Chlorine Pool System

Chlorine Pool System

Chlorine comes in different forms combined with ingredients which may be totally incompatible when mixed in the same container. Do not mix chlorine brands, types, or forms outside of the pool water. Caution: Never mix different types of chlorine or mix chlorine with anything outside the pool.
You may dissolve one kind or form of chlorine in the water, such as broadcasting granular, putting tablets in a chlorinator, or pouring liquid directly into the pool. Here at Central Jersey Pools, we can advise you on what types of chlorine can be used together. Example: don’t put tablets and sticks in the same container; granular and tablets in the same container, or granular and sticks in the same container. Two different types granular mixed together are potentially dangerous, as are two different types of tablets mixed together. All chlorine works the same way once it is dissolved in water, not before.
The two main types of chlorine are stabilized and destabilized. Stabilized chlorine contains cyanuric acid, a stabilizing agent. This delays it from being degraded by the sun. Destabilized chlorine is just pure chlorine. Stabilized costs slightly more, requires fewer doses, and requires less frequent testing.
You can instead use lower cost destabilized chlorine and add cyanuric acid to the pool water to make it last longer in the sun. Destabilized chlorine must be added daily unless you are using a feeder which allows the chlorine to dissolve gradually into the water. Destabilized chlorine costs less, and usually requires more frequent attention.
Ask us at Central Jersey Pools which type of chlorine is best for your pool. Also ask about different types of chlorine feeders.
Caution: Do not add granular shock through the skimmer, especially is you have an automatic Chlorinator.
As long as you keep the required amount of chlorine in the pool water, you will never have problems with your pool.
No Chlorine = Algae, Mold, and Bacteria
Lack of enough chlorine is the largest cause of algae, haze, and foul odors. One part per million of free, available chlorine is sanitary. That means it is virtually impossible to contract a bacterially sourced illness. The water may be cloudy, green, blue, or brown, but it is sanitary. You will be able to swim in it without fear of catching anything. Other concerns, however, are safety, visibility, slipperiness, and aesthetics. The solution is to bring the chlorine level up to 1-3ppm (parts per million).
To keep water sanitary, clean, and clear, chlorine should be kept at a level of 1-3ppm. If the weather is very hot, check the chlorine level in your pool at least once per day. After you get used to the routine, you will have a good idea of how much chlorine your pool requires, and you won’t need to test as often. No matter how much you have been adding, if the chlorine level tests to low, you need to add more.

Odors, Eye, and Skin Irritation

If you are being irritated by chlorine odors, chances are the chlorine level is low. At low levels, chlorine will combine with ammonia compounds. These compounds get into the water through perspiration, urine, and some other ways. The chlorine and ammonia combination is called chloramines, or combined chlorine.
Chloramines are irritating to the eyes and skin. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, you may notice the problem immediately. However, if you are not very sensitive to pain, you should test your water more often.

Testing for Chloramines

You can test for chloramines with the “DPD” test kit. It will measure the amount of free available chlorine in the water, verses the amount of chloramines. The best way to get rid of chloramines is to shock the pool.

Shocking your Pool

To get rid of chloramines is a chlorine based system, you need to shock the pool. This is done by raising the chlorine to a very high concentration, usually around 5-10ppm; you should ask us at Central Jersey Pools first. Chloramines will be gone in no time.
A day or two after you shock your pool, regular amounts of chlorine must be added as your basic sanitizer.
You need to shock your pool every 1-2 weeks to ensure that chloramines do not form. The pool also needs to be shocked after periods of heavy rain, after heavy use, when the water appears hazy, or algae is visible inside the pool. Yes, algae can be seen when it is forming inside your pool. It begins as very pale patches of green or yellow. They are barely visible. It can turn green in a matter of days depending on the water temperature and the amount of sunlight the pool receives. Just as shocking destroys chloramines, it also gets rid of cloudiness by burning off the organic matter which the algae feeds on.
Fast dissolving granular or liquid chlorine is best for shocking the pool. Your pool will reach a high chlorine level which will dissipate quickly. This will allow you to swim in your pool sooner.
Bromamines are the equivalent of chloramines in at bromine based system. They are shocked using heavy doses of fast dissolving chlorine.