Inflatable Pool
Most of you might have got your first inflatable pool by now. However, if you are among those who are clueless about how long is the safest time to leave water in an inflatable pool, let us unravel the answers below.
How long can you leave water in the inflatable pool? For small inflatable pools, change the water daily. Bigger inflatable pools with untreated water should be drained right after every use. Meanwhile, big inflatable pools with treated water can still be used for several weeks.
Let this post guide you to safe and proper usage of inflatable pools. Questions including the use of water treatment for this type of pool, how long is the recommended time to leave water in it, and how to keep the pool water clean will be taken on.
How Often Should I Change The Inflatable Pool Water?
Untreated Pool Water
Change the water daily if you are not using any chemicals, and clean the pool after. Since it is more likely that you use tap water to fill your inflatable pool, make sure not to leave the water overnight.
The reason is that there is a chance of something getting into the water when it sits in your backyard for too long.
Water treatment might not be enough to ward off germs and bacteria that can contaminate stagnant water. For this reason, always make sure to clean the inflatable pool thoroughly and sun dry it for a few hours.
Sun exposure helps to kill any lingering bacteria in the pool surface, allowing you to store or reuse a clean inflatable pool.
Treated Pool Water
If you are using treated pool water, just like in any other large-sized pool, then there is no need to change the water in your inflatable pool often.
You can use the same water for weeks without worrying about contamination as a successful treatment plan wards off germs and bacteria just like in in-ground pools.
How To Treat Inflatable Pool Water
If draining, cleaning, and refilling an inflatable pool daily is not ideal for you, treating the water is the solution. It is especially if you use a family-sized inflatable pool.
Water Treatment For Inflatable Pools
Larger inflatable pools require checking the pH, adding CYA, and adding chlorine to meet a pH between 7.4 to 7.6. It also needs a chlorine part per million, around 1 to 3.
Smaller counterparts, those that are below 10 feet wide, need fewer chemicals. The ideal pH level of small pools is between 7.2 to 7.8.
However, not all inflatable pools require chlorine, as some pool owners don’t want to use it. If you don’t mind using it, the guide below will show you how to add chlorine and other chemicals to an inflatable pool and other options if you are against it.
Adding Chlorine In An Inflatable Pool
Chlorine is not the only option. It is for inflatable pools to stay clean and safe. There are other ways to keep pool water clean aside from this chemical.
But, the use of chlorine is the most usual way for pool owners to keep water free from bacteria and germs. Inflatable pools might not require chlorine, but since it is among the most common ways to keep pool water safe and sanitary to swim in, many utilize this chemical.
Usually, larger inflatable pools are the most ideal to use chlorine. However, if you don’t prefer this method, other ways to keep the pool water in your inflatable clean are by refilling the pool at regular intervals or using a saltwater system that is both costlier than chlorine.
Aside from being a cheaper option, chlorine is also recommended for larger inflatable pools to prevent recreational water illnesses or RWIs.
Meanwhile, smaller inflatable pools such as kiddie pools are not usually treated. Since these pools are small enough to refill daily, there is no need to keep the water safe from contamination through chemicals like chlorine.
Do Inflatable Pools Need Chemicals?
If your inflatable pool is large enough, it might include a pump or have three openings in the liner wherein you can add a pump. Inflatables with such size will most likely require chlorine and other chemicals.
Chlorine keeps the pool water sanitized, but you have to keep the proper water balance to help it do its job.
Here is a list of chemicals that can help keep your pool water balanced and allow the chlorine to work effectively. Most likely, you won’t have to worry about cyanuric acid, but I still included it in the list to make sure you take note of everything necessary.
Cyanuric Acid
Usually, large inflatable pools only require some chlorine tabs to be kept clean. However, chlorine tabs also include other chemicals like cyanuric acid to make the chlorine last longer.
So, if you want to use your pool water for a longer time, buy stabilized chlorine. If you do, you won’t need to personally add some cyanuric acid to the water to stabilize the chlorine.
pH Increaser / Reducer
To achieve well-balanced pool water, maintain a pH level of between 7.4 to 7.6. Aside from cyanuric acid, the pH increase and reducer allow you to keep the water’s pH level within the said range. Another use of a pH reducer is to reduce the pool water’s alkalinity.
Alkalinity Increaser
As its name implies, an alkalinity increase helps increase the alkalinity and pH levels of pool water. Both levels are related to each other as they target the pool water’s acids. As a result, the total alkalinity of pool water keeps a stable pH level.
What Happens If You Leave A Kiddie Pool Water For Too Long?
According to Colin Orr, M.D., a pediatrician, leaving the pool water for too long increases the risk of infection by recreational water illness.
This health issue can lead to diarrhea as well as an upset stomach. The same is true if you don’t clean an inflatable pool appropriately after and before using it.
Recreational water illness is a term that actually refers to the nasty bugs that can be picked up from the beach, public pools, or the water park.
I am about the nasty bugs are Shigella, E. coli, and Cryptosporidium, which quickly spreads. Kids who love going to the places mentioned are most likely to contact or swallow water, which is also true when using inflatable pools.
To avoid going through the disaster it gives, makes sure to change the water in your inflatable pool regularly and clean it before and after use.
The Health Risks Of Stagnant Water
Stagnant water is water that doesn’t move or sits in place for hours or longer. This usually happens to pools such as inflatable, above, or in-ground pools. A wide array of health risks is associated with stagnant water, especially that it can be a breeding place for bacteria and insects like mosquitoes.
Aside from that, smaller inflatable pools like kiddie pools are likely to get contaminated with bacteria and germs.
So you should consider it among the most important things when buying an inflatable pool for your children this summer, mainly if your kids use it with children from other households.
How To Keep Kiddie Pool Water Safe
Small plastic or inflatable kiddie pools don’t have the same layer of protection against germs and bacteria that a hot tub, swimming pool, or water playground does. It is not safe to add bromine or chlorine to the pool water, a germ-killing disinfectant.
Among the reasons why inflatable pools for children are not ideal to receive these chemical water treatments are:
A considerable part of the water drains quickly from spilling out or splashing. For this reason, it is hard to determine the amount of disinfectant to be added.
Inflatable kiddie pools don’t include filters to eradicate debris like dirt, leaves, or skin cells that consume the disinfectant required to kill bacteria and germs.
To ensure that your children are swimming in safe pool water, Dr. Orr recommends bathing your kids before using the pool. This way, contaminants will be kept at bay. Isn’t it easy to keep your inflatable pool water safe?
Another thing is to remove all children out from the water, then drain the water from the inflatable pool right away when someone accidentally pooped or peed. Let your kids know that they should avoid getting pool water inside their mouths or swallow any of it.
According to experts, children with contagious illnesses or lingering stomach bugs should avoid swimming along with other kids. It might not be a pleasant thing to ask your children’s playmates, but it is necessary to ensure everyone’s health.
Conclusion
To summarize, inflatable pools are among the ways to enjoy the summer season with your kids and family without leaving your home.
If you wish to swim in safe pool water, make sure to clean your inflatable pools properly before and after use. Also, follow the recommended measures to maintain healthy pool water whether it is treated or not.
Your family’s health will be compromised if the water in your inflatable pool is contaminated with germs and bacteria, so make sure to maintain its cleanliness.
