Pool Sanitizing Chemicals

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To keep your pool sparkling clean and safe for swimmers you need the help of sanitizers. Simply removing leaves and debris won’t do the trick. That’s because water chemistry is impacted by everything from sunshine to air pollutants to swimmers’ perspiration.

Maintaining a proper chemical balance in your pool requires several different types of chemicals working together, but sanitizers do the heavy hitting. Sanitizers kill bacteria, neutralize algae, and eliminate chloramines. They keep your pool looking and smelling nice. More importantly, they keep the water ideal for swimmers.

So what pool sanitizer options are available, and how do you know what to choose? We’ll give you an overview of pool sanitizer options, answering these questions:

• What is a pool sanitizer?
• What is the best sanitizer for your pool?
• How do you sanitize a pool?
• What is the difference between chlorine vs. bromine?

Keep reading for more information on pool sanitizers. Then choose the best option for your pool or consult your local pool professional for specific advice.

What is a pool sanitizer?

A pool sanitizer cleans your pool water, killing bacteria, algae, and other contaminants. Sanitizers make your water safe for swimmers, and they keep it looking sparkling clear too.

However, sanitizers are chemicals and must be handled with care.

What is the best sanitizer for your pool?

The most common pool sanitizer is chlorine, but the best pool sanitizer depends on factors like your budget, type of pool, indoor or outdoor, and maintenance routine.

Use this easy comparison chart to see which pool sanitizer is right for you:

Chlorine

UNIQUE FEATURES OF CHLORINE

• Keeps water clean
• Destroys harmful bacteria
• Keeps water safe for swimming
• Keeps algae away Chlorine comes in many different forms (tablets, granular, liquid). You should always consult with your pool professional for guidance as to which is best for your pool.

TIPS FOR USING:

Add chlorine granules directly into your pool water or place chlorine tablets to a floating dispenser, skimmer basket, or automatic chlorinator. Never mix chlorinated products together and always follow label directions.

Bromine

Bromine is a heat-resistant sanitizing element that sanitizes contaminants in pool water.

UNIQUE FEATURES

• Breaks apart harmful bacteria
• Remains active longer than chlorine
• Works better in hot water
• More expensive than chlorine

TIPS FOR USING:

When bromine breaks down, it produces bromamines, which impact its sanitizing function. Shock your pool to rid it of bromamines. If you use bromine tablets, they contain some chlorine for optimal sanitizing function.

Salt Chlorine Generator

These salt systems pass electricity through dissolved salt to produce chlorine for a pool.

UNIQUE FEATURES

• Produces a purer form of chlorine
• Gentle on eyes and skin
• Lowers pool chemical costs

TIPS FOR USING:

Expect to replace the salt cell after four or more years of use.

How do you sanitize a pool?

To sanitize a pool, you need to understand what chemicals your pool requires. Figure out your pool water’s chemical profile by testing it with a liquid testing kit, test strips, or professional testing at your local pool store. Then add chemicals to get your pool water into desired range.

Here are some chemicals you may want to add:

• Pool chlorine or bromine pool chemicals to sanitize
• Cyanuric acid to stabilize chlorine
• pH or alkalinity increaser depending on your water balance
• pH decreaser to lower pH

After a pool party or heavy rain, as well as once every week, you’ll want to shock your pool. This usually means adding an extra strong dose of chlorine, although non-chlorine shock formulas are also available.

When Things Heat Up: Hot Tub Maintenance

Hot tub sanitization requires some of the same steps that you use to maintain your pool. First, test your water for measurements including pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness. Adjust these levels by adding balancing products labeled for hot tub use as needed. However, you may use bromine as the primary sanitizer for a hot tub. Get a floating bromine feeder to make hot tub maintenance easy. Remember to run your hot tub for at least 30 minutes a day to keep all these chemicals circulating throughout the spa.

What is the difference between chlorine and bromine?

Chlorine and bromine are both effective pool sanitizers, so what’s the difference between them?

Let’s start with chlorine, the most common pool sanitizer. Chlorine is a chemical that comes in several forms: granules, tablets, or liquid pool chlorine. Chlorine offers the following advantages:

• It’s easy to use
• When combined with a stabilizer like cyanuric acid, it tolerates sunlight
• It works quickly and effectively
• It remains stable in cold temperatures

Bromine is a sanitizer that has advantages when used in hot tubs. Bromine is particularly effective for hot tubs’ high temperature, but it has some other advantages too:

• It remains stable at high temperatures
• It has little smell and is gentle on skin
• It kills bacteria and viruses
• It doesn’t have to be added as often as chlorine, lasting up to a week

Ultimately, it’s difficult to name a best sanitizer for your pool. To do so requires evaluating the unique aspects of your pool or hot tub, your lifestyle, and your needs. Know that both chlorine and bromine are effective sanitizers when used according to label instructions. For more information on what sanitizer would be best for your pool, visit your local pool professional. The experts there can point you in the direction that will produce a sparkling clean pool.

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