Chlorine is the standard way to keep pool water safe. It kills bacteria and algae and breaks down what swimmers, leaves and rain bring into the water, and it works with every pool structure, in-ground or above ground. Nolascapes Pool & Outdoors LLC designs, builds and maintains chlorine pools for homes and commercial properties in New Orleans, Jefferson, Uptown and nearby areas.

How Chlorine Keeps the Water Clean

The water is tested for free chlorine, pH and alkalinity, because chlorine works well only within a narrow pH range. A pH slightly above neutral keeps the chlorine effective and the water comfortable on skin and eyes, and alkalinity keeps the pH from swinging. Heavy rain, a crowded pool day or a storm lowers the chlorine level, and the pool is then shocked to bring it back. Chlorine is used up as it works, and sunlight and heat use it up faster, so a pool in full sun needs more than a shaded one. The filter and pump circulate the treated water through the whole pool, so the chlorine reaches every corner and the debris is caught.

Reading the Water

The water shows what is wrong if you know what to look for. Cloudy water usually points to poor filtration or low chlorine, and green water means algae has started to grow. A strong chlorine smell does not mean there is too much chlorine. It comes from chloramines, which form when chlorine reacts with sweat, oils and other contaminants, and it is treated by shocking the pool. Test the water regularly, and more often in hot weather, after storms and after a busy weekend.

Forms of Chlorine

Chlorine is added in one of these forms, together with a stabilizer:

• Tablets - They dissolve slowly in a feeder or floater, but they also add stabilizer, which builds up over time.
• Liquid - It works quickly and adds no stabilizer, which makes it useful for adjusting after rain.
• Granules - They dissolve fast and are used for shocking the pool and for treating algae.
• Stabilizer - It is added so that sunlight does not burn the chlorine off, which matters in a Louisiana summer. Too much reduces the effect, so the level is tested.

Equipment and Feeders

An inline feeder on the equipment pad gives steadier chlorine levels than adding it by hand, and the pump and filter keep the water moving. Feeders need to be refilled and cleaned, and the filter needs to be cleaned or backwashed on a regular schedule, because an empty feeder or a clogged filter is a common reason for cloudy water and low chlorine. A rise on the filter pressure gauge shows when the filter is due for cleaning.

Chlorine or Salt

A chlorine pool costs less to equip and gives you direct control of the dose, but you buy and store the chlorine. A saltwater pool makes its own chlorine from salt, which suits owners who prefer to add salt instead, at a higher equipment cost. The sanitizer is the same in both, so the testing and the pH balance described above apply to either system.

Maintenance and Safety

Store chlorine dry, away from other chemicals and out of children's reach. Our crews can handle the routine for you: pool openings and closings, cleaning, refilling and protecting the equipment before a freeze. Installation follows state regulations, which can add safety requirements to protect both our clients and our working crew.

Set Up Your Pool Care Routine

If you want help setting up or taking over the care of a chlorine pool, call Nolascapes Pool & Outdoors LLC on 504-330-8479 or contact us through the online form. Tell us the size of the pool, how it is treated now and when you use it most, and we will explain what the routine involves and how we can handle the openings, closings and cleaning for you.