September 2015 – Hard and Soft Water

Swimming pool liquid chlorine

Liquid chlorine is one of the common chlorine that is used in pool as a sanitizer. A lot of larger swimming pools use this to get economic advantage. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is the most common swimming pool liquid chlorine. Chemically, it is identical to bleach. The available chlorine is 10 – 15%. It is produced by passing chlorine gas through a solution of caustic soda. Although the liquid can be discharged directly into the pool water but it is recommended to use with a diaphragm pump or a peristaltic pump. Chlorine pump can helps to the pool operator to control the flow rate of the water. The drawbacks of this type chlorine is that It’s not stabilized, similar to pool chlorine tablets, therefore it is needs more cyanuric acid to shield the chlorine from the sunlight. Moreover, the pH level is high, approximately 13. Hence needs extra lot of acid to lower the pH level. It is not suitable for residential pools because of limited availability, corrosive and dangerous to handling. Florida is the most common state for pool liquid chlorine market and is sold in a 4×1 gal pack.

Swimming pool chlorine tablets

Tablets are other types of pool chlorine that is used in large or small pools. The most common chemical in tablet is Trichloro-s-triazinetrione. Last few years, a great amount of chlorine is used in pool water as in this form. This organic compound is produced by the reaction of cyanuric acid and chlorine gas. The available chlorine of this compound is about 90%. The pH level of this type of swimming pool chlorine tablets is low almost 3, hence it is required to add some base to maintain pH level.

This swimming pool water kits is preferred more than pool liquid chlorine. The swimming pool chlorine tablets are dissolved slowly hence they are suitable for floaters, feeders or skimmer. It is very easy and effective to apply and provide more exact results but expensive. As the swimming pool chlorine tablets can stain and etch plaster, corrosive to equipment and deteriorate vinyl, then it is not wise decision to thrown directly into the pool water.

In The Swim 3 Inch Pool Chlorine Tablets 50 lbs.

Granular pool chlorine
Granular chlorine is another type of pool chlorine. There are different types of Granular pool chlorine such as:

Dichloro-s-triazinetrione
Dichloro-s-triazinetrione is one of the granular pool chlorine. The available chlorine of this compound is about 62%. This granular pool chlorine dissolves fast and works accurately on contaminants. The pH level of this compound is almost 7. It is a stabilized form of granular chlorine because it consists of cyanuric acid. It can be apply as normal sanitation or as a shock. The disadvantage of it is highly expensive depends on available chlorine.

Lithium Hypochlorite
Lithium Hypochlorite is another type of granular pool chlorine. The available chlorine of this compound is about 35%. As like Dichloro-s-triazinetrione it is also very costly product. The pH level is almost 11, so needs additional acid to adjust pH level of the pool water. The main advantages of this granular pool chlorine are that it does not increase the pool hardness non-flammable, dust free, safe for vinyl liner pools and dissolves extremely fast. It can be applied as shock or for regular chlorination.

Calcium Hypochlorite
The most common type of granular pool chlorine is Calcium Hypochlorite. Moreover it can be also purchased as tablet form. The available chlorine of this compound is about 65%. The pH level is almost 12, so needs additional acid to adjust pH level of the pool water. The main advantages of this granular pool chlorine are that it is low price, has a rapid demolish rate against algae and chloramines, and dissolve more rapidly than the larger granules. For this reason, Calcium Hypochlorite is very popular and commonly used as shock treatment throughout the country. The main problem is that it is increase hardness level, very dusty and becomes contaminated easily by foreign substances which can cause combustion. Moreover it is un-stabilized.

In The Swim Chlorine Pool Shock – 24 X 1 lb. bags

Powdered Chlorine
Powdered chlorine is another type of pool chlorine; it is also known as powered shock. It is generally used when pool water needs an intense duty cleaning. Normally have to use it on a monthly basis.

Summary
Slow dissolving and slow reacting chlorine is suitable for everyday chlorination of small or large pools, so pool chlorine tablets or sticks is best for in this case. Moreover, it is easy and risk-free to store and handle. Due to rapid dissolve character, granular chlorine is appropriate so as to shock the pool. Pool liquid chlorine is suitable for larger swimming pools. In case of Vinyl liner pools, it is recommended to dissolve pool shock before adding to avoid bleaching the liner; or apply Lithium pool shock. It is unsafe to mix different types of chlorine. Especially granular pool chlorine is dangerous to mix with other chemicals such as algaecide, antifreeze, soda pop, so carefully handle and store.

During swimming pool maintenance, very often it is need to add chlorine. Sometimes the chlorine level becomes too much high. Therefore, it is need to lower swimming pool water chlorine level. Before, discussing “how to lower pool chlorine?” we discuss about why is chlorine used in pools water, how does chlorine work and dangers of chlorine.

