Chlorine Vs Florida - why pool chemistry is even more complicated in the Sunshine State
When it comes to chlorine, we aim high. Literally.
Florida pools live life on hard mode. In a twist of irony worthy of an Alanis lyric, the state with the highest volume of pools on the planet also has a the kind of climate that pools hate.
Between year-round sunshine, warm weather, afternoon storms, and heavy pool use, chlorine gets burned off here faster than almost anywhere else. That’s why maintaining the right chlorine level in a Florida pool isn’t about hitting a single number — it’s about managing the entire week between service visits.
The Safe Chlorine Range
For residential pools, the generally accepted safe operating range for free chlorine is 1–10 ppm (that’s parts per million). Anything below that risks algae and bacteria growth; anything above that can cause irritation or equipment stress if left there too long.
At Poolsyde, our weekly service model is designed with that full range in mind.
Why We Aim for 10/10
When we service your pool, we don’t just set chlorine to a “nice” number and walk away. We intentionally boost chlorine toward the upper end of the safe range — often up to 10 ppm, which means for every million parts water, we aim for 10 parts chlorine.
Why?
Florida sun is relentless (UV burns off chlorine fast)
Warm water accelerates chlorine demand
Rain, debris, and swimmers add contaminants daily
If we left your pool at 2 or 3 ppm after a visit, there’s a good chance it would dip below safe levels before we’re back the following week.
Instead, we do the math.
The Weekly Burn-Off Plan
Our goal is simple:
➡️ Add enough chlorine so it stays in a safe range all week long — not just on service day.
We use a combination of liquid chlorine and tabletized chlorine:
Liquid chlorine works immediately, giving the pool a strong, fast boost
Tablets dissolve slowly, helping maintain sanitizer levels over time
As the week goes on:
Chlorine naturally burns off
The pool continues to sanitize
Levels gradually decline — by design
By the time we return, your chlorine should still be in a healthy, safe zone, ready for the next adjustment.
Not Guesswork — Just Good Pool Math
Every pool is different. Size, sunlight exposure, bather load, and water balance all affect how quickly chlorine disappears. That’s why our technicians don’t blindly dump chemicals — we test, calculate, and adjust based on what your pool actually needs. The more we get to know your pool, the better.
Poolsyde Basics
We believe in:
Preventing problems instead of reacting to them
Staying within safe, industry-accepted ranges
Keeping your pool safe every day, not just on service day
In Florida, that means planning for burn-off, not fighting it.
Clear water all week long doesn’t happen by accident — it happens by design. And that’s exactly what we’re aiming for, every single visit. 💦
