How to Maintain Chlorine Demand for Your Backyard Pool?

Achieving the right pool chemistry is the biggest achievement for a pool owner. Balancing the pool water with the right amount of chlorine requires proper knowledge.

As a pool owner, it is not expected to understand the expected standards of pool’s chlorination. Fortunately, in this article, we gathered pro tactics to maintain your pool’s chlorine demand.

So, let’s scroll down and learn about them:-

Install a Solar Cover

Investing in a solar cover reel or getting a patio cover installed is a practical solution. It absorbs the sun’s rays, therefore, less sun heat reaches the pool water. And, this decrease in sun rays intensity contributes to minimal breakdown of chlorine. The chlorine levels are thus maintained, and pool owners need not frequently add chlorine tablets to their pool water.

As the chlorine levels are on the higher side, the progression of algae will be thwarted.  Inhibiting swimming pool algae present a plethora of perks, and a few of these mentioned below:-

• Saving money by reducing the consumption of chemicals.
• Lower the filter blockages, thus minimizing maintenance costs.
• Enhance the aesthetics of the pool water.
• Prevent skin, eye, and gut infection.
• Avoid slippery surfaces.

Apart from these, the most compelling reason to invest in a solar pool cover is that it keeps the pool water at least 5-10 degrees warmer from the outside temperature, thus extending your pool season.

Use a Chlorine Stabilizer

Another smart way to prolong the effectiveness of chlorine is with the use of a chlorine stabilizer. The operational principle of a chlorine stabilizer involves the absorption of harmful UV rays of the sun which triggers the breakdown of chlorine in the pool water too fast.

So, if the chlorine remains stable, you won’t have to fill it as frequently to maintain the water chemistry. While purchasing a chlorine stabilizer may seem like an added expense, in the long run, you will save a good chunk of money. You can buy a pool stabilizer either as granules or liquid.

Scientifically how it works? The pool stabilizer binds to the chlorine ion to counter the effects of the sun’s rays, making the chloride ions impervious. Without the stabilizer, the UV sun rays will cause the breakdown of these ions, causing the chlorine to evaporate into the air.

In a nutshell, a pool stabilizer is an incredibly useful product to extend the lifespan of your chlorine, aids in maintaining pool chemistry, and saving you money.

Raising Your Pool’s PH Level

If the pH level of your swimming pool water is below seven, it will consume more chlorine. Obviously, you don’t want to make your pool acidic with the aim of maintaining the pool levels — as burning your kids and your guests’ skin isn’t a good idea. Therefore, the ideal pH range is between 7.4 to 7.6.

Test your pool to monitor the pH levels, if there is a dip, then there are simple solutions to increase it. Soda ash is an effective way to boost the pH level, without altering the pool alkalinity.

Cooling Your Pool Down

An overly warm pool of water will attract bacteria as it thrives in a warm & wet environment. Thus, higher levels lead to the consumption of chlorine for eradicating bacteria.

So, if your pool is feeling like a hot tub, consider lowering the pool water temperature to avoid high consumption of chlorine to keep the bacteria at bay. There are several great options to achieve that, including an aerator.

An aerator is an attachment that is screwed into the pool’s one side and sprays water back into the pool. The process injects oxygen into the pool water, thereby bringing down the temperature a few degrees. For a significant drop in pool water temperature, consider installing a pool cooler that cools the pool water via the fan. The cooled water is pumped back into the pool.

Risks of Over-Chlorination

While a little over the normal chlorine levels in the pool water is harmless, over-chlorination can cause adverse effects on one’s health and well-being. Excess levels of chlorine in the pool water can alter the Ph level in the pool water. The high-chlorine levels can cause the following symptoms:-

• Irritant dermatitis, characterized by itchy, red bumps on the skin.
• Eye irritation is a prevalent symptom.
• Asthma and respiratory illness because of excess chlorine vapor.

Over-chlorination can lead to chlorine poisoning in the worst-case scenario, and the following are the signs:-

• Pain in the chest.
• Dizziness
• Burning sensation in the throat.
• Persistent coughing.

There are modern test kits that you can easily use to quickly check the chlorine levels in the pool water. Ideally, you should check the pool water chemist at least once a fortnight.

Tips to Lower the Chlorine Level in Your Pool

• Swimming more, and avoid adding chlorine to pool water for some time.
• Use the sunshine to dissipate chlorine in your pool water.
• Increasing the pool temperature can indirectly affect the chlorine levels of the pool water.
• Dilute the pool water to eliminate the excessive chlorine.
• Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizer. It reacts with the chlorine in the pool water to produce oxygen & water.
• Use a chlorine neutralizing product
• Sodium Thiosulfate is an affordable alternative.

The Bottom Line

Both low and high levels of chlorine are bad in the pool water. Regular testing is the best way to maintain the right pool water chemistry. This will ensure that your swimming pool is safe for you and your family to dive in.