When you finally finish putting your pool together or building a new pool the first thing you do is fill it up. Once the pool is full it’s not uncommon to have the panicked realization you don’t have any pool chemicals to add in. One question you may be asking yourself is how long can water sit in a pool without chlorine? In this article we’ll review some ideas for how long is too long, and why.
How Long Can Water Sit In A Pool Without Chlorine?
First, you should know that water can theoretically stay in the pool for years without chlorine. We’ve all seen these pools, they’re dark green, have frogs and other wildlife using them as a home. They’re abandoned mosquito breeding zones. Obviously, just because you can let your pool go and become a swamp, doesn’t mean you ought to.
How Long Can Water Sit In A Pool Without Chlorine Before Turning Green?
It’s important then to figure out how long can water sit in a pool without chlorine before it starts to turn green. This will depend on a few factors. First, how much chlorine is in the water to begin with? When you fill from the tap and you’re on city water, it’s not uncommon to have a small amount of chlorine in the water. This is not going to be enough chlorine to meet swimming pool needs. However, it can make a small difference in how long the pool will stay clear.
Weather Effect On A Non-Chlorinated Pool
The current weather conditions should be taken into consideration. If it is 95 degrees outside, the pool has more chance of something growing in it than if it’s 65 degrees outside. Perhaps there is pollen falling from the trees or a storm blowing in. Therefore, you could get a lot of contaminants blowing into the pool you wouldn’t have to worry about otherwise. These organic contaminants can increase chlorine demand.
More Effects On Chlorine Pools
Is your pump running or not? If the pump is off and the pool is full, your pool will turn green much faster than if you have the water moving and filtering. Slow moving water will always turn green sooner than faster moving water.
Ultimately, how long can water sit in a pool without chlorine? If you need to leave your pool full without chlorine for a few days, you’re not going to have a problem. Just don’t let anyone swim in the pool until you’ve had a chance to balance the water. Make sure you take complete measurements of the water. That way you know whether you need to make other adjustments other than chlorine.
Do Pools Need Chlorine If You’re Not Swimming?
Bear in mind, that in the northern climates, pools sit part of the fall, all winter and early spring without chlorine. Chlorine is not necessary unless you are swimming in the pool. However, if a pool without chlorine isn’t covered, you can get some nasty things growing in the water. This will happen quickly once the weather warms up regardless of where you live.
Sometimes you need to leave the pool full without chlorine for a week or more. In that case, you should plan on having some issues when you return to the pool. You’ll want to plan on at least a good chlorine shock in addition to balancing the rest of the water chemistry.
