How much liquid chlorine do I add to my pool?

The biggest part of figuring out how much liquid chlorine to add to your swimming pool is knowing how many gallons of water it contains. Knowing the starting point of the chlorine already in your pool is also helpful.

Let's start with what chlorines does in your pool. Chlorine is part of your disinfection program. It is added to your pool water to kill germs. Free chlorine (the available chlorine in the water) can kill most germs within a few minutes.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends at leat 1 ppm in pools and at least 3 ppm in hot tubs/spas. Here is a link to the CDC's fast sheet.

Pool water needs to be tested regularly. Weather and bather load have a huge affect on the amount of chlorine needed to maintain sanitation. Pool test kits along with extra regents are available for sale at our store. You can also bring a sample of your pool water in and have it tested.

Liquid chlorine is 4 to 6 times stronger than regular household bleach. It is very important to be careful when using. Should it come in contact with your clothes or skin, you should rinse it off immediately.

Once you have tested your pool water and know the starting point, follow the manufacturer's recommendations to bring the chlorine level to the desire point. Here is a link to a pool chlorine calculator that will help you to determine the amount to add.

Is there a way to automatically add liquid chlorine? At Wechsler Pool we sell a control unit which reads the amount of chlorine that is in the pool and automatically adjusts it to keep the chlorine at a reasonable level. 

Chlorine is just one part of the dynamic duo that keeps your pool sparkling and sanitised. Don't forget to check the pH everytime you test your water. Contact us if you have any questions.