There’s nothing better than jumping into a pool on a hot summer day. And since chlorine is added to your pool, you don’t usually have to worry about whether the water has bacteria. Chlorine kills bacteria in the water and prevents algae from growing. Chlorine disinfectants work by dissolving the product hypochlorous acid in the water. Both sunlight (UV) and heat can affect the available chlorine levels in your pool, which in turn affects how long the disinfectant lasts.
Effect of sunlight (UV) on pool chlorine disinfectants
Sunlight, especially its UV component, is a major factor in the stability of chlorine in pool water. Especially in outdoor pools, UV rays break down the free chlorine in the pool, reducing the overall chlorine concentration. This process is continuous, meaning that chlorine is consumed during the day.
To mitigate the effects of sunlight on chlorine levels, pool owners often use cyanuric acid (CYA), also known as a chlorine stabilizer or conditioner. CYA reduces the loss of free chlorine in the pool. However, it is important to maintain the proper CYA concentration because if there is an excess of cyanuric acid, it will “lock the chlorine” and affect the disinfection effect. The recommended range of CYA in pool water is generally 30 to 100 ppm.
Effect of Temperature
In hot weather, especially in outdoor pools, as the temperature rises, the decomposition and volatilization of effective chlorine will be accelerated, thereby reducing the hypochlorous acid content in the water and affecting the disinfection effect.
The hotter the weather and the sunnier it is, the more chlorine is used. However, the hotter the weather and the sunnier it is, the more you want to enjoy your pool! Of course you should. But just as it provides you with a cool oasis on a hot summer day, you must also take good care of your pool water.
On hot or sunny days, you should pay more attention to the available chlorine content in your pool to ensure that the chlorine disinfectant can effectively and long-term keep your water clear and safe for you. Test your pool chemistry levels in a timely manner to ensure that your pool is clean and healthy. Pool experts recommend testing your free chlorine levels at least once every 1-2 days.
As we mentioned before, it’s important to keep free chlorine levels at a healthy working ratio so that it can continue to fight harmful particles in your pool water. This is further exacerbated when you and your family jump in the water. All the more reason to be diligent about checking and maintaining healthy chlorine levels to keep everything and everyone clean and safe.
Post time: Jul-05-2024