how do i get rid of the smell in my swimming pool

^{WHY MIGHT YOUR POOL SMELL?}

• Your swimming pools needs sanitized. This can be due having too little chlorine in your pool water.
• You need to shock your swimming pool. If your chlorine levels are within the recommended range, shocking your pool is still necessary and may quickly remove the odor you are ...
• Ammonia levels are too high. Sweat, urine and other bodily waste that may come in contact with the swimming pool creates ammonia. ...
• Nitrogen levels are too high. The causes of excess nitrogen components in your pool is very similar to that of having excessive ammonia levels. ...
• Not opening or closing your swimming pool at the proper time. ...
• Dead rodent or animal. This is not likely, however I have seen it first hand. Be sure no animals may have fallen into your water and died. ...

How do you get rid of chlorine smell in pool?

The easiest and most common way to remove smells of any kind from your swimming pool is raising chlorine levels fast by shocking the water. Shocking your pool will kill any bacteria , algae , nitrogen , ammonia as well as other livingorganisms that may be present in your pool water. Total Chlorine = Free Chlorine + Combined Chlorine.

How to get rid of swimming pool ammonia smell?

By shocking the pool with extra chlorine once a week, you will destroy ammonia as well as contaminants in the pool and reach a higher FAC level. This will reduce the level of chloramines in the pool, causing the odor and water quality to improve. 2. Try a non-chlorine shock

Why does my swimming pool smell bad?

Your swimming pools needs sanitized. This can be due having too little chlorine in your pool water. You need to shock your swimming pool. If your chlorine levels are within the recommended range, shocking your pool is still necessary and may quickly remove the odor you are experiencing. Ammonia levels are too high.

How does chlorine kill bacteria in swimming pools?

When chlorine is added to pool water, two active chemicals are released that kill bacteria – hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion. These chemicals, once combined, are known as “free available chlorine” or FAC, because they are available to react with contaminants and actively sanitize the water.

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Why does my pool smell so bad?

Pool smell is not due to chlorine, but to chloramines, chemical compounds that can form in pool water. Chloramines result from the combination of chlorine disinfectants and the perspiration, cosmetics, and urine that enter pools on the bodies of swimmers.

What makes a pool smell fishy?

Fishy Odor A "fishy" odor can occur if the pool has had multiple applications of SoftSwim C. The smell is from by-products of the peroxide. The smell should dissipate over time, but you can perform a partial drain to eliminate it more quickly.

Why does my pool water smell Swampy?

That smell actually results when chlorine reacts with something in your pool. What you're smelling are chemicals called chloramines, particularly one called trichloramine. They're formed when the chlorine disinfectants in a pool react with nitrogen-based compounds in swimmers' sweat, urine, hair, or skin.

What does baking soda do to pool water?

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity. Many commercial pool products for raising alkalinity utilize baking soda as their main active ingredient.

How do you get rid of fishy smell in pool?

It is recommended that you add about 2 tablespoons of hypochlorite (bleach) per 10 gallons of water every week until the chlorine levels reach between 2 and 5 ppm. Once you achieve this, you can stop adding more chlorine and just maintain the same amount.

Can I put bleach in my pool?

Bleach, like any other kind of pool treatment, is best used in specific concentrations -- that is, you'll want to be able to detect a certain amount of chlorine in your pool water. Too little, and you won't effectively sanitize your pool water and surfaces. Too much, and your pool water might become too harsh to use.

How do you get rid of the smell of water?

Chlorine is the most widely used oxidant to remove odor from water, but at best deemed mildly effective. Oxygen and potassium permanganate are also only mildly effective water treatment solutions. Oxidizers such as ozone and chlorine dioxide are by far the most efficient in eliminating odor from water.

How do you get rid of the smell of stagnant water?

Getting rid of the fungus will get rid of the smell, too. For a stagnant smell in a drain, pour in 1/2 cup of baking powder to deodorize the opening and the pipe. Wait 15 minutes, then pour in 1 cup hydrogen peroxide to kill the fungus. Let it sit for an hour before running water into the drain.

