September – Tips of the Month
Tip of the Month
You know summer is almost over once the pool & spa closings start… This means getting ready to drain part of the pool water to prevent freeze damage in the winter, or removing all of your water in your spa. This month we will be talking about Cyanuric Acid. Cyanuric acid is used in outdoor swimming pools to stop chlorine from rapidly evaporating in the sun. Its sole function is to stabilize the chlorine in your pool so the sanitizer lasts longer, thereby keeping your water clean longer. From the chlorine tablets to the bags of shock, these both have an impact on your Cyanuric Acid levels. According to new information from the CDC, the Cyanuric Acid level should not test about 100ppm. Once the pool water does test over 100ppm, chlorine’s effectiveness basically becomes ineffective. In other words, chlorine will not sanitize your pool/spa when the cyanuric acid level is over 100ppm…
If the cyanuric acid concentration needs to be reduced the following approaches may be used:
- Partially drain and refill the pool/spa
- Increase backwash times or frequency
- Follow appropriate water replacement intervals