The nationwide chlorine shortage this year has forced residential and commercial pool owners to reassess their pool maintenance options.
Clark County Pool & Lawn, professional residential pool service providers in Las Vegas, has put together this list of chlorine alternatives to help you maintain and ensure the cleanliness of your pool water. This way, swimmers remain healthy, and pools stay free from potential damage caused by unclean water.
Benefits of Chlorine Alternatives
Other than accessibility, chlorine alternatives help pool owners who are allergic to chlorine or are extremely sensitive to the chemical to swim safely in pools.
Another advantage is that many alternatives are deemed safer for human health. Chlorine, when mixed with organic matter, creates harmful byproducts. Long-term exposure to chlorine and its byproducts causes many health issues, including skin irritation, blurred vision, and respiratory problems.
Options Beyond Just Chlorine
Bromine
For people with chlorine allergies, bromine is a good alternative. You can buy BCDMH tablets to sanitize your pool. These tablets are made of 66% bromine and 27% chlorine.
If you want absolutely no chlorine in your pool, you can use a two-step process, which uses saltwater-extracted bromine salt mixed with potassium peroxymonosulfate. It creates a sanitizing and oxidizing combination similar to regular pool shock.
Ionizers
A pool ionizer is a device with a low-voltage DC that sends copper, the algaecide, and silver, the sanitizer, into the water. The positive current attracts the bacteria and algae in the pool water, forming them into compounds eliminated by the filtration system.
It doesn’t irritate eyes and noses and can substantially reduce the chemicals you use in your pool. Ideally, however, using some chlorine and an ionizer is better than simply chlorine. It can still save you money.
Ozonators
Like the ionizer, pool ozonators are devices that attach to the pool. The two variations use either ultraviolet light or corona discharge.
With UV light, low-pressure vapor on the water return line creates ozone. This kills pathogens as they pass this area. With corona discharge, an electrical arc creates ozone inside the generator itself. The ozone kills the pathogens in the filtration area.
Whichever type you use, the ozone generator can reduce your chlorine usage up to 90%. However, it’s only working at its best if the air is at low humidity. It may not be as effective if you live in a humid region like Las Vegas.
PHMB
PHMB stands for polyhexamethylene biguanide. Using this chemical compound can eliminate your chlorine use. It can kill bacteria by going right through their cell walls, disintegrating them from within.
It’s a chemical that’s also less irritating on the skin and does less damage to hair. It won’t corrode your pool liners and also requires less upkeep. But remember: you cannot use this chemical if you still have chlorine in your pool. You’ll have to drain it entirely and add new water before using PHMB. It’s also more expensive compared to chlorine for use in regular maintenance.
Consult with Specialists for the Right Alternative
If you’re not certain which chlorine alternative is best for your pool or your environmental conditions, consult with expert pool care specialists. Their long experience in preparing pool treatments and knowledge about alternatives in the market enables them to answer any questions you might have.
Clark County Pool & Lawn specializes in pool maintenance and cleanups, taking the worries about keeping your pool water sanitized off your hands. We can provide regular cleaning services for pools and spas and balance your water as needed. See our list of pool cleaning services and contact us today to get started.
Recent Comments