There are many rumors and misconceptions revolving around pools and pool rules, but how many of them are actually true? Here are some of the most common pool myths and the facts behind them:

Chlorine Turns Blonde Hair Green

False. Chlorine is not to blame for the green tint that sometimes sneaks its way into blonde hair after taking a dip in the pool. It is actually copper. Some algaecides are copper-based and the oxidized metals in the water can attach to the protein in your hair. No need to worry, it is not permanent. It can be removed by using shampoo that strips color or by conditioning the hair prior to swimming. 

Clear Pool = Clean Pool

Just as you can’t see germs when they are right in front of you, you can’t always see that a pool is dirty either. A clear pool does not mean that it is a clean pool. Test your pool’s water weekly and pay attention to the water chemistry to make sure there aren’t unhealthy levels of microorganisms. 

Urine Turns Pool Water Blue

This is a popular myth that many people believe, including adults. Parents often use it as a scare tactic to keep their children from peeing in the pool and it has been seen in quite a few movies, but it isn’t actually a real thing. A chemical technically could be created to react to urine, but it would be difficult to prevent it from reacting to other substances in the water. 

Strong Scent = Too Much Chlorine

You may think that if you can smell chlorine, it means that there is too much in the water. However, the opposite is true. Chlorine in the pool attaches to bacteria and creates chloramines. When you shock your pool, the chloramines turn into oxygen and escape into the air. When this happens, you are able to smell the chlorine in the air, not the water. When you can smell it in the air, it means that it is not doing its job in the water and more needs to be added.

No Chlorine In Saltwater Pools

A saltwater pool is not a chlorine-free pool. To sanitize saltwater pools, saltwater is forced across a metal cell charged with an electrical current in a process known as electrolysis, which creates chlorine. Some assume that you don’t need to use shock treatment with saltwater pools, but shocking your saltwater pool is still, in fact, necessary for sanitation and algae prevention. 

Rising Sun Pools & Spas

For over 46 years, we’ve been the pool builders of choice for home and business owners in North Carolina. No pool company has more customers, more experience or more expertise than Rising Sun Pools. There’s no pool construction, design or renovation project that we haven’t encountered (and solved)! Contact us today!