Switch from chlorine treatment to bromine, PHMB, salt?

From bromine to chlorine or from chlorine to active oxygen? Should the water be changed or not? Many readers wonder about a question that seems harmless, but which does not reveal itself to be free from dangers.

While chlorine is still the preferred solution for disinfecting water today, many pool owners want to adopt another alternative.

Regarding disinfectant products, pool water is mainly disinfected with chlorine, bromine, active oxygen, PHMB or with a salt electrolyser.

Chlorine, the favorite of disinfectants

Chlorine is still the most used disinfectant to disinfect swimming pool water today. Mainly economical, it works effectively against bacteria, fungi and other unwanted organic substances in your pool.

For all its disinfectant qualities, it is also known for its rather unpleasant odor and for irritating the eyes and skin. Its use is also restrictive as it requires a large quantity, therefore a purchase and permanent storage of the disinfectant product. And if you are allergic, you will have to give up this treatment.

Chlorine is also a disinfectant that directly affects pH stability, which therefore requires increased monitoring of the pH level and water balance. Finally, we can’t stress this enough, but excessive use of chlorine can have the opposite effect on your pool water.

In fact, stabilized chlorine, which remains the most commonly used, contains a stabilizer. The latter accumulates in the pool water and ultimately nullifies the bactericidal and fungicidal effects of chlorine.

Read the article: Chlorine stabilized or not, what’s the difference?

Switching from chlorine to bromine treatment?

If chlorine and bromine are two disinfectant products belonging to the same halogen family, this family remains the only point that they have in common.

We tend to think that switching from chlorine to bromine treatment and vice versa is impossible. However, the answer remains to be defined. Indeed, bromine is first and foremost incompatible with the stabilizer contained in chlorine.

Bromine is first and foremost
incompatible with the stabilizer contained in chlorine.

This is why if you are thinking of switching from chlorine treatment to bromine treatment, you will have to start by eliminating the stabilizer contained in the water and throughout your pool system.

How to do it?

• You are using unstabilized chlorine : Stop the chlorine treatment and let it disappear under the effect of the sun’s UV rays. If necessary, use a chlorine neutralizing product. Check the chlorine level before using bromine. It must be almost zero.

• You are using stabilized chlorine : Stop chlorine treatment. Drain the pool ¾ or completely. Clean your system completely (filtration unit, skimmer to be replaced, pipes, etc.). Measure your chlorine level.

And switch from bromine to chlorine treatment? You will have to do the same thing. You will have to let the bromine disappear from the pool water. If necessary, use a neutralizer and clean the installation. It is recommended to use unstabilized chlorine before moving on to stabilized chlorine treatment.

Switch from chlorine treatment to PHMB treatment?

Like bromine, chlorine is incompatible with PHMB. PHMB is a non-chlorinated and therefore non-oxidizing product and does not intervene in the same way on the disinfection of bacteria and fungi. While bromine and chlorine kill by oxidation, PHMB intervenes directly in the heart of the enemy to disintegrate them.

However, if you want to switch from one treatment to another, the use of a product to eliminate chlorine is mandatory.

Switch from chlorine treatment to salt treatment?

Salt is increasingly used to disinfect swimming pool water. More expensive to start, because it requires the purchase of an electrolyzer and salt, it is more appreciable during use.

Greener for the environment and healthier for swimmers, it however has disadvantages. May be corrosive if installation (stainless steel equipment) is not compatible with salt.

As with previous disinfectants, chlorine does not mix well with salt. Switching from chlorine treatment to salt treatment will require you to remove as much chlorine from your pool as possible. Stop the chlorine treatment and let it disappear. Also clean your filter assembly and the entire hydraulic circuit.

When is it time to change your pool water treatment?

Regardless of the water disinfection treatment solution you choosethe best time to change the disinfectant is spring, at the end of wintering.

This is in fact the time when the level of disinfectant in the pool is lowest. It’s also the perfect time to install a device like a brominator, chlorinator, or electrolyzer before the beach season begins.