Liquid sodium hypochlorite – otherwise known as liquid chlorine – is a compound of chemicals that’s easy to obtain and use, and really good at sanitizing your pool water and keeping it from growing algae. But during this time, liquid chlorine has risen to be a bit of an unsung hero. It disinfects bacteria and viruses from your pool water, including the viruses that cause COVID-19. So if you’re sanitizing your home, it is vital to keep your pool clean in this crisis, as well.

In this article from PoolPro, Terry Arko explains why liquid chlorine is the perfect pool pro tool in a crisis. He states that:

“Liquid sodium hypochlorite has been proven through the history of pools to be one of the most cost-effective, easy and safest ways to disinfect pool water because:

• It’s affordable.
• It’s easy to use.
• It’s safe for storage, as it is nonflammable and noncombustible.
• It creates an instant measurable residual of free chlorine.
• It does not contain calcium or cyanuric acid.
• It’s beneficial as a backup to chlorine generator systems.
• It’s ideal for use with secondary sanitizing systems like ozone, UV and AOP.”

If diluted properly, he adds that you can even use liquid chlorine to disinfect the inside of your home as well. It’s a great article, and we highly recommend reading it.

How to keep your pool clean in a crisis

Every pool owner should know the “Three C’s” to sanitizing your pool: Circulation, Cleaning, and Chemistry. Even when there’s not a crisis, the Three C’s is the best way to keep your pool clean in general. But if you’re looking to sanitize your pool against COVID-19, using the Three C’s will thoroughly sanitize your pool and keep it clean thereafter.

Circulation

Keeping your water circulating through its filters is the first step in not only cleaning your pool but maintaining it in top condition. Running your pump all the time can certainly keep your pool cleaner for longer periods, but that usually becomes a bit costly. However, your pool water should be completely circulated through the pool filters at least once a day. If you’re looking to save some energy, schedule your pump to run during off-peak hours at night, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.

To keep your pool’s circulation system operating at optimum efficiency, you’ll have to maintain your filters and pump, as well. We have a variety of how-to videos that show you how to change your filters, prime your pump, and much more.

Cleaning

Although this entire blog post is about keeping your pool clean, this “C” mainly focuses on removing debris from your pool. Ideally, you should skim your pool water daily and give it a thorough vacuuming often. We have another how-to video about vacuuming for reference. While this chore sounds a bit tedious, it goes a long way in helping to keep your pool clean in a crisis.

Not only does debris clog your filter system, which interrupts the vital circulation system for your pool, but it also creates an environment for bacteria and viruses to grow. If cleaning becomes too much of a chore, consider an automated or robotic pool cleaner that does this job for you.

Chemistry

Maintaining the chemical balance in your pool water is the final step in keeping your pool clean and free of bacteria and viruses. If you don’t know how to, don’t worry! It’s easier to do than you think, but you’ll need some patience.

Here’s a quick overview of how to balance your pool’s water chemistry:

1. Test the water.
2. Adjust the total alkalinity. The ideal range is between 80 and 120 ppm.
3. Adjust the pH. The ideal range is 7.4 to 7.6.
4. Balance Calcium Hardness. The ideal range is between 200 and 400 ppm.
5. Add a sanitizer like chlorine, bromine, or biguanide. The ideal range is 3 ppm for chlorine.
6. Measure the total dissolved solids. The ideal range is less than 2,000 ppm
7. Shock the pool.
8. Test the water once more.

 

If you need any assistance in sanitizing your pool at home, contact us and we’ll walk you through the process. And if you need any chemicals, you can now order them online from us and have them delivered for free! So stay home and we’ll bring the chemicals to you! At Aqua Pools, we’re doing everything we can to assist you in keeping your pool clean in a crisis. Let us know how we can help!