Are you dealing with chlorine demand? If so, having an excessive amount of chlorine in your swimming pool can cause a myriad of problems.
It is worth noting before we get into excessive chlorine loss to remind pool owners that chlorine is the single most important chemical you need in your water to keep it clean and healthy.
If there isn't enough chlorine in your pool, that is not a good thing. Conversely, too much chlorine in your pool is also a bad thing.
You can see just how important regular water testing is, especially to monitor your chlorine levels as well as pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness.
Now, let's look at the issue of chlorine demand or excessive chlorine loss.
The Roots of Excessive Chlorine Loss
First, let's look at what causes chlorine loss.
When your pool is consistently unable to maintain its chlorine levels it is called “chlorine demand.” This is excessive chlorine loss.
What causes it?
A high level of inorganic and organic contaminants in the water most often is the cause of chlorine demand. Those contaminants force the chlorine to work extremely hard to oxidize them, leaving little chlorine to protect swimmers.
You cannot re-establish proper chlorine levels without first eliminating the contaminants. External factors such as sunlight and heat also contribute to chlorine loss.
How to Reduce Chlorine Demand
You'll find several different BioGuard products at Spartan Pool and Patio to help you maintain the amount of chlorine your pool uses while still keeping it clear, clean, and healthy.
Let's look at a few ways you can reduce demand while enjoying your swimming pool with family and friends all summer long.
- Bring us a water sample to determine the extent of the chlorine demand
- Add Pool Complete® 911 to help the filter remove contaminants
- Add BurnOut® 73 or BurnOut® 3 to correct sanitizer levels
- Add Pool Complete® Weekly to your maintenance routine to reduce contaminants and improve clarity
- Apply a preventive algaecide. This helps your chlorine do its job. Algaecide prevents algae growth and reduces the amount of chlorine you need to control it.
How to Prevent Chlorine Demand
Here are a few ways to prevent excessive chlorine loss:
- Add Pool Complete® Weekly to your weekly maintenance routine to reduce contaminant levels
- Maintain an appropriate sanitizer residual of 1 - 4ppm
- Shock/oxidize routinely or as needed depending on the bather load
- Test water frequently and adjust as needed
- Routinely check for circulation and filtration issues
Making Sure Your Chlorine Levels are Stable
Now you can see how to deal with chlorine demand. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask. We are always here for our customers!
Finally, keep your water balanced! This is an important step in weekly pool maintenance.
It's also vital that you test your water several days a week and bring us a water sample at least once a month. We'll run it through our FREE water testing system, Alex. We'll tell you just what your pool needs to stay clean, clear, and healthy.