Table of Contents:

Why is chlorine used in pools water

Why is chlorine used in pools? Due to insufficient chlorine in pool water algae, micro-organisms and bacteria are growth rapidly. These causes cloudy water, waterborne disease, and unsatisfactory sanitation of the water.

How does chlorine work

Chlorine kills microorganisms and bacteria in water by the process of chemical reaction. When the chlorine reagents discharge into the pool water then, it break into various chemicals such as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypochlorite ion (OCl^–). Both these chemicals attack the lipids in the cell walls of bacteria and microorganisms and destroy the enzymes and structures inside the cell through the oxidizing reaction. Hypochlorous acid is more oxidizing agent then hypochlorite ion; normally it takes several second for this reaction in pool water whereas hypochlorite ion can takes up to 30 minutes. The production of HOCl and OCl^– depends on pH level of the pool water; it is highest when the pH level of pool water is between 7 and 8. Too high pH indicates lower production of HOCl (hypochlorous acid) and OCl^–. During cleaning the pool, they may combine with nitrogen compounds such as ammonia, or break into single atoms and deactivated. Moreover sunlight, water temperature also effects on the rate of this reactions. Therefore, more chlorine is required to the pool.

Cl₂ + H₂O → HOCl + HCl

Dangers of chlorine

Although proper dosages of chlorine is beneficial for pool water, but Extra chlorine is not good for human health. It has many side effects that can be aggravating to humans. Generally chlorine is a carcinogenic chemical. Additional chlorine in pool water can irritate the eye, nose and skin, creates coughing, wheezing, or even asthma. Here the chlorine is calculated with the combination of free and combined chlorine. Excess chlorine can also degrade the color of swimsuits and towels, damage hair, Pool surfaces and equipment. Therefore, it is essential to maintaining proper level of chlorine so that we can avoid the dangers of chlorine.

In The Swim Pool Water Chlorine Neutralizer – 2.25 lbs.

Swimming pool chlorine levels

Swimming pool chlorine levels should be kept at a certain range to ensure sufficient sanitation or avoiding dangers of chlorine. The desirable amount of free available chlorine in the pool water is 1.0-3.0ppm. It is better to keep 2.0ppm. In addition combined chlorine should be between 0 to 0.5 ppm.

How to lower pool chlorine

There are many easy way to reduce the chlorine level in pool water. Although indoor pool water can be more complicated to handle, but a lot of alternative are available. Some of them are described below:

1. Stop adding Chlorine:

If the chlorine level of your pool water is higher than 3ppm then, immediately stop adding more chlorine to the water until the level is suitable again. To stop adding chlorine, turn off automatic chlorinator, chlorine feeder or generator; remove the chlorine floater or chlorine tablet from the pool skimmer which system you are used.

2. By replacing existing pool water

By replacing some amount of pool water, someone can reduce the chlorine level; this may be one third. Then add same amount of fresh water, it will dilute the chlorine and you will able to lower the chorine level in pool water. This process is costly. Moreover, the water becomes out of balance such as calcium hardness, pH, alkalinity, and cyanuric acid levels.

3. With natural sunlight

Sunlight can remove chlorine naturally. Uncovered the pool and permit the sunlight to enter the pool so that it can reduce the chlorine level of pool water. This process may take a few days. It is recommended that it should be monitor if the chlorine level is lessening. If you have enough time before using the pool again, then this process is very good. You can use UV lamp as an alternatives of sunlight. On the other hand if you have few times, then you can follow other process. But you have to aware, it can effect on the water balance of the pool.

In The Swim Pool Water Chlorine Neutralizer – 15 lbs.

4. With a chlorine neutralizer

Several neutralizing chemicals such as Sodium Thiosulfate, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Bisulfite, Sodium Metasulfite can reduce the chlorine in pool water. It is not wise decision to use too much chlorine neutralizer, it is also creates troubles.

4a. By using Sodium thiosulfate

The most common chlorine neutralizer is Sodium thiosulfate. Always discharge an accurate dose gradually; normally 75ml of sodium thiosulfate can reduce about 1 ppm of chlorine in 10,000 gallons of water. Since the Sodium thiosulfate is acidic, hence it reduces the pH level. Therefore, it is need to add pH increaser, after using this.

4b. By using Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is another chlorine neutralizer that can be used to lower the chlorine level. It works when the pH levels is higher than 7 and less effective at lower pH level. So if the pool has lower pH, then you have to adjust the pH before using hydrogen peroxide. It is a cheap chemical.

The other chlorine reducing chemicals are Sodium Sulfite, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Bisulfite and Sodium Metasulfite. When you use any chemicals you should follow the instructions on the chemicals, otherwise it can lead to worse problems. Always test the pool pH after using these neutralizers.

In The Swim Pool Water Chlorine Neutralizer – 15 lbs.

Conclusion
So if the pool have high chlorine levels, you need not to worry, the above few steps will help you to lower pool chlorine level and back to normal.

Month: September 2015

Types of pool chlorine – choose best one for pool water