it keeps the pool clean and germ-free where your family can feel safe and can enjoy swimming in the water.
I hope this article was able to help you in understanding how chlorine works and how it helps in cleaning and maintaining your pool. Using chlorine is not bad as long as you can now how to use it properly and knows what it can do to your body.
Also, make sure to remind the swimmers on how to properly use the pool and tell them not to pee nor spit while swimming.
