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How do Pool Chlorinators
Work?
Chlorine has been in use in a wide variety of industrial
applications for hundreds of years, and in that time we have
come to understand it extremely well. Although some activists
believe chlorine in pools poses a safety hazard, clinical
studies have found no suck link – either to swimmers or the
environment. This is why nearly every pool in America continues
to employ chlorine as a free-ranging antibacterial, keeping the
water clear and clean and maintaining an essential level of
purity for recreational use. If you own a pool, however, you
know that regulating chlorine can represent something of a
headache. |
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The reason for this is
actually quite simple: chlorine breaks down over time. Although
hypochlorous acid – the essential byproduct when you add chlorine to
the pool – is mostly used to destroy unwanted pathogens, it can also
react with ammonia and nitrogen compounds to form chloramines. These
inert compounds are essentially harmless, and they offer little
protection against bacteria in the water. Further complicating
matters is the fact that chlorine can also be broken down by the sun
itself, decreasing its effectiveness against bacteria, mold and
algae. This is why maintaining proper chlorine levels can be a daily
chore, one rendered even more frequent in the event of parties and
rain.
Pool chlorinators are the most common response to fluctuating
levels. These tend to come in a variety of chemical forms under a
number of brand names, but generally they can be divided cleanly
into a few major categories. Each offers advantages and
disadvantages, including effectiveness and potential hazards.
Chlorine is, after all, a terribly corrosive chemical, so it’s
important to deploy with a healthy level of respect. Anything less
than proper precautions and you could find yourself stuck with
chemical burns, pulmonary damage or worse – terrifying outcomes for
such a mundane task.
The most dangerous version of chlorine is also the most effective –
chlorine gas. Introduce the gas into any pool filtration system and
you can expect immediate results. The problem is that such results
tend to wreak havoc with the pool’s pH, creating a caustic
environment that is highly unsafe for recreation. Large amounts of
basic chemicals are usually required to pull that pH back into a
safe range, though chlorine gas may still cause a host of health
problems before it even reaches the pool. Breathe in pure chlorine
or anything close to it, for instance, and you may quickly fall
unconscious and die. It may not surprise you to learn that pure
chlorine gas is hardly ever used for home pools anymore.
Today a number of homeowners use so-called liquid chlorine instead.
This looks and smells similar to bleach, and it’s created by
bubbling the pure gas through a caustic soda. Results can be swift
and impressive, as with the gas itself, which is why liquid chlorine
is often favored as a method for shock. Everyday use has fallen by
the wayside a bit for the same reason, however – like chlorine gas,
liquid chlorine can send any pool’s pH skyrocketing well north of
12. Such health risks and high expense have made this solution
unpopular, especially since considerable quantities of base are
required to mitigate the unwanted effect. Thankfully there are some
safer and more convenient ways to deliver chlorine in a hurry.
Of these, the most popular may be so-called “stabilized tri-chlor,”
the version most often recommended by pool experts. The compound
usually comes as a powder, though you can also get slow-release
“pucks” that will maintain an even level over several hours.
Homeowners often favor this version because it releases slowly,
maintains a sound pH in the system and comes with an extra sort of
sunscreen – cyanuric – that keeps the chlorine effective several
hours longer than its non-stabilized counterparts. That means you
save time, money and headaches by trusting a single advanced
compound to lighten your load.
Chlorine is essential to maintaining the safety of standing water.
Experiment with the products you find until you can keep pH,
alkalinity and chlorine levels within acceptable limits on a daily
basis. Often all you need is a bit of time and some practice to
become an expert on pool chlorinators. |
