If you’re reading this, I’ll assume you’re either an owner of a pool, or you’ve at least considered getting one. Pools are great for relaxation, cooling off, and providing a pleasant view. They’re also great for entertaining guests. However, maintaining the cleanliness of your pool can be quite the hassle. That’s why you need to know How Do You Soften Pool Water? Not only is it important for the general cleanliness of your pool, it’s also essential for helping it stay in great shape.
There are various ways in which you can soften your pool water. Some people prefer chemical means of softening, such as chlorine or bromine. Others prefer using electricity to generate waves, known as electrolysis. Still others rely on air pressure to force the water into smaller droplets, which then settle to the bottom of the pool. Using any one of these methods can help to ensure you get the most out of your pool. Moreover, finding the right combination of chemicals can help to create the perfect environment for your pool.
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Softening With Chlorine
If you’ve ever used chlorine at any pool facility, then you know how it makes water look and feel. When combined with air, it forms tiny droplets, which are then carried by the wind toward the pool’s drain. At the end of the day, this often leaves your pool with a thin coat of chlorine, which can still be hazardous to your health. So, while this can be a great way to disinfect your pool water, it’s not the most practical solution. Chlorine can also become ineffective if used for too long, causing serious damage to your pool’s plumbing.
Instead, most swimmers use a pool filter to remove these small droplets from the water. In this way, you can continue enjoying the benefits of chlorine while avoiding its dangerous side effects.
Softening With Bromine
Bromine is often the alternative to chlorine when it comes to treating pool water. Just like chlorine, bromine is an oxidizing agent that kills various types of bacteria and algae in your pool. However, because bromine isn’t as effective as chlorine at removing these organisms, you must use it in combination with another compound. Usually this combination is with a reducing agent, such as sodium bisulfate or ammonium sulfate.
This pairing creates active halogen, which is a significantly stronger agent than either bromine or chlorine alone. For this reason, many pool owners choose to use this combination, as it provides the best of both worlds. Sodium bisulfate is a popular option for many swimmers, due to its low price and wide availability. Ammonium sulfate is another great choice, as it provides additional sulfate for your pool’s sulfuric acid, enabling it to be more effective at killing algae.
Electrolysis
The process of electrolysis, or generating electricity from water, can also be used to soften your pool water. The basic idea is to pass current through the water in your pool. If you’ve ever done this, then you know how loud it can be, as well as how violent the motion is. For this reason, many pools use an electrolysis unit that contains an insulated container, or chamber. This chamber is where the majority of the water is, and it’s where the power is fed to.
When the current is passed through the water, it creates hydrogen and oxygen gas, as well as charged particles called ions. These particles then become displaced in the water, creating waves. The frequency at which the current is passed determines the size of the waves, as well as the pitch (high to low) and the amplitude (how far the water is displaced by the waves).
The advantage of using electrolysis to soften your pool water is that this method produces gas that can be easily removed, via a vacuum pump. This way, you can ensure that your pool remains uncluttered, as well as in great shape for many years to come.
Force The Water Into Smaller Droplets
An important step in the process of softening pool water is to break it down into smaller droplets, which can then be removed by the filter. The general rule of thumb is: the smaller the droplets, the greater the efficiency of the filter at catching them. This process of breaking down the water into droplets also exposes the water to oxygen, enabling even more effective disinfection than usual. In most cases, this step also helps to remove chlorine, as it is often added to pool water for this very purpose.
Avoid These Chemicals
Just because a substance is commonly found in swimming pools doesn’t mean it’s ideal for all pools. Many chemicals, including chlorine and bromine, are known for hurting the environment. If you’re feeling particularly eco-friendly, then there are other choices available that don’t involve harming the ecosystem. For example, many people use UV light alone to disinfect their pool water. Just make sure you know how to properly use this type of equipment.
In most cases, however, it’s best to avoid using chemicals altogether. Not only are they often costly, but they can also become depleted over time, requiring you to buy more. If possible, try finding natural alternatives, such as fresh lemon juice or vinegar, which are frequently used to treat swimming pools. If these liquids are left out for too long, they can become dangerous as well, so be careful!
In most cases, these chemicals pose a threat to the overall health of your pool. However, if you’d like to use them for other purposes, such as adding a new flavor to your water, then this is your choice. Just make sure that you don’t leave these chemicals out overnight, as they can become extremely powerful, even deadly substances if ingested or absorbed through the skin.
Maintain A Healthy Environment
Aside from the general cleanliness of your pool, you must also be concerned with maintaining a healthy environment. For this reason, most pools use an anti-microbial agent, such as Trichloroisocyanuric acid or sodium hypochlorite, just to name a few. These chemicals keep your pool free of dangerous bacteria and algae, so you don’t have to worry about your pool turning into a mini-ecosystem inside your home. Many pools feature a water fountain at the edge, which provides an ideal spot for family and friends to gather during warm summer months.
While it’s important to keep track of the overall cleanliness of your pool, the location of the water fountain is also important. For this reason, most pools are surrounded by plants, which act as a natural bio-filter. The greenery provides a habitat for many beneficial insects and small wildlife. It also helps to prevent soil erosion, so the overall landscape doesn’t become overrun by petrochemicals and microplastics.
The health of your pool is dependent on many factors. Aside from the water softening method you use, the size of the pool itself is also important. The bigger the pool, the higher the chance of it becoming contaminated. This is why most swimmers prefer to use smaller pools, or at least keep them below ten feet deep. The general rule of thumb is: the shallower the better when it comes to keeping your pool clean.
Hopefully, this article has provided you with a basic understanding of how and why you would want to soften your pool water. As you may have guessed, there are various solutions available, each with its perks and quirks. So, instead of doing battle with your pool’s water, why not try out a few different methods, to see what works best for you? This way, you can continue enjoying the benefits of clean water, without all the hassles that come with it.