Some Ways to Offset the High Cost of Chlorine

Chlorine is expensive. The prices may be flat but when compared to 2019 they have increased some 100-200% depending on the chlorine type. The good news is that there are a number of ways to offset the high cost of chlorine.

Phosphate and Enzymes:

This one-two punch can be highly effective in allowing the chlorine to work in the pool on the things it was intended to and not be “used up” by phosphates and non-living organics.

Instead of getting technical and trying to teach a science class explaining how enzymes work, we will try to break it down more simply. Enzymes break non-living things down into smaller and smaller bits. Many non-living things are in pool and spa water; body oils, sweat, cosmetics, and sunscreens to name a few. This frees up the chlorine to work on the things it was intended to fight like viruses and bacteria instead of being wasted on these non-living organics. 

Phosphate reducers are specialty chemicals used to remove phosphates from pool water. They are typically salts of aluminum or lanthanum which, when added to water, produce insoluble phosphate compounds which are removed through filtration, vacuuming, or both. Phosphates are food for algae and by eliminating them from the water you eliminate at least one major food source for algae. This will prevent algae growth which is a big reason why the chlorine level drops rapidly in some pools. 

PoolRX and Mineral Systems:

PoolRx is a Mineral Technology that does two very simple things when used in your pool or spa; it eliminates all algae and will allows you to use less chlorine during the pool season. The active ingredient is Copper Sulphate Pentahydrate (chelated).

By eliminating algae growth the chlorine is automatically freed up and will last longer in a pool. Mineral technologies like the Frog and Nature2 also use minerals (metals) to prevent algae. 

Borates:

The Borate in the water at 50 ppm helps reduce chlorine usage by eliminating Carbon Dioxide and also keeping the pH stable. 

Boric Acid is a known Biostat. This prevents the algae cell from forming and multiplying. Thus, a pool with a Borate level between 30-50 ppm will prevent algae growth. Since borate prevents the algae cell from growing, algae blooms will be a thing of the past. No more algaecides or shocking the pool, algae just won’t grow in your pool any longer.

Salt Water Generator:

In the past, just 2 years ago there were no savings associated with a saltwater generator (SWG). But with chlorine prices as high as they currently are, it would not be a bad idea to have one installed. The upfront cost is $1,000-$2,000 but there are some great benefits with an SWG. Mainly you won’t need to buy chlorine again. If you factor in the cost of a new salt cell every 5 years, mathematically you might be breaking even on an SWG vs chlorine. But the fact that you won’t need to manually add chlorine each week and the convenience of a saltwater pool make it a smart idea.

UV, Ozone & AOP:

These systems need to be installed at the equipment and there is some upfront cost. But you can use 50% less chlorine each week or more and in the long run, they will also save you money. Not that these are not sanitizers but devices that help you run your pool using a lower chlorine level. 

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