Say goodbye to chlorine in your pool with an ozonator!
Tired of mixing chemicals and balancing your pool water? Maybe there is another solution. Ozonators use ozone to maintain clean, safe pool water without the need for dangerous chemicals or careful balancing. This is in contrast to the typical chlorine methods that are used to clean residential and public swimming pools today. Pools using ozonators are reported to have cleaner water overall, since dirt and debris wind up in the filter system much more quickly. We have the basics of a swimming pool ozonator so you can decide whether this is a viable option for you.
What is ozone?
We mentioned that ozone is used to keep the pool clean in place of chlorine. So what is ozone? Ozone is an element found in nature, known as active oxygen. It is responsible for the fresh scent we enjoy after a rainstorm. Ozone is a natural purifier the was discovered by scientists in the middle of the 19th century. It has been used for decades to purify drinking water and to clean pools and spas across the globe. The United States is actually far behind European countries in adopting ozone as a means of cleaning swimming pools, but it is slowly gaining steam in this country as well.
Where does it come from?
Unlike chemicals used to clean pools today, ozone does not have to be stored in containers. Instead, the substance is generated with the use of a swimming pool ozonator. Ozone in placed in the water, where it removes particles, cleans and sanitizes, without affecting the pH balance of the water or pumping chemicals into it. Ozone is actually much more powerful than chlorine, so it sanitizes the pool more effectively and without causing any damage to the pool’s structure.
How do I get it?
Ozone is becoming easier to find for residential swimming pools, since a variety of ozonators have been introduced on the market for this purpose. Ozone generators tend to cost a bit more at installation, but the cost is offset when you don’t have to buy chemicals regularly to keep your pool clean. You also have the satisfaction of knowing you are keeping your family and the environment cleaner and safer, which is pretty cool.
Ozonators are not as readily available as other types of pool equipment, but they are becoming more common as the advantages are more clearly publicized. Installation is fairly simple and can usually be done by the homeowner who has a basic knowledge of plumbing and electricity. Of course, you can also have your ozonator professionally installed – if you can find a technician experienced in these devices. Lack of knowledge in this country is probably the biggest drawback to an ozonator at this point.
Ozonators are widely used in pools and spas in Europe, both on the residential and commercial level. However, this technology is still relatively new in this country, and it may take some time for swimming pool installers and technicians to be brought up to date. The good news is that swimming pool retailers are beginning to carry some ozonators, so you can install this technology in your own backyard swimming pool.
