Swimming in a cloudy swimming pool isn’t really enticing. Learn how to raise chlorine levels in a pool with our easy guide below!
Maintaining a clean swimming pool takes more than the occasional scrubbing and pool water shocking.
It is also essential to maintain a good water chemistry. Thus, it is important to always check the chlorine level of the pool water.
In this content, we will discuss how important it is to maintain balanced water chemistry, as well as the steps on how to raise chlorine levels in a pool.
Why Is Using Chlorine Important?
Chlorine is a well-known and the most common pool water sanitizer. This helps get rid of different water contaminants such as bacteria, slime, and molds. In addition, this chemical also prohibits the growth of algae in your pool.
Low Chlorine Level
If the pool water’s chlorine level is low, algae and bacteria can breed in it. This means the water turns cloudy or may even change color from blue to green and yellow.
Is it dangerous? Well, you know the answer to that. Pool water with cloudy water can be bad for your health. Just imagine all those bacteria and fungi making contact with your skin. In some cases, drinking a bit of pool water while swimming can also cause these bacteria to get inside your body.
Very High Chlorine Level
Similar to having low chlorine pool water, a very high level of chlorine is also a potential threat. Too much chlorine can burn the skin or cause itchiness to the swimmers.
Moreover, it can also cause serious health problems such as asthma, skin and eye irritation, and even lung problems.
What Is The Ideal Chlorine Level?
Regardless of how often you use the swimming pool is, the chlorine level should be 3 ppm or 5 parts per million. If it is lesser than that, then it means the pool water is not clean.
Now that you know the importance of well-balanced chlorine levels in the pool, we will now discuss the next concern– how to raise chlorine levels in a pool.
How To Raise Chlorine Levels In a Pool (5 Steps)
There are several steps involve in this process. A good pool water sanitizer with the recommended chlorine level is also required.
Let’s get started:
1. Test The Water First.
This is a must-do step to help you balance the water’s chemistry. You cannot possibly know what and how much chlorine your pool needed without testing it first.
So, using a trusted test strip, follow the process and be accurate. Using this tool is easy, the other skill needed is for you to read the pool care test strip correctly.
- After you submerge the strip 6 in the water, wait for a few seconds and then lift the strip with the pads facing upwards.
- Shake the strip once only to remove the extra water.
- Get the color legend and place the strip beside it.
- Read the color as indicated on the color legend.
- Starting from the top (Total Hardness, pH, Alk, Total Chlorine, Free chlorine).
2. Get The Right Water Volume And Chlorine Level Present In Ppm.
Once you get the chlorine level sorted, refer to the Free Chlorine level in ppm. Also, check the total water volume of the pool to decide how much chlorine should be added.
3. Identify The Chlorine Compound To Apply
Raising the chlorine level is much easier than lowering it. In fact, you can use a variety of pool chlorine such as granule, powder, or tablet. Pool shock is also essential.
4. Apply The Chlorine.
Dilute the chlorine in a bucket with pool water first, and then apply it to the different corners of the pool. After this, turn on the pool pump so that the chlorine is circulated all throughout the swimming pool.
5. Test The Water Again.
Wait for 4 hours after a full cycle of filtration before you test the water again. If the water is already around 3 ppm to 5 ppm, then it is now safe for swimming.
How to raise chlorine levels in a pool can be done even by beginners as long as you have the right tools and as long as you follow the right steps.
Have you tried raising chlorine levels in your pool? What chlorine did you use? Comment down below!
