Are you planning to buy and build a pool and wondering how to disinfect your pool? Then we have written this article for you. We'll introduce you to the available methods of water disinfection, discuss their pros and cons, and give you additional tips for keeping your pool healthy.
Chlorine pool water disinfection
Chlorine disinfection is a proven classic in pool water disinfection. However, in addition to pure chlorine disinfection, you can also opt for solonisation technology and have an almost chlorine-free pool.
Automatic chlorine dispensers and chlorine tablets
A healthy chlorinated pool contains a balanced amount of free and bound chlorine. Specifically, free chlorine should be 0.3-0.6 mg/l and bound chlorine ideally up to 0.3 mg/l. It is the free chlorine in the pool that reacts with organic contaminants to form bound chlorine, thus disinfecting the pool water. Bound chlorine, on the other hand, irritates the skin and eyes and causes an unpleasant odour. It is therefore very important to measure the pH and chlorine in the pool. Depending on the chlorine level found in the pool, chlorine disinfectant is then added.
Chlorine is either dosed intothe pool manually, using a chlorine float or by pouring chlorine product directly into the pool, or by an automatic chlorine dispenser. Both manual options are of course cheaper but more labour intensive. You have to pour the disinfectant into the pool according to the chlorine measurement in the pool, or put chlorine tablets into the float. A more convenient option, but more expensive, is the pool chlorine dispenser, where you only need to add disinfectant once in a while.
And what are the benefits of chlorine in the pool?
- Easy dosing in the form of chlorine tablets or with a chlorine dispenser.
- It has a high disinfection efficiency.
- Even a relatively small amount of chlorine will kill algae and bacteria.
- Chlorine tablets or solutions are often available at special prices.
- With the correct dosage, you do not have to worry about health risks (unless you suffer from a chlorine allergy).
And what are the negatives of chlorinated water?
The amount of chlorine in your pool needs to be monitored regularly and dosed carefully. If you have too much chlorine in your pool, you will be alerted by the typical smell caused by higher amounts of bound chlorine. The odour can be eliminated by treating the water or ensuring that the area is well ventilated. For more sensitive people, the mere presence of chlorine in the water can cause burning in the eyes and nose, itchy skin or a chlorine rash. Some people may even develop an allergy to chlorine. Other drawbacks include the cost of pool chemicals, which you have to constantly replenish.
Saltwater electrolysis
Somewhere between chlorine and non-chlorine disinfection is salt pool technology, which is more environmentally and skin friendly. In saltwater pools, the salt concentration is around 0.4%, which is still a tiny amount compared to the sea. If you really want saltwater, you need to have a special saltwater pool custom-made. All parts of the pool through which the water flows must be made of plastic or PVC. This is because salt water is more aggressive than chlorinated water and the metals used would corrode. In fact, conventional technology for salt pool water can only handle salinity up to 0.5%. Our company specializes in plastic pools, so we can easily advise you on the purchase of a customized plastic pool including accessories.
How does a solinator work?
During the electrolysis of salt water, chlorine is produced, which is then dissolved to form chloride, hypochlorite and perchloric acid. This releases chlorine gas, oxygen and some ozone into the water. You add natural sea salt to the pool salt cell. The water then flows through the electrolysis cell and an electric current is applied to the anode to produce the aforementioned chlorine gas, oxygen and ozone. In addition, calcium and iron are removed from the water during the process.
Why buy a pool solonisation unit?
- It is the cheapest way to disinfect pool water.
- It also outperforms chlorine disinfection with lower operating costs.
- It is more environmentally friendly.
- The salty environment kills microorganisms and inhibits the growth and multiplication of algae and microbes.
- You don't have to worry about unpleasant odours.
- Salt water is antiseptic and helps with skin diseases.
- A saltwater pool is also suitable for allergy sufferers.
Above ground and inground pool with salt water technology requires really careful dosage. The water spoils more quickly and if the pH value runs outside of 6.8 to 7.4, you must first treat the water before you can disinfect it. That's why we install an automatic dosing device with our pool salt dispensers to keep the pH value within the required limits. In the summer months, you probably won't be able to get by with salt alone, as algae is resistant to disinfection at water temperatures above 30 °C. You will therefore need to use an algaecide, a UV lamp or chlorine disinfection. You also have to take into account the higher purchase costs of the pool technology when you buy solonisation technology.
Are you looking for pool solinator service or saltwater pool service? We are here for you. We provide service for all pool technology. So do not hesitate to contact us.
Chlorine-free pool water treatment
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in chlorine-free pool water disinfection. Chlorine-free chemistry means that you don't have to worry about burning eyes or unpleasant chlorine smells, and it also makes swimming accessible to allergy sufferers and sensitive people. We have found the UV pool lamp and ozone purifier to be the best of the chlorine-free pool water treatments.
Chlorine-free pool water disinfection is gentle on the skin and eyes, while effectively maintaining the pool water.
UV disinfecting lamps
UV radiation only destroys the DNA of microorganisms. This prevents the organisms from multiplying and spreading, and they become extinct in the pool. In order for the UV light to work, it is necessary to ensure that the water is clean and also to make sure that the UV filter is cleaned regularly. Unfortunately, the lamp alone cannot remove organic matter and without the use of additional technology to the pool, the water will begin to cloud over time. However, by using a UV lamp you are able to save up to 40% on pool chemicals.
