Your commercial pool is likely one of the busiest, and most loved, spots in your community. Kids and adults of all ages love the opportunity to soak up the sun, swim around, play sharks and minnows, and pretend to steer their very own pirate ship. 

When people go to commercial pools, they often let their guard down. So it’s up to you to make sure your pool meets all the health department standards to keep your residents and guests safe. 

With many federal, state, and local swimming pool regulations in place, we’ve mapped out some of the most important standards to follow. However, it’s important to review all the requirements for yourself. If you want in-person help making sure you’ve ticked all the boxes, contact Captains Pool Care, and we’ll come perform a thorough commercial pool inspection, bow to stern. 

Swimming Pool Rules and Regulations For HOAs and Apartments

When it comes to pool safety, even the Captain has to listen to a higher rank: the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). Depending on which county you are located, your pool could be regulated by your county health department. These could be more stringent than state standards, but for now we will just focus on the DPH as these are the most common.

The DPH lays out guidelines for many facets of pool safety, including required safety equipment, how many people may be in a pool at a time, and proper water quality.

Safety Equipment 

One of the most essential elements of any pool is the safety equipment, especially the barrier or fence around the pool. There have been many tragic stories of small children accidentally drowning in improperly fenced pools, and we want to take every step to avoid such a disaster. 

This first step is making sure your barrier is at least four feet high. The gate to enter the swimming area should be self-latching and self-closing, meaning it can’t accidentally be left open by a distracted guest. Regularly check your gate to make sure these mechanisms are working properly. 

Additionally, you should have proper signage, such as “No Diving” in shallow zones, as well as life-saving equipment including a body hook, ring buoy, and throwing rope.

Limiting Number of Swimmers

An overcrowded pool can create a number of dangerous situations. To keep all mermaids and mermen safe, you should use these metrics to calculate how many swimmers are allowed:

• In shallow areas, each swimmer is required to have 18 square feet of space
• in deep areas, each swimmer should have 20 square feet of space

The team at Captains can help you calculate proper bathing capacity to get it on the proper signage. In addition, if overcrowding is a consistent problem, you may also consider setting usage schedules or setting up an appointment system in your community.

Maintaining Water Quality

With a large number of people using your pool on a daily basis, you need to ensure that the pool is properly sanitized. This requires carefully monitoring the chemical levels and adjusting them accordingly. It’s also another reason why you want to avoid overcrowding, as too many bathers will throw off the chemical balance. 

If there is a fecal incident in your pool, you must immediately close down the pool while it is cleaned and disinfected, and cannot be reopened until that entire process is complete. Attempting to reopen early, due to demand will simply have guests swimming in an unsanitized pool and unsafe conditions.

Appoint Captains Pool Care to Keep Your Pool Safe

Even with the right knowledge, it can be difficult for owners and property managers to keep up with shifting standards and regulations for swimming pools. The DPH rules and regulations alone are currently 114 pages of detailed requirements. Rather than try to steer the ship alone, reach out to the Captain and his crew and let us handle your commercial pool maintenance. We can help you implement all the necessary safety measures and monitor water levels to keep your guests swimming in clean, comfortable waters. Contact us today to get your pool back to ship-shape! 

If you're a pool owner, you know the drill: keeping your pool sparkling clean is no small task, and chemical questions are always part of the equation. One of the most important of those questions is which sanitizing chemical to use—bromine or chlorine? You may have heard reasons to use one or the other, but in this post the Atlanta pool care experts at Captains break down the difference and the factors to consider when choosing a sanitizing chemical.

What is Chlorine?

Chlorine is the tried-and-true superstar of pool sanitizers. It's been around for decades, and for good reason. When added to your pool, it works its magic by killing bacteria and other harmful microorganisms, ensuring the water stays safe and clean for swimmers. Chlorine also helps break down organic matter, like sweat, sunscreen, and even pee (yep, it does that too). 

But even heroes have their flaws. Chlorine can cause skin and eye irritation for some swimmers, and if you’ve ever gotten a whiff of that strong, chemical smell, you know it’s not the most pleasant experience. Finally, it’s important to be aware that chlorine can degrade over time when exposed to intense and prolonged sunlight, so if you opt for chlorine, you'll need to keep checking chlorine levels to make sure everything is balanced (or you might find yourself with green pool water). 

Pros:

• Proven Track Record: Chlorine is the standard of pool care. It's reliable, so you’ll always keep your peace of mind that your pool is clean.
• Cost-Effective: Usually cheaper than bromine, so it’s a budget-friendly option.
• Efficient Sanitizer: Effective at killing bacteria, viruses, and other harmful stuff in the pool.

Cons:

• Strong Chemical Smell: If you've ever noticed the "chlorine smell," that’s not the pool itself, but a result of combined chlorine.
• Skin & Eye Irritation: Some swimmers might experience dryness, irritation, or redness.
• Needs Frequent Maintenance: Sunlight and pool use can degrade chlorine, requiring more frequent checks and additions.

What is Bromine?

