What Can You Use to Sanitise Pools?

For most of us, a swimming pool is considered the ultimate resort facility. With that in mind, it's important to remember that pools can also be a source of sickness and infection if not properly kept. Luckily, there are many ways to treat pool water, but which of them is the safest and most effective?

Chlorine is the most popular sanitation substance available; this chemical element is used in various forms. Due to its oxidation attributes, it effectively destroys most viruses and bacteria in the water. Over the years, various techniques have developed around the use of chlorine:

LIQUID CHLORINE:

Liquid chlorine or sodium-hypochlorite is a liquid solution sold in containers and stored in a dark, cool place. Liquid chlorine contains 10-15% available chlorine that loses its active concentration over time and requires stabilising while in the water, a process executed by trial and error. While using liquid chlorine the pH levels in the water increase and need to be balanced using hydrochloric acid, which is the biggest disadvantage of this method. 

CHLORINE TABLETS:

Chlorine tablets are hardened, dried and dissolvable tablets of chlorine. Using tablets is very simple and safe. The tablets can be fed into the skimmer (suction channel) of the pool or to a floating dispenser. Three disadvantages of chlorine tablets include the risk of children coming into contact with them, the lack of control of chlorine levels in the water and the speed of chlorine released into the pool.

CHLORINATORS:

Chlorine generators are electrically operated devices that turn a small, measured concentration of salt in the water (via a controlled electrolysis process) into active chlorine to disinfect the pool water. Once the sanitation process is completed, the chlorine reverts back to dissolved salt and the cycle repeats itself. Unlike chlorine tablets that are purchased periodically, chlorinators require a single initial investment that will prove their savings when daily operating costs are reduced. However, it's important to know that the electrolysis cell that converts the salt into chlorine does have a limited life span (roughly 3 years), so the cell will require replacing, similarly to oil changes or other periodic maintenance to the car.

Using a chlorinator to sanitise your pool had a few advantages over the other methods:

1. No need to handle hazardous solutions.
2. The chlorinator is completely safe and the side effects of using liquid chlorine are nonexistent such as irritated eyes and skin.
3. The risk of coming in direct contact with the chlorine tablets is nonexistent and the chlorine production pace can be controlled.
4. The chlorinator does not require constant maintenance except cleaning the cell from lime-scale build-up.
5. The device is turned on and left to complete its chores.
6. The chlorinator sanitises the pool while consuming very little electricity.
7. The new digital model is designed to constantly monitor and control a range of chlorine and pH values in the pool.

If you want more information we recommend contacting your nearest pool & spa shop.