So what are the benefits of using a UV lamp in your pool?
- It will reduce the consumption of pool chemicals by 40%.
- No by-products are produced during UV sterilisation.
- It creates a healthier pool environment.
- It does not irritate your eyes and skin.
- The UV water filter also ensures a suitable bathing experience for allergy sufferers.
Is there any downside to the UV lamp?
On the other hand, the UV LED lamp only disinfects the water at the point of its action. The rest of the water in the pool is not protected. Another major disadvantage of the UV lamp is its short lifetime and therefore the high cost of UV disinfection. The maximum efficiency of the UV purifier lasts only one season and then decreases. Every year you are likely to have to buy a new UV lamp, which is not exactly a cheap affair. In addition to the total cost of disinfecting your pool, you must also add the cost of the energy used and the maintenance of the UV lamp.
Ozone disinfection
Chlorine-free disinfection with an ozone steriliser has also gained its place on the market. Compared to chlorine, it can eliminate some bacteria up to 100 times faster. The water in the pool is disinfected by an ozone generator that delivers ozone to the water. The ozone quickly breaks down into oxygen in the pool, leaving no residue in the water. If you ensure that the ozone machine is working properly and that the pool is well ventilated, you do not have to worry about the effects on your health. In addition, ozone neutralises any odours caused by chlorine in the pool. In addition, the ozone cleaner, unlike the UV light, can also deal with organic substances, including the removal of oils or grease or the disposal of chemicals in the water. Ozone disinfection is recommended for home swimming pools rather than public swimming pools, where special ozone technology is needed to use ozone.
So what are the positive properties of ozone and why use it in a swimming pool?
- Like the UV lamp, it creates a healthier pool environment.
- Ozone water does not irritate the eyes and skin.
- Allergy sufferers can also swim in a pool cleaned with an ozone lamp.
- Ozone chemistry disinfects the water and removes organic substances.
- It can eliminate the unpleasant chlorine smell.
With ozone disinfection, make sure that the pool is well ventilated. Higher ozone levels can cause headaches or concentration problems. Ozone cleaning is therefore not recommended for indoor pools.
Would you like to get an indoor or backyard pool? Check out our wide selection of skimmer and overflow pools. We have several pool shapes to choose from, as well as multiple pool stair options. To help you navigate, we've put together a guide to choosing a quality pool, introducing pool shapes and pool steps, and describing the differences between an overflow pool and a skimmer pool. However, if you are unclear about anything, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Techniques for keeping your pool clean
Healthy pool water has a pH between 6.8 and 7.4. If you disinfect your pool with a pure chlorine disinfectant, keep the pH between 7.1 and 7.5. You definitely don't want to miss a pool pump to keep your pool running properly, and in addition to an automatic pool water sanitizer or other sanitizing method, you'll need other pool technology to keep your water clean and healthy.
You also need to remove solids from the pool, such as grains of sand or dirt, or grass that gets deposited in the pool during swimming. So be sure to get a sand filter, pool vacuum and other pool accessories. You can choose from a manual pool vacuum cleaner or an automatic pool vacuum cleaner.
A pool canopy will protect your pool from autumn's falling leaves and other debris, and it will also provide privacy during swimming and help maintain the water temperature. In addition to the roofing, pool tarps can also be purchased. Our range includes solar cover tarps, winter pool tarps and safety tarps to minimise the risk of drowning. We will be happy to advise you on choosing a roof for your pool in our article.
Pool technology controls
All pool technology needs to be connected somewhere and then controlled. The simple and most common pool control panel is used for this purpose, to which you connect pool filtration, lighting, sensors and other pool technology. You can set time switches on the pool distributor to trigger water filtration or pool cleaning at the desired time. You'll come across potential glitches and problems the next time you inspect your pool shaft or pool house. You will be alerted by a light directly on the switchboard.
Intelligent control
However, if you like convenience or modern technology, we recommend purchasing a smart pool control. Not only do you connect the complete pool technology to the smart control, but thanks to data transmission and a mobile app, you get a constant overview of what's going on in the pool. In the app, available for Android and iOS, you can also set up all the water filtration and purification processes or manage pool accessories such as pool counterflow or air blowers for hot tubs. Controlling your pool and achieving perfectly clean pool water has never been easier. See for yourself the benefits of an intelligent control panel.
Not sure which control device to choose? Read the comparison between a pool controller and a smart control or contact us. We will be happy to advise you.
Swimming pool disinfection, swimming pool service and swimming pool construction
Choosing a pool disinfectant depends primarily on your preferences. Whether you choose chlorine-free pool chemicals, a UV lamp, or bet on conventional chlorine, you don't have to worry about limitations with our plastic pool sanitizer. For future saltwater pool owners, we can also provide a suitable saltwater pool skimmer.
For all our products, whether it is plastic pools and their accessories, wellness pools, plastic tanks, sewage treatment plants or oil or oil separators, we also offer the necessary service and other services. Thus, we will service your pool, pool lights, pool filtration, heat pumps, and extend the life of your pool technology. Turn to the experts to service and refurbish your pool technology or custom pool fabrication and construction, and get the luxury pool of your dreams for your backyard and indoors.
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