hello, fairly new to this forum and wondering about the higher levels of chlorine recommended… my pool is currently 10ppm with high CYA… waiting on my test kit which will arrive today but pool store told me public pools have 7ppm as norMal so wondering if having more than 10ppm is safe to swim in. Already our pool leaves some residual chlorine smell on my skin. Wanting to have a pool party this weekend and wanting safe levels. Thanks in advance for your opinions
Safe levels of Chlorine for swimming?
- Thread starter Ktrunner
- Start date
hello, fairly new to this forum and wondering about the higher levels of chlorine recommended… my pool is currently 10ppm with high CYA… waiting on my test kit which will arrive today but pool store told me public pools have 7ppm as norMal so wondering if having more than 10ppm is safe to swim in. Already our pool leaves some residual chlorine smell on my skin. Wanting to have a pool party this weekend and wanting safe levels. Thanks in advance for your opinions
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,109
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
FC levels up to SLAM FC level for your CYA are safe to swim in.
Public pool FC guidelines assume CYA of 0.
If anything you FC will be too low for safe swimming with a high CYA.
www.troublefreepool.com
www.troublefreepool.com
Public pool FC guidelines assume CYA of 0.
If anything you FC will be too low for safe swimming with a high CYA.
The Free Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid Relationship
Managing your cyanuric acid and Free Chlorine levels is key to stabilizing your pool. Learn how these two items affect each other.
www.troublefreepool.com
Pool Care Basics Archives
Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!
www.troublefreepool.com
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,913
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
The chlorine smell is chloramines. Chloramines is a generic chemical term for chemical compounds formed from the reactions of chlorine with organic and biological contaminants in pool water. You have algae and other biological contaminates that the chlorine is trying to eliminate.
When your test kit arrives, your CC test (combined chlorine) will likely be above .5.
In a properly chlorinated pool, nothing should smell like chlorine.
CC - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
When you test kit arrives, post a full set of results, and be prepared to start the SLAM process to clear the pool. Link-->SLAM Process
Also, it's not unusual to smell chlorine on YOU once you exit the pool - the chlorine in the water reacts with any organic contaminant...so your sweat, skin-oils etc, will all react with the chlorine and produce chloramines which you will smell (and recognize as 'chlorine').
If the POOL smells strongly of chlorine, that's not a good sign - but a slight residual on YOU when you exit the pool, that's not necessarily a big red flag
If the POOL smells strongly of chlorine, that's not a good sign - but a slight residual on YOU when you exit the pool, that's not necessarily a big red flag
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,913
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
@SJPoe is also correct.
Chloramine smells are not at all unusual when exiting a pool. The residual chlorine left on your body is oxidizing the sweat and oils on your skin as well as the compounds in your bathing suit. This is why, if possible, you should shower off after swimming.
Your nose also creates the chlorine smell.... well, actually, the mucous membranes inside your nose. Chlorine is a volatile compound and it can off-gas from your skin and clothes just as easily from your pool water. When you breath it in, the hypochlorous acid will react with the mucous membranes inside your nose and form chloramine compounds.
Given your high FC levels, chloramine smell is not surprising. While your pool water is safe to swim in, the water you drag out onto your skin and bathing suit has a high residual of chlorine in absolute terms. As you sit there, it is going to be released and the chloramines are going to build up.
With high CYA, the likelihood is that you have both organics in the water (algae etc), and some residual effects of chloramines on your body. However, in a normal pool without algae/biologics, the chlorine smell is minimal.
The prescription - take a shower right away with fresh water if you have it available, and use your test to post a set of results and we'll get it cleared up.
Side note: I and my family never have a chlorine smell from our pool, CYA 90, FC 10-12.
Chloramine smells are not at all unusual when exiting a pool. The residual chlorine left on your body is oxidizing the sweat and oils on your skin as well as the compounds in your bathing suit. This is why, if possible, you should shower off after swimming.
Your nose also creates the chlorine smell.... well, actually, the mucous membranes inside your nose. Chlorine is a volatile compound and it can off-gas from your skin and clothes just as easily from your pool water. When you breath it in, the hypochlorous acid will react with the mucous membranes inside your nose and form chloramine compounds.
Given your high FC levels, chloramine smell is not surprising. While your pool water is safe to swim in, the water you drag out onto your skin and bathing suit has a high residual of chlorine in absolute terms. As you sit there, it is going to be released and the chloramines are going to build up.
With high CYA, the likelihood is that you have both organics in the water (algae etc), and some residual effects of chloramines on your body. However, in a normal pool without algae/biologics, the chlorine smell is minimal.
The prescription - take a shower right away with fresh water if you have it available, and use your test to post a set of results and we'll get it cleared up.
Side note: I and my family never have a chlorine smell from our pool, CYA 90, FC 10-12.