Balanced pool solutions: Why 2022 is the year of the borate

by brittney_cutler_2 | January 22, 2022 8:00 pm

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By John Bokor

A new year has begun. Pool professionals are seeking solutions to overcome what is looking to be another busy summer season. As an industry, the goal is to keep clients happy with their investment. With so many new pool owners entering the market, professionals need a product to ensure water stays clean, clear, and sanitized. Here is why this year, more than years past, is the year of the borate.

Borates help pools equipped with salt chlorine generators

One of the primary reasons borates have gained popularity among pool service professionals is their ability to control corrosion in a saltwater pool environment. For pools with salt chlorine generator systems, a large amount of pool grade salt is added to establish a concentration of about 3000 to 5000 parts per million (ppm). It is important to maintain the appropriate salt concentration in the pool, as using too much can increase the potential for corrosion. Pools with salt chlorine generators continuously produce sodium hydroxide (NaOH) when the sodium chloride (NaCl) is broken into free chlorine. Unfortunately, NaOH has a pH of approximately 13, which will quickly increase the pH of the pool water. The continuous addition of NaOH results in a never-ending pH increase. If this is left unresolved, the high pH will lead to corrosion of the pool components.

Borates have a buffering ability which allows pool water to remain at a more neutral pH level for a longer period. This allows the chlorine to be more efficient and effective at sanitizing the water. Borate products are also easy to use, as they are available in powders and slurries which can be added directly to the pool. Borates help prevent corrosion and scale on equipment while also controlling pH levels in the pool water.

Corrosion prevention

The electrolysis that occurs in a salt chlorine generator can damage plating on handrails, light niches, and other metal components. Borates create another buffering system for the water which eliminates these effects. Many pool professionals agree borates are a good companion product to salt chlorine generators because they help simplify water and equipment maintenance. It is worth the consumer’s extra investment in a borate product, especially when their pool uses a salt chlorine generator to produce sanitizer. Borates add an anti-corrosion effect to help ensure against rust on equipment, accessories, and fixtures around the pool.

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Calcium scale prevention and pH control

High calcium content can lead to scale formation, as well as cloudy water. Scale forms when calcium and carbonates crystallize on the pool walls around the waterline surfaces and equipment. This problem is compounded by a high pH. Borates keep the pH from creeping upwards to help prevent scaling. With an increased installation of pools with salt chlorine generators, borates have become even more important, as scale can reduce the life of the cell plates in the generators.

By maintaining borate levels at 50 ppm, salt cells last much longer. Service technicians agree the salt conversion cells can easily last a decade. Even customers who ensure their pool water is balanced only get five to six years out of an equivalent cell without borates. The salt cell lasts longer when borates are used because they bond with the calcium in the water, allowing it to remain cleaner and producing less scale. Although scale does form in some cases, it is a much softer scale which is easier to remove. Plate damage is also minimized, as less acid is required to clean the cell plates.

Due to the high pH at the surface of the cathode plates, scale formation is more likely. In fact, it is important to note scale formation will occur inside the salt chlorine generator, even if the pool water is properly balanced. Service teams should start all their new pools with approximately 30 to 50 ppm of borates in the water, which normally lasts between one and two years. After about a year and a half, they usually need to add a little more borate product to get the level back up into that range.

Additional benefits of borates

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Borate-based products also inhibit the reproduction of algae. This is a huge benefit for service technicians, as pool owners who use borates rarely have problems with green water—even after it rains in the summer and temperatures rise to 37 C (100 F). Those who do not use borates in those conditions will routinely see their pools turn green overnight. As summer rains and warmer temperatures increase, service professionals should always test for borates as part of regular water maintenance programs. Some pool professionals find borates also help to keep the pores of the pool plaster clean and algae-free.

Although borates are mainly a tool for pH and algae control, pool owners also like the look and feel they give the water. This product increases the water’s refractory index. More light is reflected, which gives the pool more sparkle. Finally, borates help to improve the overall bather experience. All borates can be considered derivatives of boric acid B(OH)₃, the active ingredient in eye drops. This soothing ability translates into pools and spas treated with borates. Borates are a mineral salt, so they help make bathers’ skin feel softer and help reduce red eyes from swimming.

Better balance with borates

Balancing pool water is one of the easiest ways to ensure chlorine will keep it sanitized. Borates allow water to remain at a more stable pH level for a longer period, resulting in lower chlorine consumption.

Frequent and consistent testing of chlorine, using a home testing kit or test strips, is imperative to make sure the sanitizer levels are correct. Without testing, one may be needlessly adding too much chlorine, as only 1 to 3 ppm is typically needed for good water quality.

For pools using chlorine generators, there is a case to be made for adding borates to the water. This will ensure the generators are not working overtime and causing harmful side effects to the pool and equipment. In general, borates improve the wellness of all pool types.

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Plaster pool start-ups

Plaster pool start-ups require critical water conditions. During this period of changing water balance, borates demonstrate their unique characteristics. Balanced borates help guard against pH swings and protect delicate plaster surfaces from scaling or etching. They can also help prevent return trips to the construction site, to keep builders on top of their busy schedules.

Vinyl liner protection

Unbalanced pool water can prematurely break down the structure of vinyl material. Borates help extend the life of a vinyl liner because the alkalinity acts as a buffer and absorber against harmful pH swing.

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Fibreglass pool surface boost

Borates have natural anti-scaling and anti-staining properties to keep fibreglass surfaces sparkling, pool water looking great, and equipment performing properly.

In fact, many pool professionals say borates can provide a once-a-season water protection policy. An initial dose of 50 ppm will last most pool owners the entire season. Borates are only lost through splash out, backwash, or loss of water, so they tend to remain steady throughout the year.

Pool owners will be using their pools more than ever and will want to enjoy their new investment. The industry needs to ensure they remain satisfied by making their pools easy to maintain. With service technicians stretched to their limits, borates can help minimize maintenance between service visits and keep customers happy.

John Bokor is the host of Haviland Pool and Spa Products’ “Legendary Pools and Spas,” a web series that promotes the fun of owning a pool or hot tub. He is also the company’s director of sales and has more than 25 years of experience in the pool retail industry. Bokor, a certified pool operator (CPO), regularly speaks to professional dealers and pool owners within his territory about water chemistry and maintenance. He can be reached via email at jbokor@havilandusa.com and on Facebook @LegendaryPLS.

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/features/balanced-pool-solutions/

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