Chlorine Shortage Eases, Pool Maintenance Tips
As the summer season approaches, pool owners can breathe a sigh of relief as the chlorine shortage of recent years appears to be alleviating. With chlorine supplies replenishing, prices are expected to stabilize.
Pool Cleaning and Sanitization
Essential pool maintenance practices include skimming and vacuuming to remove floating debris and settled particles, respectively. However, these methods solely address surface cleaning and do not sanitize the water. Sanitization is crucial to eliminate algae, bacteria, and microorganisms that can cause a range of swimming-related illnesses.
Chlorine’s Role in Pool Sanitization
Chlorine plays a vital role in pool sanitization by killing viruses and bacteria, ensuring safe swimming water. Negligence in proper sanitization can lead to infections such as diarrhea, skin rashes, ear infections, eye irritation, and more. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warns that swimmers can contract illnesses by swallowing, contacting, or inhaling contaminated water.
Determining Chlorine Needs
Predicting chlorine consumption over the summer is challenging due to factors like swimmer frequency and weather conditions. The primary determinants of chlorine requirements are pool volume and the duration of the swim season. A single 3-inch chlorine tablet can treat up to 5,000 gallons of water. While some brands recommend weekly tablet additions, individualized monitoring is essential to determine actual needs.
Estimated Chlorine Usage
For a 20,000-gallon pool, chlorine requirements can range from 50 to 100 tablets for the season, translating to approximately 25 to 50 pounds. This estimate, however, remains subject to variations based on pool size, weather, and usage patterns.
Storage and Shelf Life of Chlorine Tablets
Excess chlorine tablets require proper storage to prevent degradation. Improper storage can significantly shorten their typical shelf life of three to five years.
Doheny’s Chlorine Tablets
Doheny’s has established a reputation in chlorine tablet manufacturing for over 50 years. Their pre-stabilized tablets prevent premature chlorine loss, and individual wrapping minimizes off-gassing. Slow-dissolving and enriched with stabilizers, these tablets ensure extended effectiveness.
All-in-One Chlorine Tablets
Consider all-in-one tablets for comprehensive water treatment, including stain prevention, algae control, scale inhibition, and water softening. While more expensive than basic options, these tablets offer multiple benefits to enhance pool water quality.
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