Chlorine Alternatives for Your Swimming Pool
Updated: Jun 29, 2021
For the past century, chlorine has been the go-to chemical for disinfecting swimming pools. Most pool owners find themselves in a tough position when it comes to chlorine. On one hand, you're required to maintain the cleanliness of your swimming pool by keeping it free from bacteria and algae. Meanwhile, there are many risks associated with using chlorine for this purpose - namely dry skin or eye irritation, as well as a higher risk of contracting diseases like Legionnaires' disease if you ingest too much of it.
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The objective blog post is to provide you with different chlorine alternatives for your swimming pool so that you can make an informed decision on what’s best for your pool. Without wasting any more time, let's get into The Clean Pool Company’s top 5 chlorine alternatives for your pool.
Salt Chlorine Generator
Saltwater pools are not new, but they have been gaining in popularity for a few years now. It's no surprise since saltwater pools provide many benefits that chlorine-based ones don't. Chlorine can be harsh and irritating to the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. The saltwater on the other hand is gentler on your skin because it doesn't burn like chlorine does when you get it in your eyes. The most significant difference between these two pool water treatments is their effect on our health. Chlorine causes respiratory problems including asthma attacks while saltwater has been shown to improve breathing difficulty symptoms by as much as 50%.
There are some disadvantages of installing a saltwater pool at home too though - one being its cost. The up-front installation cost for a saltwater pool system can run you anywhere from $1500-$2500 on average. However, you may actually save money on cleaning materials in the long run compared to a standard chlorine pool.
Ozone Pool System
Ozone is a blue-colored gas that’s made up of three oxygen atoms, and it can be used to effectively kill bacteria. You might already know this if you've ever been in the swimming pool at an indoor water park or public recreation center - they're always using ozone sanitizing systems! This oxidizer has some cool properties: not only does it destroy contaminants within your pool's water, but unlike chlorine which requires constant attention from its user (and also smells really bad), ozone doesn't require much human intervention because once released into the air, all one needs to do for maintenance is just keep refilling containers with fresh tap water every day until their next use.
However, Ozone is a powerful, pungent gas that can't be transported like other chemicals. You have to make it on-site with an Ozonator or ozone generator! If mistreated it can be dangerous to manage if you are not a professional.
Mineral Pool System
A low chlorine alternative called "mineral systems" has been around for a long time (since 1891!) and proven itself as one of the top ways to keep pools clean. Mineral pools are the perfect way to ensure your pool is clean and healthy. Mineral systems use minerals like magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride that work together to keep your pool water in tip-top shape! These mineral additions make an excellent low chlorine alternative by fighting algae or bacteria while providing additional benefits for skin irritation caused by chemicals used on a regular basis.
Bromine Tablets Due to its ability to withstand high temperatures better than chlorine, bromine is typically used in spas or hot tubs. However, that doesn't mean it can't keep your pool clean and sanitized too. Bromine is a much gentler way to treat pools and spas. Bromine tablets can be added directly into the water, eliminating harsh chemicals from your skin, eyes, hair, and swimwear! Plus no chlorine odor that makes it perfect for indoor pools or small kiddie pools where you want to keep your little ones safe without worrying about the effects of chlorine on them so they're able to enjoy playing happily in their own pool all summer long.
However, keep in mind that bromine takes a bit longer to activate compared to chlorine. So if your pool is in rough shape and you are looking for a quick fix, you might want to go with a faster-acting cleaning solution.
Non-Chlorine Shock
This chlorine alternative, a non-chlorine shock treatment, can oxidize organic pollutants to make your pool water safe. Unfortunately, it cannot sanitize the water on its own and needs an additional sanitation method such as chlorine to do so.
Aerobic bacteria, like the kind that thrive in hot tubs or pools that are used at a high frequency, create organic pollutants. These are often referred to as "dead germs" because they don't really make you sick; rather these microbes just get trapped on your skin and hair follicles where they die off. If enough of them accumulate then there is potential for chloramine levels to rise which would prevent chlorine from killing any new microorganisms entering the pool water system (aka free chlorine). That's why it's important not only to keep up with regular chemical treatments but also resorting to non-chlorine shock yearly if possible - especially when temperatures start rising outside and bodies heat up indoors!
Hopefully, our list of the top 5 chlorine alternatives for your pool has provided you with some beneficial information. If you have any questions about what sanitation system would be best for your specific pool, please feel free to contact us. Our team of experts is ready to help you keep your pool clean, clear, and ready for swimming.
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