How Frequently Do I Need to Add Chlorine to My Pool?

Chlorine plays a vital role in keeping a pool’s water healthy and safe. As is true with any of the chemicals you add to your pool, it’s important to achieve the right balance with chlorine. If you’re a newer pool owner in the San Diego area, you may still be figuring out how to manage chlorine levels effectively, which involves determining how often to add chlorine. Keep reading for recommendations and guidelines to consider.

The Recommended Chlorine Balance

More chlorine needs to be added if your pool isn’t properly balanced. A pool is considered balanced when there’s a proper pH level ranging from 7.2 to 7.8. Chlorine levels should, according to Intheswim.com, remain within the 1–3 ppm range. In addition to chlorine, the pool water balancing process includes:

• A total alkalinity ranging from 80 to 120 ppm
• Calcium hardness ranging from 180 to 220 ppm
• Cyanuric acid/stabilizer levels ranging from 30 to 50 ppm

If your chlorine levels are on the low side, more chlorine needs to be added. Should this be the case, you’ll need to know how much to add.

Figuring Out How Much Chlorine to Add

To achieve the balance mentioned above, you’ll need to add roughly 0.00013 ounces of chlorine per gallon of water to your underground pool. Figure out what this means for your pool by determining how many gallons of water your pool holds. If you don’t know the answer offhand, figure it out by:

• Measuring the width of your pool
• Multiplying the width, length, and average depth of your pool
• Multiplying this value by 8.9 for a round pool, 7.8 for a rectangular pool, and 6.7 for an oval pool

The next step is to use a pool water test kit. The results will tell you how much chlorine is already in your pool so you’ll know how much more to add and when to do this. Multiply the 0.00013 figure mentioned above by the number of gallons of water in your pool to see if it’s time to add more chlorine. If it’s below 1 ppm, it’s time to take this step.

Other Factors to Consider

In addition to the size of your pool, there are some other factors that will determine how often chlorine should be added when your pool is being used or capable of being used. The main ones to consider include:

• Pool usage habits – You’ll need to test your pool water and add chlorine more often if you use your pool daily but not as frequently if you usually only use it once or twice a week.
• Debris in your pool – Active chlorine levels tend to be exhausted more frequently when there’s more debris in the pool. If your pool is near trees or flowering plants that attract insects, you’ll likely need to add chlorine more often.
• Direct sunlight exposure – The sun’s rays degrade chlorine. Therefore, if your pool is directly exposed to the sun for the better part of the day, chlorine levels will need to be checked and adjusted more frequently.

If you take care to maintain your pool on a routine basis, you can prevent damage to the mechanical systems, keep it clean, and ensure your family will be able to enjoy it for many years to come. If you haven’t yet built your pool, reach out to San Diego Pools, the pros with decades of experience. We are one of the premier pool companies in San Diego, and our pool design and construction experts are dedicated to building exactly the pool you want and providing you with the highest-quality service in the industry. To get started on building the pool of your dreams, call us today at 888-707-7786.