Fall Season Means Heater Time!

With cooler fall air temperatures blowing in, we also get cooler pool water. This article is continuing Solar Heating: An option but it only adds ten degrees to a pool’s temperature. Solar heaters heat best during sunny weather and warm temperatures of course, and they don’t heat at all at night, or during rainy days. Solar pool heaters work well in all parts of the United States but lose most of their effectiveness during winter. When solar is not enough, we turn to gas heaters.
Changes in Chlorine Use: During the warmer months of the year we use chlorine tablets for their ability to supply a continuous stream of chlorine as they dissolve. In the fall and winter, with the decreased amount of sunshine, lower pool temperatures and normally less pool use, we switch over to liquid chlorine.
Liquid chlorine is a bit different from tablets, not only due to its form (liquid vs. solid) but also in its strength and pH.
Sodium hypochlorite is the chemical name of liquid chlorine. It contains about 12.5 percent active chlorine and is commonly stored in yellow 2.5 gal. plastic jugs. Its pH is very, very high at about 13.
Tablet chlorine is often referred to as “trichlor” and is 90 percent chlorine. Its pH is the opposite of liquid chlorine, being very low (acidic). Trichlor tablets contain a stabilizer that protects the chlorine from sunlight damage.
Because of the greatly different pH values, we must make adaptations to your water’s alkalinity (related to pH) when we change chlorine forms. We take these and other actions to ensure your pool looks beautiful no matter the season.
If you have any questions about pool heaters or changes in chlorine use, please ask your Technician or give us a call. We are a state certified pool contractor, so we can fully assist you. Our License #1043643.
This article has been a word from Alex B Pool Service, servicing Santa Clarita and the San Fernando valley for over 12 years. Visit us on the web at www.alexbpoolservice.com also look for us at www.HomeAdvisers.com our give us a call at 661-607-4847 or 818-599-9064.