Chemicals for Pop-Up Pools

Swimming pool chemicals are used to prevent or kill pollutants such as algae and bacteria, which can make your swimming pool look and smell bad. Algae spores can be brought in by wind, rain or even contaminated swimsuits. Swimming pool chemicals are necessary, but you must take precaution when adding these chemicals because it can cause skin or eye irritation if too much is added.

  1. Chlorine

    • Chlorine is used to kill most types of seen and unseen algae in pop-up pools. Two disinfectants that contain chlorine are calcium hypochlorite and sodium hypochlorite. These disinfectants can contain anywhere from 12 percent to 95 percent chlorine, unlike household cleaners, which are about 2 percent chlorine. The chlorine percentage is so high in pool cleaners because of the amount of water in which it will be diluted.

    Inorganic Chlorinating Agents

    • The main chemical found in inorganic chlorinating agents is calcium hypochlorite. It is packaged in two different forms: anhydrous (less then 5.5 percent water) and hydrated (5.5 to 10 percent water). Lithium hypochlorite is a similar product. These products fall under the bleach category.

    Organic Chlorinating Agents

    • Organic chlorinating agents comprise a number of chemically-related products, such as trichloroisocyanuric acid, potassium dichloroisocyanurate, sodium dichloroisocyanurate anhydrous, sodium dichloroisocyanurate dihydrate and brominated hydantoin. The organic chlorinating agents are usually packaged indicating the percentage of chlorine they contain.

    Pool Water Balancing Chemicals

    • To protect your pop-up pool against damage, you should balance the pH levels in your pool. Balancing the pH levels prevents chlorine-related irritation to people using the pool. These water balancing chemicals are especially useful if you are looking to swim just a few hours after putting chlorine in the pool. Keep in mind that these products react to sunlight, and too much exposure to the sun can make the chlorine-based sanitizer ineffective.

    Hazards

    • Organic and inorganic pool chlorinating agents can decompose when exposed to heat. Stopping the heat source does not stop the process of decomposition. Once decomposition begins, the chlorinating agents emit fumes, which will continue until the product no longer exists. Keep these products away from lit cigarettes, matches and open flames (e.g., barbecues).

      Spilled chlorinating agents should be disposed of. Never return them to the original container, as that could contaminate the product. Check your local or state regulations on how to dispose of such chemicals. Protect these agents from contact with water or a reaction could take place. (Never add water to chemicals; always add chemicals to water.)

      Should a fire occur, use a water fire extinguisher only. Do not use chemical or foam extinguishers.