June 4, 2011. Paul Hixon
In this article we provide a guide to using chlorine as a primary pool sanitizer. Chlorine is one of the most popular pool chemicals given its relative price (it is generally less expensive to treat a pool which chlorine than bromine), and ease of use.
Chlorine is a gas and is combined with other chemicals so that it can be used as a pool sanitizer. As it degrades quickly in sunlight and becomes ineffective as a sanitizer it needs to be stabilized. The most commonly used stabilizing agent is cyamuric acid which helps retain chlorine in the water for longer.
Chlorine is effective at killing bacteria, algae and other pathogens in the water. It also combines with wastes, ammonia and nitrates to form a combined chlorine compound called Chloramines.
Unfortunately if you let chloramines build up to high levels int he pool water they can irritate swimmers and cause an unpleasant odor. Chloramines are also not very effective sanitizer. Shocking the pool with a pool shock treatment works to remove the chloramines by breaking then down.
When managing a chlorine treated pool it is important to regularly check pH levels. This is because chlorine is only effective between pH 7.4 and 7.6.
While the chemistry of chlorination is complicated in practice it is very easy to maintain a chlorine system. The levels of chlorine in the water are very simple to measure and control. All you have to do is ensure that the pool water is regularly shocked and that pH levels remain within recommended levels.
Chlorine is available in liquid, powder and tablet form. Choose what ever delivery method you prefer. But remember that when comparing different products it is important to check for available chlorine levels. These can vary greatly going as low as 30% to over 90%. Make sure you are comparing like with like. A cheaper product may not be the delivering as much bang for the buck.
Updated June 4, 2011. Published January 15, 2011. Paul Hixon
