What is that strong smell of Chlorine coming from my pool ?
Many people assume that a strong chlorine smell means there's too much chlorine in the pool. Surprisingly, the opposite is often true.
That strong "chlorine" smell is usually caused by chloramines. Chloramines are formed when free chlorine reacts with contaminants such as sweat, body oils, sunscreen, urine and other organic matter brought into the pool by swimmers.
Not only do chloramines produce the familiar chlorine odour, but they also cause:
Eye irritation.
Skin irritation.
A less effective sanitiser.
Poor water quality.
How do I get rid of the smell?
The best way to eliminate chloramines is to break them down with a shock treatment. Adding a sufficient dose of chlorine oxidises the contaminants and restores the pool's free chlorine, removing the unpleasant smell.
You should also:
Test and balance your water chemistry.
Make sure your pump is running for long enough.
Clean or backwash your filter if necessary.
Encourage swimmers to shower before entering the pool to reduce the amount of contaminants entering the water.
Alex’s Advice💡
If the smell persists after balancing the water and shocking the pool, it may be worth having your water professionally tested. Low free chlorine, poor circulation or other water chemistry issues can all contribute to ongoing chloramine problems.
A healthy, well-balanced pool should have very little chlorine smell at all. If you can strongly smell chlorine as soon as you walk outside, it's usually a sign that your pool needs attention—not that it has too much chlorine.
If you're unsure what's causing the smell, feel free to book a pool service. I'll test your water, identify the cause, and get your pool back to being clean, clear and comfortable to swim in.