Fiji Pools Blog
If you own a pool or are considering having one installed, Fiji Pools wants to help dispel some myths about pool ownership before they end up costing you a lot of money in repair services.
Serving Tampa, Florida and the surrounding regions, we’ve heard a lot of misinformation from our customers about what they were taught regarding pool maintenance. The following are the top five myths we’ve encountered:
If your pool smells like chlorine, you’ve added too much
This is a widely-held belief, and it’s false. If you can smell the chlorine, you actually don’t have enough. It may sound counter-intuitive, but it’s true. Chlorine in your pool reacts with bacteria and creates chloramines. If you then shock your pool, these chloramines convert to oxygen and then escape into the air, which creates the smell. You’re not smelling the chlorine, you’re smelling the side-effect of your pool being disinfected, which means you likely need to re-chlorinate your pool to ensure that it remains clean.
Chlorine will change your hair color
It’s not the chlorine, but copper present in your water. If you encounter this problem, then stock up on shampoo specially formulated to remove the copper deposits.
Chlorine burns your eyes
Again, it’s not the chlorine but the water. If your pool is burning your eyes, sensitive skin or mucous membranes, then you need a pool technician to check the PH balance of your water. Our bodies are sensitive to PH levels, and while it may not cause lasting harm to your skin or eyes, a PH too high can damage the inner-workings of your pool. Pools should maintain a PH range of between seven and seven and a half.
Saltwater pools are chlorine free
A more accurate statement would be that the chlorine in a saltwater pool is the result of the natural process that occurs when the salt is processed through a metal cell and charged. This process, known as electrolysis, creates chlorine.
If the water is clear, it’s safe to swim in
Just because it’s not visible to the naked eye doesn’t mean that your pool doesn’t have bacteria in the water. Be sure to test the water weekly and cover your pool when it’s not in use to help prevent these harmful organisms from growing.
Even if you do most of your pool maintenance on your own, pools should always be inspected by a professional at the start of the season to ensure the filtration system is working properly. Contact Fiji Pools to schedule your appointment for a complete pool check-up today.