How do I get rid of chloramines in my pool?

The most common method to reducing chloramines is to “shock” the pool using superchlorination. Superchlorination is raising the free chlorine level in the pool to a sufficient level to oxidize (“burn”) out all the chloramines.

Can I put bleach in my pool?

Bleach, like any other kind of pool treatment, is best used in specific concentrations -- that is, you'll want to be able to detect a certain amount of chlorine in your pool water. Too little, and you won't effectively sanitize your pool water and surfaces. Too much, and your pool water might become too harsh to use.

How do you get the smell out of a vinyl pool?

Avoid using harsh cleaners that could eat a hole in the pool's vinyl. Dry the pool in the sun. If cleaning and sun-drying the pool does not rid it of the foul smell, scrub the bottom of the pool with a soft-bristled brush dipped in warm water mixed with either baking soda or vinegar.

Does pool algae smell?

ODORS. A musty odor emanating from your pool is another indication of algae that has had time to grow. It could also be a sign of bacteria activity in the water. The odor is a tell-tale sign that the water needs a shock treatment since it shows widespread growth.

How to get rid of chlorine smell in pool?

The first way is to use a chlorine based shock to the pool. You will need to reach what is called "break point chlorination" to get rid of the smell. Breakpoint chlorination is the point where the chemical bond that ties nitrogen, chlorine and ammonia together by using large amounts of chlorine. This will cause the chlorine residual to drop rapidly. Reaching a true chlorine breakpoint is vital to breaking a chlorine lock. If breakpoint is not reached using this method, the problem will only get worse. To accomplish a breakpoint, 7.6 free chlorine molecules are used to break apart an individual combined chlorine molecule. The amount of product you will need will vary depending on the type of shock you are using. Aside from knowing your total chlorine, free chlorine, number of gallons in the pool, and the weight of a gallon of water (8.34 lbs.), you will also need to know the type of pool shock you are using. Before attempting this method, the pH needs to be between 7.2-7.4. This equation will be a two part process. The first step will be determining the ppm of chlorine needed to reach breakpoint: (TC-FC) x 10. Using the same amount above, the equation would look like this: (5-3) x 10 = x ppm or 2 x 10 = 20 ppm. I will need 20 ppm of chlorine to reach breakpoint in this 15,000 gallon pool. The next step is to determine how much product I will need. I'm using calcium hypochlorite in this example and need 2 oz. per 10,000 for a 1 ppm increase. I'll need to multiply 2 oz. x (gallons in pool/10,000) x (ppm needed/ppm dosage) which simply put is: 2 oz. x (15,000/10,000) x (20 ppm/1 ppm) or 2 oz x 1.5 x 20= 60 oz. To convert ounces to pounds, I divide by 16: 60 oz./16= 3.75 lbs. So to reach breakpoint in my 15,000 gallon pool I will need 3.75 lbs. of calcium hypochlorite.

Why does my pool smell like chlorine?

You more then likely have a higher than normal chloramine levels. This is what gives off that chlorine smell as well as causes skin and eye irritation.

How to remove chloramines from pool?

The other way to remove chloramines from the pool is to use a non chlorine based shock. The non-chlorine shock will need to be added in similar fashion as step 3. To determine the amount of non-chlorine shock you will need, you will need to do some math. You will need to subtract the free chlorine from the total chlorine and multiply that by the number of gallons in the pool divided by 10,000 then multiply by 2. To make it easy it looks like this: (TC-FC) x (#of gallons/10,000) x 2 = amount of non-chlorine shock. If we use a total chlorine reading of 5 ppm and a free chlorine of 3 ppm on a 15,000 gallon pool, the equation would look like this: (5-3) x (15,000/10,000) x 2 = x. Therefore: 2 x 1.5 x 2 = 6. I would need to add 6 lbs. of a non-chlorine shock to the pool.

Why does my pool smell?

Many people think that smell comes from too much chlorine in the pool. What they don’t know, however, is that what they are smelling is not actually chlorine, but chloramines.

