There are many misconceptions about swimming pools, and many are still believed today. I cover a few to separate fact from fiction in this podcast recording.
Many still believe their Salt Water Generator (SWG) is a chlorine-free pool. The process is quite complex, but the SWG will convert the salt into chlorine. A saltwater generator produces chlorine through a process called electrolysis. In this system, pool water containing dissolved salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) passes through an electrolysis cell, which applies a low-voltage electrical current. This current causes the chloride ions in the salt to split, forming chlorine gas (Cl2). The chlorine gas then dissolves back into the water, forming hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypochlorite ion (OCl-), active sanitizing agents that keep the pool water clean and free of harmful microorganisms. This process continuously regenerates chlorine, maintaining proper disinfection levels without the need for traditional chlorine additives.
All chlorine is not the same, and each byproduct of your swimming pool is different. Based on 10,000 gallons of water:
Liquid chlorine is salt. For every ten ppm of free chlorine in liquid chlorine, there is also around 8-9 ppm of salt. Trichlor is a Cyunaric Acid. Add seven ppm of CYA for every 1 lb of Trichlor added to the pool. Cal Hypo is Calcium. Every ten ppm of Free Chlorine adds 7-8 ppm of calcium. Dichlor for every 1 lb 6-7 ppm f CYA. You don't want to use Trichlor with Dichlor since they have the same byproduct, CYA. You can use Dichlor with Cal Hypo Tablets or Cal Hypo shock/liquid chlorine.
Trichlor tablets are great because they slowly dissolve during the week and stabilize the free chlorine level at 3-5 ppm. Chlorine is protected from burning off quickly because it contains CYA. Liquid chlorine and cal hypo do not contain any CYA. They can be used weekly alone but must be added every 3-4 days in the Summer months.
I have many service accounts where the dogs love to use the pool, and I have walked back to find them swimming around and living it up in the pool. I have heard that one dog is equivalent to 20 people swimming in the pool, and while those numbers have inflated, a dog using the pool does affect the water chemistry. Get a pool with 3 or 4 dogs swimming in it at once, and chances are the water will get swampy quickly. They have more body oils than us; the fur can clog the skimmer basket, pump basket, and just about anything in the pool. Dog hair is the biggest issue. If enough hair gets into the pool pump, it can quickly shut things down and create poor circulation. This contributes to that cloudy dog water you often see after your dog or dogs have been swimming at length. So be vigilant about the dog hair clogging things up at your pool.
Your pool tile will also suffer from the oil in the dog's skin. One thing you may notice is a scum line around the tiles at the waterline, and over time, this can build up. I use Pool Perfect, which has an enzyme that breaks down the oils that build up on the tile line. Generally, I use 8 oz a week, and this helps keep the scum line down. After a good rain storm, when the water level is over the scum line, I add extra Pool Perfect to the pool to remove any lingering scum line.
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