| When your swimming pool just won't stay clean | | | | fashion to lithium hypochlorite. It also lacks a stabilizing |
| anymore, it may be time to take more powerful pool | | | | agent. However, it must be dissolved in water, which |
| cleaning steps. With the right swimming pool supplies, | | | | is then added to start the pool shock process. It acts |
| pool shock may do the trick. | | | | very quickly when it is added. |
| Chlorine is a Temporary Cleaning Solution | | | | Dichlor acts in a much more deliberate fashion. |
| Chlorine is a very proficient cleaning product. It quickly | | | | Sodium is used as a stabilizing agent in Dichlor. This |
| combines with other materials in your pool. This both | | | | product can be added even on a hot, sunny day. As |
| quickly removes unwanted substances from your | | | | you might expect, after using this product for pool |
| pool and quickly removes the chlorine from your pool. | | | | shock you will have to wait much longer before |
| The chlorine must then be replaced. | | | | chlorine levels drop to safe levels. But, it will continue |
| It isn't just what is floating around in your pool that | | | | cleaning over a longer period of time. |
| depletes the pool's chlorine levels. Sunlight not only | | | | Applying Chlorine That's Already There |
| causes your pool water to evaporate, but the | | | | You can cause what is sometimes referred to as |
| chlorine as well. The chlorine simply leaches on to any | | | | non-chlorinated pool shock by simply restoring the |
| elements in the gases and fluids around it when | | | | independence of the chlorine molecules already in |
| sunlight is applied. | | | | your pool. It is simply a matter of apply an agent to |
| When your chlorine levels get below six parts per | | | | unbind the chlorine molecules. |
| million, your pool may become infested with bacteria | | | | Chlorine is very responsive to the elements around it. |
| and algae. This can be counteracted very effectively | | | | You can use this to your advantage to break up the |
| with pool shock. You can cause pool shock by | | | | bonds that have formed between chlorine and the |
| increasing the amount of chlorine to more than 10 | | | | other elements in your pool. The bonded chlorine |
| parts per million. But be careful, as this amount of | | | | molecules, often called chloramines, remain in your |
| chlorine is not safe for swimmers. In most cases the | | | | pool and can get all over you when you swim if they |
| chlorine levels will be back into a safe range within 24 | | | | are just left in the pool. So, you can use |
| hours, as the chlorine will react and combine quickly | | | | non-chlorinated pool shock to put them back to use, |
| with your pool's impurities. The result will be a clean | | | | rather than simply increasing the amount of chlorine in |
| pool. | | | | the pool. |
| Applying Chlorine the Traditional Way | | | | Potassium mono-sulfate, or PMP, is one of the |
| You may be surprised to learn that there is more | | | | substances you can apply to restore the cleaning |
| than one way to apply chlorine. The traditional | | | | action of the chlorine in your pool. Keep in mind, |
| application of chlorine involves simply adding a | | | | however, that the new chlorine levels will only be |
| chlorinating product to the pool. | | | | proportionate to the amount of chloramines remaining |
| One of the chlorinating products you can add to | | | | in your pool. Over time the chloramine levels will |
| induce pool shock is lithium hypochlorite. This product | | | | naturally be decreased by evaporation, filters, and |
| will rapidly increase your pool's chlorine ratio. It works | | | | splashing water. If you haven't performed |
| very quickly because it does not come with a | | | | non-chlorinated pool shock recently, the chances are |
| stabilizing agent. This also means that it dissipates | | | | that your chloramine levels will be high enough to |
| very quickly. | | | | rapidly increase chlorine levels in your pool with the |
| Calcium hypochlorite, or Cal Hypo, works in a similar | | | | application of PMP. |