Having a crystal clear pool is great. But how much chlorine do you need exactly, and more importantly how often should you check it? Here's what you need to know about pool maintenance and chlorine levels. Chlorine is one of the most important chemicals in any pool since it is used for sanitizing your water. But adding too much chlorine to your pool can have adverse consequences such as an uncomfortable swimming experience, dry skin and eyesight issues, which is why you need to know how much chlorine to add.
Chlorine is an essential tool in the fight against germs and bacteria, and keeping it at the right level ensures that your swimming pool is clean and sparkling.
Why chlorine is necessary for pools.
Chlorine is one of the most necessary elements to keeping a pool sparkling clean and healthy for continual use. Chlorine is a chemical that when added to water creates a type of acid called hypochlorous acid. This weak chemical is able to kill bacteria that can live and grow in pool water, while still being safe for humans to swim in. However, this balance is so important to understand and measure regularly because if too much chlorine is added, it can quickly become harmful for not only the harmful bacteria that swim in the pool but also the people that use it.
How can you test the pool to assess its chlorine's levels?
There are 2 main ways people test their chlorine levels. The easiest method is to use test strips, and the most accurate way is to use testing kits.
Test Strips:
Test strips usually consist of small containers with colour charts on the outside that are used to compare to the corresponding meaning found on the box. A test can be done by collecting a small amount of water in the cylindrical container and reading the chart. There is almost always a manual in the box that will indicate how much water to collect and how long to leave it before checking the scale for results. In order to use this to assess chlorine levels you will need to compare the colour that appears on the tube with the scale chart written on the box or in the instructions. These colours are usually just a guide and might not match the shade perfectly. The colour will then come with a scale of ppm that coincide with your chlorine levels and will indicate how much chlorine to add.
Test Kits:
Test kits are the most accurate way of checking your pools chlorine levels, as they test a larger amount of water and can indicate a better picture of the pool’s health. Test kits will often come with a guide, a test tube for samples, a set of reagents and a saturation index tool. Test kits are certainly more complicated than strips but as long as you follow the instructions they can become the most reliable method of pool testing. With test kits it is crucial to adhere to all levels and instructions, as collecting the exact amount of water before adding the reagents is the only way to ensure the test is conclusive. Similarly to test strips, a colour will indicate the chlorine levels as they coincide with the graph and levels indicated in the manual.
For anyone looking for a reusable way to check chlorine levels, an electric tester meter is a mostly easy and automatic way to check a pool’s health. There are several affordable electronic devices available on the market that can check multiple readings at once, and do not need reagents, however, they are not as accurate at detecting chlorine levels as either test kits or test strips.
What are some of the different ways you can add chlorine into your pool?
Chlorine can be added to the pool in a number of ways, but by far the best method of adding chlorine to a pool is by using tablets. This method is superior to liquid as it is a slow-releasing method that can ensure the chlorine is equally distributed to all parts of the pool, rather than added in only one area.
How often do you need to top up the chlorine levels?
It’s important to check your chlorine levels regularly to ensure that your pool is sufficiently healthy for swimming. During the warmer months it is recommendaed to check the water at least once a week. The optimum chlorine level should be somewhere in between 1 and 3 ppm (parts per million). If the level is less than 1 ppm, additional chlorine should be added.
What if my chlorine levels are too high?
If you check your chlorine levels and they are too high, this can be fixed by a number of methods. You can allow the excess chlorine to naturally level out by turning your pool chlorinators to their lowest possible setting, remove swimming pool accessories and then expose the water to sunlight for around 3-6 days. If you need to use the water sooner than that, you can also buy chlorine remover chemicals, however these can be costly.
For a guide on how much chlorine to put into your pool its important to read the test kits provided and access an online calculator to check your pool size and the accurate amount needed. Alternatively you can google swimming pool shop near me and ask them for advice.