Chlorine serves as the first line of defense against disease-causing microorganisms that can multiply in your backyard pool. However, combined with organic compounds like urine, body oils, and sweat, it forms chloramines that give off that strong, burning chlorine smell from your pool.

The unpleasant smell isn’t the only thing you need to worry about. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that prolonged exposure to chloramines irritates the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.

City Wide Pool Service, Las Vegas’ top pool maintenance experts, explains what you can do to get rid of chloramines and the unpleasant odor they give off.

Increase Chlorine Levels

The most efficient way to remove chloramines from your pool is by shocking or super-chlorinating it. The goal is to achieve “breakpoint chlorination,” a process that involves raising the chlorine levels to 10 ppm or more for at least 4 hours then bringing it back down to normal levels of 5 ppm or less.

This method is effective for oxidizing chloramines and eliminating them from your swimming pool. However, it’s highly important to keep swimmers away from the water until the chlorine levels have dropped to normal operating levels. This is because high chlorine levels can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs.

Use a Non-Chlorine Shock

An alternative is using a non-chlorine shock like potassium monopersulfate (MPS). Add a pound of MPS for every 10,000 gallons of water. Similar to super-chlorination, a breaking point of 10 ppm or more must be reached. After which, you need to bring it back to 5 ppm or lower.

This non-chlorine method breaks down the chloramine bond and eliminates other contaminants from your pool.

Maintain Optimal pH Levels

Chlorine shock can disrupt the pool’s pH levels, so it’s important to measure your pool’s pH after every shock treatment. The normal level is 7.4—any higher or lower than that may cause chloramine issues later on.

To increase a pool’s pH level, add one pound of sodium carbonate for every 25,000 gallons of water. To lower the pH, use muriatic acid. Remember to dilute it first, as the acid alone can be too potent.

Install a Supplementary Pool Sanitizer

If your budget allows, consider investing in pool sanitation technology such as an ozone generator. It helps eliminate the ammonia compounds in your pool that produce chloramine when combined with chlorine. Most generators operate in sync with the pool’s pump, but there are 24-hour systems that keep pools free from ammonia, nitrogen, and, ultimately, chloramine all week long.

Hire Las Vegas’ Trusted Pool Maintenance Experts

Maintaining optimal chlorine levels while keeping your pool odor-free can feel like an overwhelming task. This is where the experts at City Wide Pool Service come in. We’ll keep your pool smelling and looking great all year round.

For over 26 years, we’ve provided dependable maintenance services for residential and commercial swimming pools in the Las Vegas area. Our 7-step process guarantees a clean, immaculate, and safe-to-use pool each time.

Say goodbye to bad pool odor and strong chlorine smells. Reach out to us today to learn more about our services.