Pool Opening Pics

[JohnT]

Don't you know you can't use bleach in a swimming pool?

Now for fun take those pictures to the poolstore and show them the before and ask what to buy. Then show the after and tell them how you cleared it up.

[Service Guy]

Don't you know you can't use bleach in a swimming pool?

Now for fun take those pictures to the poolstore and show them the before and ask what to buy. Then show the after and tell them how you cleared it up.

There are byproducts and fillers in bleach that really shouldn't be in pool water and can wreak havoc on pH & alkalinity. Regardless, when attempting to clear a mesh covered pool in the spring, the MOST important thing is filtration. Without adequate filtration, you can dump all the bleach (or other sanitizer) you want in the pool and it's not going to make a big difference. One way to keep the pool from getting to such a nasty state, is to put a floating chlorinator in it when the pool is winterized. Periodically check & refill throughout the winter and even add additional algaecide if needed. If you religiously do this, without procrastination, then chances are your water will be clear when you remove the cover and save you days or weeks of clean-up time. The other option is to buy a SOLID VINYL COVER! Your water will look the same in the spring as it did when you winterized it.

[MaryLee]

"There are byproducts and fillers in bleach that really shouldn't be in pool water and can wreak havoc on pH & alkalinity."

huh??

[PoolDoc]

There are byproducts and fillers in bleach that really shouldn't be in pool water and can wreak havoc on pH & alkalinity.

Unfortunately, that's a totally bogus claim. Apparently, you've never actually *used* bleach!

There's no 'filler' in bleach, except water . . . and as has been discussed many times, the stronger the bleach is (and the less water) the faster it breaks down. Like any source of pool chlorine, bleach is not perfect. Probably it's worst characteristic is that it's so bulky.

But, it's cheaper than any other form of chlorine available to homeowners; it's has fewer side effects. It has no calcium, unlike cal hypo; no stabilizer, unlike everything sold by most pool stores; and no copper, unlike some new and truly awful blends. It's just chlorine, with a lot of water, and a little salt.

I realize that you are probably getting your info from one of the chemical manufacturer's handbooks, or from something like the CPO manual. But, as a CPO instructor, but also as someone who ran 20+ 100,000+ gallon pools with bleach . . . I can assure you that all the stuff about bleach's effect on pH and alkalinity is bogus. I operated one pool for years with bleach, and even though I had a partial 55 gallon drum of acid on site, I *never* used it up, in 6+ years!!

I'm sure that you have some helpful service tips to share, but please, for your sake and ours, hang on to your thoughts about chemistry till you've read and understood what this site is all about.

Sincerely,

Ben Powell