Burning Eyes The primary cause of burning eyes is improper pH balance. Eyes, skin, mucous membranes, lungs, ... all body parts have a very narrow pH comfort range. This range is approximately 7.4 - 7.8. pH lower than 7.4 needs to be raised for comfort. pH Higher than 7.8 Needs to be lowered. Ideal pH to prevent algae growth and have comfort is 7.8. Fortunately, unless you are in a all fiberglass pool, vinyl lined pool, or all tile pool, most pH's stabilize at 7.8. Now understand that it is BOTH the LOW pH AND the Chloramines that people respond negatively to, that makes "most people" "think" they have Chlorine allergies, not normal pool chlorine levels. It is the low pH AND the Chlorine tied up with waste products forming ammonias, or Chloramines, that are most responsible for a belief in Chlorine allergies. There is a narrow comfort range for pH. That range is 7.4 to 7.8. Anything higher or lower will cause burning, road map eyes, itchy dry skin, ... with no chlorine or chloramines at all. Use muriatic acid (Pool acid) to lower the pH, and baking soda (If the pH is slightly low, or Soda Ash, to raise the pH. I have found that the best overall pH for pools to prevent algae growth, and have comfort, is 7.8. If you are at a pH of 6.8 or below, start with 10 lbs. of soda ash, distribute it over the pool surface, brush the entire pool, retest, and add another 10 lbs. if you aren't at, at least, a 7.6. Retest in 24 hours. for a 7.4 or 7.6, you can add 10 lbs of Baking soda (I get 5 lbs. at Costco for about $3.00) The second most common cause of burning eyes is Chloramines. This is Chlorine tied up with ammonia based waste products from body waste such as sweat, urea, ... plant life, such as algae, leaves, ... bugs, bacteria, ... Chloramines are responsible for the strong Chlorine smell, respiratory inflammation and irritation, burning eyes (above and below water), ... skin irritation, ... There are also links between Chloramines and asthma, sinus congestion, sneezing, shortness of breath, mucous membrane damage, lung damage similar to smokers lungs, can effect the ability of the blood to transport oxygen to cells, susceptibility to other allergies, skin problems such as:
Can aggravate eczema & psoriasis, bleeding lips, dry mouth, sores, .... Strong Hint: If you can smell strong chlorine odor, get out of the area, and stay out of the pool. Treatment for Chloramines: First, chloramines are chlorine bound up with ammonia based waste products. To get rid of chloramines in a pool, you should super chlorinate by adding chlorine shock (Note: do not use bleach above 85 degrees as most of what is added will immediately escape to the atmosphere.) Your goal is to raise free available chlorine to 5.0 or greater, and keep it there for at least 24 hours. My suggestion is to add 2 lbs. of shock for every 15,000 gallons, mix thoroughly with a pool brush, and retest free available chlorine levels. Repeat if you are below 5.0, and retest every 4 hours for 24 hours. If the reading drops below 5.0, add another 2 lbs. . Keep in mind that it is chlorine tabs, and not shock, that is responsible for maintaining your regular chlorine reading in your pool. You MUST be adding enough stabilized chlorine, in a suitable chlorinator, to maintain your day to day readings. Shock products are not "Stabilized" and rapidly escape to the atmosphere, when compared to stabilized Chlorine. Once you are able to keep your pool's free available Chlorine reading above 5.0 for 24 hours, all of the chlorine smell (Chloramines) should be down to acceptable levels. Note: Chlorinated pools will always have some level of chloramines, and some chlorine moving from free available to chloramines and back again. THIS INCLUDES SALT SYSTEM POOLS. Salt pools have salt levels that act like buffers, but you are using chlorine as a sanitizer and algaecide, and for that reason, these same issues can occur, and the same solution should be used. For more information on "Proper Water Chemistry" Click HERE. |
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