Nothing is quite as off-putting as a dirty pool. That is where chlorine comes in. Adding chlorine to pools is vital for killing germs. When it mixes with the water, it forms an acid called hypochlorous that kills bacteria like E. coli and other germs. But how much liquid chlorine to add to pool?
Add between 52 to 104 oz of liquid chlorine per 10,000 gallons of water. You can also keep the pump running, which will help the chlorine to mix properly.
Remember that you should not add too much chlorine, thinking it will keep your pools cleaner. Excess amounts of liquid chlorine can irritate your skin. Moreover, proper pool pH levels are also important for chlorine to be effective. Alright, let’s dive into the details.
How Much Liquid Chlorine Should You Add to Your Pool?
The rule of thumb is to add between 52 to 104 oz of liquid chlorine per 10,000 gallons of swimming pool water.
Alternatively, if you want to measure in liters, you can add 200 ml of liquid chlorine if your pool is stabilized. Add 400 ml per 10,000 liters of pool water if your pool is not stabilized.
Liquid chlorine is the easiest to add to your pool. They usually come in measured quantities too. Therefore, picking up the right amount for your pool is easy.
Moreover, you can also connect a mechanical chlorinator and let it do its job automatically. You do not need to supervise the process manually in that case.
Also, remember that pouring chlorine directly into the pool is perfectly okay. So, do not feel pressured to buy a mechanical chlorinator. However, keeping the pump running is recommended.
Before adding chlorine to your pool, test the current levels first. A chlorine test strip will let you do this easily.
How Much Liquid Chlorine to Add Per Gallon of Pool Water?
How much liquid chlorine you add to your pool will depend on several things. The size of your pool is the most important factor to consider. Before adding chlorine, check how many gallons of water you have in your pool.
Different pool sizes and shapes hold different amounts of water. For example, a round ring pool 15 ft across and 48 inches tall holds just under 5,000 gallons of water.
On the other hand, an in-ground pool can hold a lot more water. It could be 31,000 or more. You can find your pool capacity easily if you need to know how much water your pool holds.
Measure and then multiply the length, width and depth. Then you need to multiply that by 5.9 for a round pool, 7.5 for a rectangular pool or 6.7 for an oval pool.
What is the Best Time to Add Liquid Chlorine to the Pool?
The best time to add chlorine to your pool is when the sun is not up. So, you can add it at night or late evening. This is done so that no one uses the pool while the chlorine fully dissolves in the water.
Moreover, only add it to your pool when the chlorine levels are below the optimal levels. You can use a test strip to check your pool’s chlorine levels.
What is Pool pH?
Your pool pH levels are one of the most important indicators of your pool’s health. Essentially, pH levels measure your pool’s acidity from 0 to 14. There are tons of reasons why you need to care about your pool pH levels:
Low pH Can Cause Corrosion
If your pH is too low, your water is acidic. And that can cause everything in your pool to corrode. Pumps, ladders, and mechanical systems can rust much quicker. Therefore, you will need to replace them quickly.
Low pH Causes Irritation
We all use pools to relax. But imagine the moment you jump into your pool; your skin becomes dry and itchy, your eyes start to sting a bit, and your hair becomes brittle. These are the effects low pH levels have on you.
High pH Makes the Water Cloudy.
If your pool pH levels are too high, you will get high levels of mineral buildup. And this can cause the water to become murky.
High pH Inactivates the Chlorine.
Picture this; you just added chlorine to your pool. But you later find out that your pH levels are too high. Discovering this will be a bummer because high pH inactivates the chlorine. So, you will not get the benefits of adding chlorine.
What are the Right Pool pH Levels?
pH levels are measured on a scale of 0 to 14. If your pH level is below 7, your pool’s water is acidic. On the other hand, a pH level of 8.0 means your water is alkaline.
Ideally, you should always target to keep your pool’s pH levels between 7.4 and 7.8. so just below when the water starts to become basic. Also, you do not want the pH levels to go below 7.4 either since it will become more acidic.
When the pH level is between 7.4 to 7.8, the chlorine can do its job. It will kill all the bacteria and make swimming in the pool more comfortable and hygienic.
You can use measuring strips to check your pool’s pH levels. Test strips are the easiest way to determine whether your pool water is acidic or basic.
What is Pool PPM?
You will hear PPM come up a lot when talking about swimming pools and chlorine. So, what does it mean? PPM stands for part per million. It is used to check the chemical parameters in a swimming pool.
Essentially PPM is a ratio of one in a million. Similar to how 1% is one in 100. Using this ratio accurately measures chemicals in your pool compared to the amount of water in it.
You are right if you guessed by now that we would use PPM to determine the accurate amount of chlorine in your pool.
What is the Ideal Pool PPM?
The ideal chlorine PPM for swimming pools is between 2 to 4. Going below or over this will cause problems. A chlorine PPM of 4 is the highest it should be. So, you should not add more chlorine to the pool if your pool’s PPM is 4. If the chlorine PPM is over 5, it will irritate your skin.
However, PPM levels below 1 increase the chance of harmful bacteria and microbes forming. Therefore, you should definitely add more chlorine if your PPM is below 1.
Can You Swim Right After Adding Liquid Chlorine to Your Pool?
You can swim after 4 hours of adding chlorine to your pool. You should test the chlorine levels after shocking your pool too. Otherwise, if your pool chlorine levels are too high, it can cause skin irritation.
Keep your pool pump running while you wait for the chlorine to mix with the water. The water movement caused by the pump will help it to mix equally in the pool.
FAQs
What time should you add liquid chlorine to your pool?
Try to add liquid chlorine when no one is using the pool. Therefore, adding it during the nighttime or late evening is best.
What is in the chlorine that helps your pool?
The active ingredient in chlorine is Sodium Hypochlorite. When you add it to your pool, it mixes with the water and you get a weak acid called hypochlorous. This acid can effectively kill all kinds of germs in your pool.
Is adding too much chlorine bad for your pool?
Yes, adding too much chlorine can irritate. The best is to follow the rule of thumb of adding between 52 to 104 oz of liquid chlorine per 10,000 gallons of pool water. Your pool PPM should also be between 2 to 4.
Wrapping Up
Now that you know how much liquid chlorine to add to pool, you can keep your pool clean and safe to swim in. It will look much better, and your skin will also thank you.
Remember that the right measurements matter when adding liquid chlorine to your pool. Always add the right amount per gallon of pool water. In addition, you also need to maintain your water pH levels. Otherwise, it will deactivate the chlorine.
