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The most common chemical used in the treatment of swimming pool water is chlorine. It not only eliminates bacteria and algae by disinfecting (killing) action, it also oxidizes (chemically destroys) other materials such as dirt and chloramines.
Is it OK to swim in a pool without chlorine?
The Bottom Line about Pools and Chlorine As mentioned above, you could probably swim in a pool without chlorine without any major health issues. However, long-term use of a pool lacking chlorinated H2O could make you sick or, at the very least, contribute to rashes and other types of skin irritation.
Why does pool water have chlorine?
Why is chlorine added to swimming pools? Chlorine is added to the water to kill germs. When it is added to a swimming pool, it forms a weak acid called hypochlorous acid that kills bacteria like salmonella and E.
How often should you change swimming pool water?
Generally, pool water needs to be replaced once every five to seven years. This should be done during mild weather so that your pool surface is not at risk from strong sunlight and heat. Your pool maintenance company can recommend when it is time to drain your pool.
Can you swim in a freshly filled pool?
Wait about 20 minutes after adding balancing chemicals to your newly filled pool, and you should be good to swim. If you’ll only be adding liquid chlorine, it’s generally safe to swim after about 4 hours or until levels are 5 ppm or lower.
Is pool chlorine the same as bleach?
The main difference between bleach and chlorine is their strength. Chlorine is much stronger than bleach. To get your pools chlorine level to the point it needs to be to keep the pool looking clean and bright; you will need to use more bleach than you will chlorine.
What happens if I put too much chlorine in my pool?
Excess chlorine can alter the pH level of the water in the pool, making it more acidic. The acid levels can cause any of the following symptoms: Irritant dermatitis which is a red skin rash characterized by raised itchy red bumps. Eye irritation and over-dilated blood vessels in the eyes.
Does draining a pool damage it?
First, if the draining is done at the wrong time or under the wrong conditions, you can actually risk damaging your pool structure and liner. All the water from your pool needs to go somewhere when it’s drained, and that usually means the ground. For fiberglass pools, the risks of damage are even greater.
Can pool water go bad?
Well maintained pool water can last up to 5, maybe even seven years before you need to replace it. There are a variety of reasons that your pool water may need to be replaced, including: Extreme amounts of algae. If the algae in your pool get so bad that a chlorine shock doesn’t work, replace the water immediately.
Should I drain my pool after it rains?
If you have a typical rainfall, or even several inches, your pool should be fine, since drains and skimmers are designed to remove the excess water. In most cases, your pool can even handle rain from most tropical depressions and hurricanes. Then, turn the pump back on until the water drains by one or two feet.
Why is my pool green when I just filled it?
Your first instinct when you fill your pool with new water, is to shock it. But that shock then oxidizes the metals, that chemical reaction then causes the green hue in your water. This is common with refills that used well water or even water that hasn’t been shocked but instead contains a high level of metals.
Should you shock a newly filled pool?
Add a clarifier to the water. The clarifier will help the filter to remove the very tiny particles that enter the pool in the filling process or that may remain following construction and installation. Shock treat the pool using a quality non-chlorine shock.
What do you do first when filling a pool?
Tips for Adding Start-Up Pool Chemicals Run filter pump while adding chemicals to circulate. Re-test the pool water after 8 hours of filter run time. Add chlorine shock when the sun is not directly overhead. Add algaecides last, after chlorine level drops below 3 ppm.
Can I put a little bleach in my pool?
When chlorinating wading pools, use 1/8 cup per 100 gallons of new water. Mix required amount of Clorox® Regular Bleach2 with 2 gallons of water and scatter over surface of pool. (Clorox® Regular Bleach2 will not harm plastic pools.) Do not reenter pool until the chlorine residual is between 1 to 3 ppm.
Can I put household bleach in my pool?
It is important to know what exactly bleach is before you put it in your pool. Household bleach, Clorox and liquid chlorine can all be used to sanitize a pool. They are all types of chlorine. Household bleaches such as Clorox usually contain about 5-6% available chlorine, about half that of pool liquid chlorine.
Which is stronger bleach or chlorine?
Answer: It is true that pool chlorine is stronger than bleach. For bleach and water to be the same strength as pool chlorine and water, you would have to adjust the ratio, increasing the bleach and reducing the water.
