It happens. Sometimes the chlorine levels in our pool get too high to be comfortable or safe. Maybe we added too much chlorine. Maybe our salt cell is turned up too high. Maybe we have too many tabs in our floater. Maybe we had a few cold days. Whatever the reason, here are some tips to get that level down.
Turn Down the Salt Generator
Your salt generator, regardless of brand, has different increments or percentages. You can turn your cell down so that it creates less chlorine. If the chlorine is super high, you may want to consider turning the cell off completely for a couple of days. Test daily to check the levels.
Remove Your Tablet Floater
Removing the tablet floater for a few days will cause the active chlorine in the swimming pool to burn itself off. Test to see when the chlorine is at a desirable level. You may then put your floater back in. If floating too many tablets was the culprit to begin with, try using one less tablet at a time. Again, testing is required to know when the levels are back in range.
Heat the Water
Nothing burns off chlorine like warm water. This is easier in a spa because heating your swimming pool could be costly. If you have a solar cover, put it on, and leave it on for a few days. This will also heat the water and therefore burn chlorine off faster.
Add Fresh Water
Draining some of the water in your swimming pool and adding fresh water will dilute the chlorine, among other chemicals. This might be the best idea if you have other high levels that only draining will resolve. These fields include calcium hardness, cyanuric acid and total dissolved solids. If these levels were fine to begin with, you may find yourself having to add some additional chemicals to get them back into range. Salt is another good example of this.
Lower it Chemically
The fastest way to lower your swimming pool’s chlorine level is to use a chemical called Sodium Thiosulphate. Thiotrine is a popular brand. Follow the label’s instructions and your chlorine will be lowered in a matter of hours. It could take longer depending on the size of the pool and how high the chlorine level is.
Pool-Grade Hydrogen Peroxide is another chemical you can use to lower chlorine levels. This will be more difficult to find and doesn’t work quite as quickly.
If you opt to go the chemical route, when you do your test, make sure to test for pH as well because these can drastically change it.
Just Wait it Out
Chlorine will burn itself off naturally. Depending on how hot it is and how high your chlorine levels are will determine the amount of time needed. It could be quick or it could take a few days. This is the least expensive way aside from removing the tablet floater or turning down your salt cell.
Keep in mind, safe chlorine levels are between 1ppm-5ppm. This does not mean you cannot swim if the level is at 6ppm. These are guidelines to keep you comfortable and safe. Never, never swim in a pool when there is zero chlorine. That would mean there is nothing to combat bacteria and waterborne contaminants to keep you and your family safe. When adding chlorine, always follow the instructions on how long the water needs to circulate to mix it up before you can safely enter the swimming pool. See you poolside!
Related articles:
How to Properly Chlorinate Your Pool—In Three Easy Steps
The Safest Way to Store Your Above-Ground Pool for the Winter—Fast
