Outdoors is IN!
Since folks are staying closer to home and spending more time outdoors these days, there’s been an increase in demand for new pools and usage of existing pools.
The information on this page and in the brochure is here to help you understand the available options for keeping your pool clean, clear, and properly sanitized.
Sanitize-Wise
Sanitizing your pool is the first step in keeping your water clean, clear, and healthy!
Stabilized chlorine may be the sanitizer you are most familiar with, but there are many other sanitization alternatives available.
However, some sanitization methods may be a better fit over others depending on:
- The environment in which a pool is installed
- The frequency at which it is used
- Whether you prefer to handle your maintenance yourself or hire a service professional
We hope the information in the following pages will help you determine the right program based on your specific pool use and needs, to set you on the right path to ease of pool ownership and maintaining clean, clear water.
Your local pool professional and regular water testing can help you determine the best form of sanitization to help you maintain a free chlorine level of 1 to 3 ppm (parts per million) at all times.
Alternative Options
While chlorine is a popular, economical, and efficient way to sanitize a pool, there are many other chlorine sanitizer options available.
If you find that you need, or prefer, alternatives, some of the most popular methods of chemical sanitization include:
- Cal hypo tablet feeder systems provide proper levels of sanitization while also making it easier to control the level of cyanuric acid in your pool water.
- Salt systems are a popular method for chlorinating swimming pool water. Specialty equipment is used to convert salt (sodium chloride) into a steadily maintained chlorine level.
- Using bromine to sanitize your pool is a reliable method for killing bacteria and keeping your pool clear and clean. To utilize bromine effectively, an automatic brominator must be installed in your pool.
- Products like liquid chlorine* and granular cal hypo* that are traditionally used for shocking pool water (also referred to as super chlorinating) can also be used for daily sanitization. Always be sure to follow the dosage instructions and use only products labeled for routine chlorination as well as super chlorination.
* While both of these products can provide regular sanitization when applied properly, they are both unstabilized, which means they are not protected from being degraded by sunlight, so you should test your water regularly to make sure your pool water is maintaining an ideal stabilizer level.
Stronger Together
At times, different sanitization methods can be used in conjunction with one another, but always be sure to pay attention to warnings on product labels and never combine chemicals. For example, a pool that is sanitized daily with liquid chlorine could benefit from a weekly dose of cal hypo shock and vice versa, but these two products should never be mixed and added together.
Reducing Demand
There are many different products available to help reduce the amount of chlorine required to maintain a healthy swimming pool.
- A routine application of preventive algaecide is an easy and effective way to prevent algae growth and reduce the additional chlorine necessary to control it. Phosphates are a favorite food source for algae. Applying phosphate removal products helps prevent algae growth and reduce chlorine demand.
- These ancillary products help to increase sanitizer effectiveness and therefore reduce chlorine use:
- Enzyme products break down and remove organic waste and build up.
- Clarifiers free water of particulate matter that could tax chlorine levels.
- The use of filter cleaners not only decreases chlorine use by removing build up and waste, but also improves sanitizer performance by increasing circulation.
- Specialty units, such as UV or Ozone generators, can be installed in addition to the pool’s circulation and filtration equipment.
- UV units stunt the growth of bacteria preventing it from being able to reproduce and stress chlorine levels.
- Ozone generators reduce chlorine use by oxidizing pool water and freeing it of buildup and contaminants.
- Mineralizers are supplemental units that establish mineral levels in pool water, helping to prevent bacterial growth and kill algae that would normally require additional chlorine to manage.
- Borates and borate blended products help lower chlorine consumption by increasing sanitizer efficiency, suppressing algae and buffering water chemistry with one product.
No matter which method you choose, it is extremely important to follow chemical product label instructions.
Different sanitization methods may also have specific water chemistry requirements. As always, the recommended pool water chemistry levels for the chosen sanitization method should be maintained by testing and balancing on a weekly basis.
Check out these Alternative Sanitization Product Options!
HydraPure™
Advanced Oxidation Sanitization System from Hayward®
- Superior all-in-one sanitization means extra peace of mind in one easy package
- Uses advanced oxidation process to effectively eliminate 99.9%* of micro-organisms chlorine cannot destroy
- Combines the germ-killing properties of UV with the shock power of ozone
Jandy TruGuard™
A natural solution for keeping water clean, clear, and safe for swimming – minimizing the need for additional chlorine.
- Reduces chlorine usage by up to 50%
- Easy to install
- Dependable
Pentair Bioshield® UV Sterilizer
The first water conditioning device approved by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)
- Commercial-grade performance for residential pools
- BioShield UV lamps provide up to 12,000 hours of continuous operation
- Low energy usage
Questions?
Your local professional pool dealers – builders, retailers, and service pros – are here to help!
To find a knowledgeable pool professional in your area, check out the Dealer Locator on SwimmingPool.com.
