Making the best use of liquid chlorine
In addition to balancing the water, there are other products that can be added to a routine pool care program to maximize the impact of liquid chlorine. A preventative algaecide, which should be a part of any pool care maintenance program, is an important addition when trying to maintain an adequate chlorine residual—especially when using liquid chlorine.
Adding an algaecide weekly allows chlorine to be used for killing bacteria rather than ridding the pool of algae. The less work chlorine needs to do in the pool, the longer it will last. Therefore, it is important service professionals choose the right preventative algaecide—especially if water features or attached spas are present as some algaecides could cause excessive foaming. In these cases, it is important service technicians refer to the label instructions for guidance.
The addition of an enzyme product on a weekly basis will also enhance the efficiency of any chlorine-based pool maintenance program. Enzymes break down non-living waste that is typically oxidized by higher levels of chlorine or a non-chlorine oxidizer. By using enzymes to break down non-living waste (e.g. sunscreens, hair products, body oils, pollen, etc.) present in pool or spa water, the demand on chlorine is reduced. Less chlorine needed to maintain a residual is often evident in a maintenance program that uses enzymes consistently for this purpose.
The importance of phosphate removal
Another option for service professionals to improve water quality and ensure success with liquid chlorine is orthophosphate removal. When the phosphate level gets too high (roughly over 125 ppb), it can create dull, cloudy, or hazy water conditions and, in combination with high pH and calcium hardness, contributes to the formation of calcium phosphate scale on surfaces and equipment.
This is especially problematic for saltwater pools. Since phosphate is the last step in the oxidation process of phosphorous, chlorine and shocks do not influence it; however, phosphate does contribute to the conditions that make it harder for chlorine and algaecide to do their jobs. Therefore, keeping a pool at a near-zero phosphate residual is the ideal goal.
Testing for and removing phosphate proactively helps reduce reoccurring pool problems, simplifies maintenance needs, and improves the look and feel of the water. Service technicians should use multi-functional weekly maintenance products that will add enzymes and phosphate removers at the same time. This will maximize the potential of liquid chlorine and, at the same time, minimize the time needed poolside to perform water maintenance as well as reduce the number of different products that need to be added the water.
Understanding the need for proper circulation
Often, the first tool a service professional reaches for when poolside is a chemical. However, the value of improving or expanding routine physical maintenance to maximize a pool care program is by far one of the most overlooked solutions by service professionals and pool owners alike.
The benefits of properly circulating pool water, providing good filtration, and even getting in a light personal workout by brushing and vacuuming, is often understated.
If the sanitizer, or any other ancillary chemicals applied to the water, cannot reach problematic areas then the opportunity for water quality issues increases and the value of those water care products are reduced. Specifically, for a sanitizer, if it cannot reach it, it cannot kill it.
Traditionally, pool water needed to be circulated 10 to 12 hours a day and turnover the volume of the pool at least twice in a 24-hour period. However, with variable speed pumps (VSPs) allowing consumers to run their pumps for longer periods without breaking the bank, the standard 10 to 12 hours is more complex and flow patterns become more important.
Most consider the positioning of pool returns as an afterthought and think the more churn and surface disruption, the better. In many cases this is not true. For instance, larger above-ground pools can struggle to maintain good circulation since the lack of a main drain and limited amount of surface skimmers makes it more difficult. Many also have returns improperly positioned to point up toward the surface of the pool to make water appear to be circulating vigorously.
Despite looking great, the circulation is inadequate and leads to problems occurring faster at the bottom and centre of the pool. These areas of reduced circulation become the landing spot for large amounts of debris, while areas such as the seams (where the pool floor meets the walls) become a haven for the start of biofilm and algae growth. What collects in these dead spots consumes chlorine-based sanitizers that blindly attempt to react and break down nitrogen-rich pool contaminants.
