The Dangers of Over-Chlorinating Your Pool

Though chlorine is great at keeping your pool clean, too much of it can be harmful.

When there is an overabundance of chlorine, it can form compounds known as chloramines. These chloramines not only cause eye & skin irritation but they can also cause respiratory problems for swimmers and make for corrosive air which is hard on the air handling systems for indoor pools. The chlorine in your pool works by killing bacteria but also oxidizes the chemical contaminantes (sweat, urine, skin lotions etc.). As the chlorine oxidizes, it also breaks down into chloramine compounds. When there are more chloramine compounds than free chlorine in the water, the pool is said to be "over-chlorinated." Over-chlorinated pools often have a strong chemical smell and can cause swimmers' eyes to sting and turn red. In addition, over-chlorinated pools can exacerbate respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis. If you or someone you know has these conditions, it's best to avoid swimming in an over-chlorinated pool altogether.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent your pool from becoming over-chlorinated. First, make sure you're using the correct amount of chlorine. Testing with a digital photometer (that can be validated for accuracy) is a first step. Second, ensure that the pH level of the water is balanced; if it's too high, it can cause the chlorine to be less effective resulting in the need for higher chlorine levels but if the pH is too low it can accelerate the release of chloramines into the air. The fine tuning of getting the right chlorine in the water at the right pH is easily handled by a modern pool chemical control system. Finally, proactive use of a non-chlorine oxidizer shock (not the same as a chlorine shock) to help get rid of any chloramine buildup that may have accumulated over time.

If you have any questions about how to keep your pool properly chlorinated and free of harmful chloramines, be sure to contact us for assistance. Our experts can assess your existing system for optimization, helping you save on increasingly more expensive chlorine and service testing equipment for more reliable test results which all helps minimize chemical expenses and maximize a safe and healthy swimming experience for your guests.