How to get rid of chlorine in pool?

Ways to Get Rid of Chloramines. 1. Add more chlorine. By shocking the pool with extra chlorine once a week, you will destroy ammonia as well as contaminants in the pool and reach a higher FAC level. This will reduce the level of chloramines in the pool, causing the odor and water quality to improve. 2.

What is the chemical that makes a pool smell?

Chloramines are less effective as a sanitizer and are the main cause of skin and eye irritation as well as the strong chlorine smell in pools.

How to lower chloramine levels in pool?

Use a secondary or supplementary sanitizer. A great way to lower chloramine levels and enhance the water quality of your pool is to use secondary sanitation such as Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP), ozone, or UV.

Can chlorine cause asthma?

After too much exposure, chloramines may even contribute to respiratory problems, such as asthma, so they are definitely something you want to minimize or eliminate in your pool water. Chloramines, not chlorine, are in fact the real culprits when it comes to a pool with a strong chlorine odor.

What does it mean when your pool smells?

If your pool smells funny and looks cloudy, chances are it has chloramines . Another symptom is that the pool's combined chlorine reading will be above 0.2 parts per million (ppm). The combined chlorine level (the chlorine that is "combined" with other compounds) is calculated by subtracting the free chlorine level from the total chlorine level.

Why does chlorine smell in pools?

The chlorine smell we associate with swimming pools isn't normally caused by the free chlorine sanitizing the water, but by the chloramines that have formed when some of the free chlorine bonds with other compounds.

How to remove chloramines from pool?

The best method for eliminating chloramines from a swimming pool is to shock, or super-chlorinate, it. Pool professionals call what happens in a pool during super-chlorination "breakpoint chlorination," and it's necessary in order to eliminate chloramines. Basically, a swimming pool in which chloramines are present will need to be super-chlorinated to 10 ppm or more and held there for at least four hours. During super-chlorination, actual chlorine is "burning up" or oxidizing the chloramines and removing them from the swimming pool.

What is a pool high in chloramines?

Hence, a pool high in chloramines is a pool with less sanitary water.

What is the recommended range of chlorine in a pool?

The best way to prevent chloramines is to maintain recommended chlorine levels and also to shock your pool regularly. The recommended range of chlorine in a pool is 1 to 2 ppm.

How to raise pH in pool?

And that can cause many problems, including issues with chloramines. Raise a pool's pH by adding 1 pound of sodium carbonate per 25,000 gallons of water.

Does chlorine cause bad odors in pool water?

Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Chloramines can cause strange odors in pool water. Swimming pools basically are large collections of water, and like any body of water, they are susceptible to various issues. Among the most noticeable problem is when the water gives off strange or bad odors.

How to get rid of chlorine smell in pool?

As soon as you exit from the pool, stand in the hot shower with the max temperature you can for at least 2-3 mins. Then lather with your regular natural soap for some time, allow to dry and then wash thoroughly with hot shower. This removes the maximum chlorine on your skin and then you can try out the following methods.

Why does my pool smell?

Chlorine smell is due to the chlorine and chloramines layered on the skin after using the pool. So removing the chlorine and chloramines contents are the solution to remove this smell. As soon as you exit from the pool, stand in the hot shower with the max temperature you can for at least 2-3 mins. Then lather with your regular natural soap for some time, allow to dry and then wash thoroughly with hot shower. This removes the maximum chlorine on your skin and then you can try out the following methods.

Can you shower before chlorine pool?

I've found that if I take a fresh water shower immediately before going into a chlorine pool that it limits how much chlorine my skin and hair absorb. If I go straight into chlorine water with dry skin and hair it absorbs a lot more chlorine and it is a lot harder to get rid of the smell.

Does club soda oxidize skin?

Club soda also helps. Rinse the body with club soda and then take a hot shower. Technically speaking, chlorine oxidizes on skin. It chemically reacts with the surface of the skin and forms a layer of chloramines with hydrogen. Mono chloramines are more stable and do not dissipate as rapidly as free chlorine.