For the greatest protection against algae, bacteria, and cloudy water, Intex pools should maintain a chlorine level of 2.0-4.0 ppm at all times.
While Intex pools aren't the same as permanent swimming pools, they still require similar chemical maintenance. Not only for keeping the water germ-free and swimmers safe, but also to preserve the swimming pool itself.
Although inflatable pools don't need to use chlorine, it's one of the most common ways to keep pool water sanitary and safe to swim in. The chlorine is used to efficiently kill bacteria in the water that may be harmful to swimmers.
Intex brand metal frame pools often last up to 7 years.
You should cover your pool every night for several reasons. First off, a pool cover saves energy and conserves water by decreasing the amount of make-up water. Also, it reduces the consumption of chemicals, and finally, it saves a lot of cleaning time since it keeps the debris out of the pool.
I think the answer to your question is about 3-6 days. The problem is that the chlorine that you need to keep the bacteria in check is used up more quickly as the temperature rises, the activity increases, and as sweat and other body stuff is put into the pool.
For small pools, add chlorine to sanitize the water if you don't have time. The recommended amount is a quarter a teaspoon for 10 gallons of water. Likewise, medium size inflatable pools will need about two and a half teaspoon for 100 gallons. Also, you can do this after several weeks to shock the pool.
In fact, bleach is often recommended for emergency water disinfection, so reasoning suggests it can work well in a kiddie pool. However, not much bleach is required to properly sanitize a given amount of water.
We recommend shocking Intex pools every week, especially if you're having a heat wave or heavy rains. Heat and excess water can knock your chlorine levels to sub-par levels pretty quickly. Use a pool shock with a decent amount of available chlorine, and run your filtration system after you shock your 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.
If the water is clean and clear, then add about 3 oz of liquid chlorine per 1000 gallons of water – while the pool filter is running. This should give you a chlorine level of about 3 ppm.
High concentrations of chlorine (above 1.5 ppm) will attack the liner and bleach it, thus damaging it. Any level below this range will weaken its ability to kill off bacteria. The addition of chlorine to your pool water has to be done in a careful manner.
If your kid's pool is pretty small, and draining and refilling it doesn't feel like a colossal waste of water, then the best way to keep the kiddie pool clean is to drain it when the water's dirty, scrub it down with a plain old kitchen brush and some mild dish soap, and refill it.
Dump or drain the water, then wipe down the empty pool with a solution of bleach and water (read the label for cleaning ratios) , wearing rubber gloves while cleaning. Or, use gentle dish detergent to cut through the dirt. Rinse thoroughly to remove any bleach or detergent.
Can you get sick by swimming in public pools? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says outbreaks of a parasitic infection called cryptosporidia are being reported more frequently. The bacteria, which are hard to eradicate with standard levels of chlorine, can cause many symptoms, including watery diarrhea.
The Bottom Line about Pools and Chlorine
As mentioned above, you could probably swim in a pool without chlorine without any major health issues. However, long-term use of a pool lacking chlorinated H2O could make you sick or, at the very least, contribute to rashes and other types of skin irritation.
Swimming pools need chlorine because chlorine is the only effective way to keep pool water clean. Even a saltwater pools need chlorine (they just generates the chlorine themselves). While there are other methods of cleaning pool water, such as UV or ozone treatment, they are not replacements for chlorine.
When preparing your pool for a storm, leave it uncovered. Installing any kind of cover across the pool will not do much to protect against dust and contaminants because storms often bring strong winds and heavy rain that can cause the cover to lift off your pool.
In sunny areas, a dark cover will provide some additional heat. When used the right way, a black tarp can help with pool heating. For example, when using the black hose trick, you can lay your black hoses on a black tarp. This can help generate more heat.
Covers prevent evaporation
Having patrons in the water during the day may reduce this effect, but an uncovered pool will still lose water during the night. Place a cover over your pool after hours to block excess heat from the surface of the water.