If you wish to maintain a pool it can be a little more difficult than you first envisage. Components that you may have never crossed your mind such as filtration systems to keep clear, pool lining, tiles to keep clean, that is not even starting on the sanitisation system. So balancing your pools chemistry and learning how to lower chlorine levels in pools may seem to be a horrifying task plus balancing chlorine levels sends you into a spin. Don’t worry we are here to help you so please read on.
From the outset, it looks like adding more chlorine equals a cleaner pool? So you will be happy to know there is a good compromise and reading this blog will help you understand it. If you accidentally add too much chlorine then you will need to rectify it and quickly.
What are the causes of high chlorine levels in Your pool?
Well, there are a number of reasons why the chlorine levels in your pool could be too high. Maybe you had a pool party with lots of friends and family over and you have decided to shock the pool and poured too much calcium hypochlorite. Or maybe you have been away on holiday and got home and remembered that you overfilled the saltwater chlorinator with too many tablets.
Numerous swimming pool owners also use a chemical called cyanuric acid. They use this in their swimming pools to protect the chemical structure of chlorine and prevent it from diminishing when it’s exposed to direct sunlight with very strong rays from the sun. So adding a splash of chlorine and cyanric acid can cause to much chlorine amongst other harmful cocktails.
If you pool is inside a partially shaded area or inside some sort of structure protected from direct sunlight you will probably not need as much chlorine as say your neighbour who may be advising you to add the same amount, he or she does to their swimming pool. Remember especially if you live in a warmer climate the sunlight will affect the effectiveness of using chlorine in your swimming pool. Obviously if you live in a mild to cold climate you will need to use less chlorine.
According to the association of pool and spa professionals the recommended chlorine level in your pool should be between 2.0 to 4.0ppm ( parts per million ). The best way to test this is to use test strips and you should be testing your pool at least once or twice a week or more if you have many people using the pool during the week. If the levels do fall below 2.0ppm then you your pool has not been sanitised correctly and could be unsafe to use. However, if this is a rare assurance you can obviously still use the pool.
If the chlorine level is too high in a pool this can have severe consequences. This can be anything from skin allergies,irritation,itching, red eyes,drying out the bather’s skin, and the most worrying is more and more bathers suffer from breathing conditions, and in some cases if swallowed becoming sick. The other effects are not as bad but still not good for example buying new swimwear and it discolouring only after one swim if the chlorine level is too high. You may laugh but people who have had their hair coloured will also have their colour run out and into the pool and make them a mess to look at.
Chlorine is a hazardous material in most people’s eyes, it not only dangerous to the bather as pointed out above but also to the immediate surrounding environment. This is often due to pool service people using bleach to clean the pool and combined with the chlorine makes chlorine gas which is deadly to not only the bathers but everyone in the vicinity. Did you also know chlorine gas was used by the Nazi’s in world war two.
The top 5 ways how to lower chlorine levels in pools.
1. Naturally:
The most environmentally way of reducing the chlorine levels in your pool is to let nature do it for you. If you live in a warm climate then the sun eradiating ultraviolet light and heat will help breakdown the chemical compound into the air. You must make sure the pool is either uncovered if outside or well ventilated if it’s located inside a building.
Advantage : This does not cost anything to do.
Disadvantage : This may take a lengthy period of time.
The most environmentally way of reducing the chlorine levels in your pool is to let nature do it for you. If you live in a warm climate then the sun eradiating ultraviolet light and heat will help breakdown the chemical compound into the air. You must make sure the pool is either uncovered if outside or well ventilated if it’s located inside a building.
Advantage : This does not cost anything to do.
2. ADD hydrogen peroxide:
This chemical can break down the chemical structure of chlorine. It is obviously very dangerous to use and if used you must take precautions.
Advantage :Easiely available and cheap to purchase.
Disadvantage: Adding will low the pools PH level.
3. Add vitamin C or chemically known as ascorbic acid:
Yes this is the only way to lower chlorine levels and is not harmful but actually good for you and your pool .
Advantage: Good for the environment , and also good for cleaning fibre glass and vinyl pools.
Disadvantage: Expensive especially if you have a large pool and not always available from pool stores.
4. Add Chlorine Neutralizer Sodium Thiosulfate:
This chemical is probably the fastest way and easiest way of lowering the levels of chlorine in your pool.
Advantages: Easy to obtain from pool shops and affordable.
Disadvantages: Will lower the PH level of your pool.
5. Drain and replace your swimming pool water:
In some cases you will be able to get away with only draining a percentage of your swimming pool water. You can drain and test the waters ph level until you get down between 2.0ppm -4.0ppm. You may only need to drain the water by 1.0ppm -2.0ppm.
Advantage : Inexpensive
Disadvantage: You need to increase PH level is too low. Time-consuming.
If you ask how to lower chlorine levels in pools the simple answer is you don’t use chlorine. The simple solution is to use the Quest chlorine free swimming pool system.
Key benefits of our QUEST system are:
1) No nasty chemicals in the water, you swim in freshwater
2) No lingering scent from the pool, ideal for use in enclosed pools with commercial surroundings such as bars, restaurants etc.
3) Swimmers with respiratory problems or sensitive skin will appreciate our benign, non-chemical approach.
4) The ions we put into the water have excellent latency and remain active for long periods after the sanitiser has been operated. This contrasts with the chemical systems that need longer operation, monitoring and top up with the active chemicals.
5) Low operation cost due to (4) above, you only need the pool pump on a fraction of the time as you don’t need the water flow. This is a massive cost saving compared to UV systems and just about all other technology.
6) No handling and storage of nasty chemicals
7) Simple and quick to install and operate
8) No bleaching of the pool surrounds, tiles and quicker erosion of swimwear.
Other options:
There are many other options for sanitizing a pool by reducing chlorine levels the most popular one is by using salt water chlorinators.
These are most commonly used for domestic water purification systems around the world. They work by adding salt into the pool’s water. This salt is then converted into chlorine by using the process of electrolysis by passing the water through a cell. Many companies market this process as using a saltwater chlorinator as a chlorine free process, but it’s not. Basically, you are ending up with a chlorinated swimming pool.
Using a salt water chlorinator is basically converting your pool water into chlorinated water. So with this in mind you will have all the ongoing expenses of using chemical back ups making the whole process simply a waste of time such as buying stabilisers ,algaecides ,flocculants etc.
Using a saltwater chlorinator will also increase your running costs. It will require ongoing maintenance to maintain the correct residual chlorine level in the pool and you will need to know how to lower the chlorine levels in pools in extreme levels of heat, direct sunlight, and obviously bath load. The chlorinator will only work when the pump is running which results in an increased energy bill.
Conclusion:
To increase your enjoyment of owning a pool , knowing you are also making appositive impact of the environment ; knowing also that you are also enhancing your own health by swimming in a non chlorine and at that matter non chemical pool you have only one solution and that is to use the technology of electrolysis using a process that has been used since the millennium in purifying water chemical free. This will lower the chlorine levels to zero.
To see how the system works, simply go to our website and contact one of our approved distributors for a no-obligation consultation.
Go on, jump in. Quest is the answer.