As huge investments as far as home making is concerned, pools need to be maintained to ensure that the pool will provide more bang for one’s buck and be of use for a long time, most especially if it was constructed for business. And chlorine tablets are one of the most convenient means of cleaning one’s pool.
With its convenience and apparent ease of use, it becomes susceptible in fact to incorrect usage and leads to more problems. In general, chlorine in any form is still a chemical and certain protocols should still be followed to ensure of its effectiveness each time. As a first timer, it is highly recommended that an expert who can teach how to use chlorine and other means of pool cleaning step by step be hired before starting. Different pools for different uses vary in maintenance needs thus an expert is a reliable person who can provide sound advice before purchasing or starting anything.
But for those who have been seasoned in pool ownership and simply would want to learn how to do it themselves, here is a three-step guide on how to do so:
1. Shock your pool before adding in more chlorine
Do you feel like just dumping a tablet or two of chlorine on your pool? It’s one of the most wrong moves a pool owner can do!
It is important to shock your pool to remove combined chlorine in the system. Chlorine is a chemical that works best when combined with other chemicals, not just with itself. Combined chlorine leads to a pH level challenged pool, making it susceptible to more bacteria and other dangerous contaminants with every swimming trip, endangering the swimmers and the health of the pool in the long run.
Another way to go is to have a chlorine test kit work its magic. A test kit will determine two levels: that of chloramine and free available chlorine. Chloramine is a mixture of chlorine and water waste that has bounded unto it while the free chlorine is level of the chemical that can still sanitize.
Doing this important first step determines the amount and concentration of chlorine tablet that should be used.
2. Purchase quality tablets and don’t just drop them in.
There are many tablets in the market that come in cheap—don’t be persuaded in buying these as you get exactly what you pay for. Cheap tablets don’t dissolve, they crumble and disintegrate, simply leaving the pool with crumbs of chlorine that quickly melt.
Quality and pricier tablets dissolve in a span of several days, providing protection for the pool longer. It’s also wise to invest in floating chlorine feeders that not just add an interesting twist to your pool’s design, but also give precise amounts of chlorine in the water.
Placing in skimmer baskets is also not advisable as this puts very high levels of chlorine.
3. When it comes to chlorine tablets and cleaning pools, balance is the key.
The reading of the chlorine level must be from 2 to 4 ppm. Lower than 2 ppm leads to bacterial growth while anything higher leads to unsafe chlorine levels.
It’s also good to use algaecide as a safety measure against algae growth.
