Alternatives to Chlorine for Your Pool

October 28th, 2015 Posted in Pool Service
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Did a summer cooling off in your pool leave your skin, hair and swimsuits damaged from constant exposure to chlorine? It is a common complaint by pool owners that are tired of the harsh effects of this effective and popular pool sanitizer. Although chlorine is one of the most effective ways to keep your pool healthy and safe, there are ways to reduce the amount that is needed. Here are a few alternatives that can be used to sanitize your pool without the harsh side effects of excessive chlorine.

Ozone System

Commercial water parks must have the best sanitizing equipment to keep their water clean and safe for their guests, which is why they often use ozone generators. Ozone is one of the most effective water sanitizers available. These systems are available for residential pools and can reduce the amount of chlorine needed to keep your pool safe by up to 90%, making your pool much gentler on your skin, hair and clothing.

Salt Systems

Another option to reduce your chlorine use for pool sanitization is a salt system or chlorine generator. These systems use salt to create the active cleansing factor in chlorine, giving you the same sanitizing effect without the harsh effects. Owners of these systems enjoy the fact that their pools no longer have that chlorine smell, yet are still safe to swim in on a daily basis.

If you are looking for an alternative to chlorine, talk to your local pool service provider about either an ozone or chlorine generator system. It can help reduce the amount of chlorine needed to maintain your PH balance and protect your family from the ill effects of chlorine.

Posted on behalf of Somar Pools, LLC
Miami Beach, FL
(305) 767-7755

 

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Pool Water Without Chlorine?

February 3rd, 2015 Posted in Pool Filters
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Traditionally chlorine has always been used to clean and disinfect the water in commercial and residential swimming pools.  While very effective, there are a number of downsides to chlorine such as irritating and drying out the pool users skin and causing discoloration to the swimmer’s clothing.  In addition, chlorine is not a “green” product and can be hazardous if the material is misused or if the containers are not properly disposed of when empty.  Advances in technology have resulted in two alternate systems, which make it possible to reduce the amount of chlorine by up to 90% thru the use of either an ozone generator or a chlorine generator.

The first system generates ozone, which is a natural product that has excellent sanitization properties.  One of the benefits of this system is its ease of incorporation into existing pool equipment, as well as its effectiveness in keeping the water in the pool clean, while greatly reducing the amount of chlorine in the pool.   The second system is a chlorine generator or a “salt system” and relies on installing an electrolytic cell onto the existing pool equipment and adding salt to the pool.  As the water passes by the cell, it reacts with the salt, creating hypochlorous acid, which is the key killing ingredient found in chlorine.

This system requires little maintenance beyond maintaining the salinity of the pool.  Added benefits include a lack of a chlorine smell and the overall salinity of the pool is very, very mild. Both systems are affordable and will reduce the cost of keeping the pool clean, while providing a “greener” alternative to chlorine.

Posted on behalf of Somar Pools, LLC
Miami Beach, FL
(305) 767-7755

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Chlorine Alternatives for Swimming Pools

May 5th, 2013 Posted in Pool Maintenance
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Anyone who has spent much time around swimming pools can easily recall its affects on skin, clothing, hair and even nasal passages. Chlorine can leave your skin feeling dry and itchy, your bathing suit and pool garb bleached, hair stiff and sometimes weirdly tinted green, and nasal passages completely plugged! While we all agree that chlorine is an excellent sanitizer, most of us would like to keep the pool maintained without having to use it. Today, there are chlorine alternatives available that can help to greatly reduce the amount of chlorine required to keep your pool clean.

No, it is not possible to totally remove chlorine from your pool. However, a pool service company can install an ozone generator to do much of the same sanitizing as chlorine. Commercial water parks are using ozone generators to ensure their cleanliness and safety. It is 100% natural and will greatly improve the water quality in your pool. Once you add an ozone generator to your system, you can expect to reduce the level of your chlorine use by over two-thirds.

It is also possible today to install a chlorine generator. This process requires the addition of salt to your pool, which is broken down by the generator into the sanitizing agent in chlorine. The only maintenance required with this process is to control the levels of salt and other chemicals in your pool. Don’t jump to the assumption that you’ll be swimming in salt water! The level of salt required in your pool is no more than the salt level of human tears.

Check with your local pool service company to see if they offer chlorine alternatives for your pool.

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Keeping Your Pool’s Chlorine Levels Chemically Balanced

April 25th, 2013 Posted in Pool Maintenance
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Most swimming pools used today use a combination of chemicals like chlorine, algaecide,  and more to keep the water clean, clear and safe to swim in. Knowing the right combination of chemicals to use and when to use them is key to keeping your pool cared for.

Chlorine comes in a number of applications, including tablets, bottled form, and powder. A common ingredient in tablet or stick form is called Trichlor, compared to the ingredient of the powder, Dichlor (which contains sodium). Chlorine sticks are commonly used, because of being slow to dissolve after application over a number of days. Powdered chlorine also works well, but be aware that certain types of chlorine need to be dissolved in a bucket of water first. Another chemical found in chlorine tablets is cyanuric acid, but you should be careful about how much acid is in the product. Chlorine can become ineffective if too much acid is present in the water.

One method for adding chlorine to your pool involve chlorine feeders, which float on the surface of the pool and apply the chemical gradually over time. Once the feeder is adjusted correctly, it can last for a week at least. Don’t ever dump chlorine tablets into the pool or leave them floating in the water, as this will create a high concentration of chemicals that might damage your pool’s pump or circulation system.

The final step to handling your pool’s chlorine level involve the occasional “shock treatment,” which get rid of any lingering chlorine molecules that have bound themselves to unwanted chemicals, such as ammonia. Shock your pool once a week in order to keep the chlorine levels at peak efficiency.

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“Green” Pools

October 25th, 2012 Posted in Pool Maintenance
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No one wants a pool full of green water, but many pool owners choose to “go green” with environmentally friendly pool practices.  If you are worried about the effects of chlorine on your skin, clothing, and the environment, you should know that there are alternatives tochlorine for  keeping your pool clean and safe.  Many products and tools are available today to help you keep your pool clean without the use of chlorine.

For example, you can have a salt water pool to eliminate the need for chemicals.  They are not totally free of chlorine since the salt produces its own chlorine.  However, you don’t have to buy the chlorine or handle it and it is often said that the water seems softer than from a standard pool.

Another option is an ozonator.  Pools can use an ozone generator to cut down the use of chemicals by up to eighty percent.  Some types even say they can remove the need for chemicals completely.  These systems also make the water softer, a benefit to your eyes and skin.  However, they are not inexpensive to purchase, which can be a drawback for some pool owners.

Still another option is to have a natural swimming pool.  In this system, you rely on products from nature to keep your pool clean.  This includes plants and microorganisms that can filter and purify the water without the use of chemicals.  This is also an expensive option but will require less maintenance over the life of the pool.

A chlorine generator is another alternative.  It adds salt to the pool in the form of hypochlorous acid to disinfect the water with a natural alternative to the chemical.

You can talk with your local pool service company to determine the chlorine alternative that is best for you.

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