Bromine is like chlorine’s quieter, less flashy cousin—still a powerful disinfectant, but with a gentler touch. Bromine works in a similar fashion as chlorine, eliminating bacteria, algae, and other contaminants in the water. However, bromine doesn’t break down as quickly in the sunlight, making it a great choice for pools that get a lot of exposure to the sun. Plus, it tends to have a milder, less pungent smell, which is a huge bonus for those who dislike the chlorine odor.

While bromine’s gentler nature is a plus for some, it is typically more expensive than chlorine. And while it’s great at keeping your pool sanitized, bromine does require more regular monitoring and can be a little tricky to balance. 

Pros:

• Gentle on Skin & Eyes: Ideal for those with sensitive skin or allergies, bromine causes less irritation than chlorine, and you don’t need to use as much of it.
• Less Odor: No overpowering chlorine smell, making the pool area more enjoyable.
• Stable in Sunlight: Unlike chlorine, bromine doesn’t break down as quickly when exposed to the sun, meaning you won’t have to add it as often.

Cons:

• More Expensive: Bromine tends to cost more than chlorine, making it a pricier option. However, you will require less of it, which could potentially balance out the costs.
• Requires Frequent Testing: It can be trickier to maintain the proper balance of bromine in relation to the rest of your pool’s chemistry, so it’s important to monitor levels regularly.
• Doesn’t Work as Fast: While bromine is effective, it can take longer to kill bacteria compared to chlorine.

Do I Need Expert Help With My Pool Chemicals?

Selecting the appropriate sanitizing chemical is a nuanced process influenced by factors such as water temperature, pool usage, environmental conditions, and the specific chemical interactions unique to each pool. It’s a good idea to speak to an expert first.

For example, depending on the environmental context, using bromine will likely increase the need for non-chlorine oxidizers to manage organic waste, while chlorine may require regular testing for stabilizer levels like cyanuric acid to prevent degradation from sunlight. Additionally, the interaction of these chemicals with algaecides, water hardness agents, and pH adjusters means even minor miscalculations can cascade into costly and time-consuming maintenance issues.

The Captain Has Pool Chemicals Covered

Given these and other complexities, as well as the general frustration that comes with routine pool maintenance, it’s understandable if you’d rather tell pool care tasks to walk the plank. Captains Pool Care offers responsive and modern pool care service designed to fit the needs of any pool owner—plus, ask about our free chemicals that come with our service! For questions or to set up your worry-free pool cleaning and maintenance service in Atlanta, contact the Captain today! 

When it comes to choosing the right pool for your home or business, you may think you’ve only got one option: the traditional chlorine pool. But did you know there is another option, one with its own set of benefits and drawbacks worth considering? As opposed to traditional chlorine pools, which require the constant addition and balancing of chlorine and other chemicals, a saltwater pool uses equipment that converts salt into chlorine through a process called electrolysis. Essentially, you're still using chlorine to sanitize the water, but instead of dumping in the chemical each week, you’re creating it on-site from salt.

Maybe you’ve heard that saltwater pools are gentler on the skin, or perhaps you’ve been told that chlorine pools are easier to maintain. Whatever you’ve heard, the decision isn't always as crystal clear as it seems. In this post, we’ll dive into the differences between the two, explore the benefits and drawbacks of each, and help you decide which one fits your needs best. And no matter which you choose, Captains Pool Care has you covered with expert pool cleaning and maintenance services.

What is a Saltwater Pool?

A saltwater pool might not seem that different from a traditional pool—after all, you’re still getting chlorine, just via a different process. However, the big difference is that saltwater pools typically have a more consistent, softer feel. The salt concentration is much lower than what you’d find in the ocean, but it’s still enough to produce a gentler, more refreshing feel on the skin. This does reduce the harsh chemical smell and the dry, itchy feeling you might get after swimming in a chlorine pool. However, saltwater pools do require a bit more investment upfront for the salt chlorine generator, and there’s still the need for regular maintenance to keep everything running smoothly. 

The Pros and Cons of Saltwater Pools

Pros of Saltwater Pools

1. Softer Water: One of the biggest draws of a saltwater pool is the water's feel. It’s often described as softer and more pleasant to swim in. Because the chlorine is generated through salt, you won’t experience the strong chlorine smell or the irritation in your eyes or skin that can sometimes come with traditional pools.
2. Lower Maintenance: Once you have a salt chlorine generator set up, maintaining a saltwater pool can be easier over time. The generator keeps the chlorine levels stable, which means fewer chemicals are needed, and less frequent testing is required.
3. Gentler on the Environment: Because saltwater pools use fewer chemicals, there’s a potential for less environmental impact. There's also less need to transport chemicals, reducing your pool’s carbon footprint.

Cons of Saltwater Pools

1. Higher Initial Setup Costs: The cost to install a saltwater system can be higher than a traditional chlorine pool. You'll need a salt chlorine generator, and that comes with its own price tag. However, the long-term savings can make up for the higher initial investment.
2. Corrosion Risk: saltwater can be more corrosive than chlorine, which means it can wear down pool equipment, tiles, and even your deck over time. Maintenance and repairs may be a bit more frequent to keep everything looking and functioning like new.
3. Less Immediate Control: While the salt chlorine generator does much of the work, it can also be harder to make quick adjustments if something goes wrong. If your generator malfunctions or doesn’t produce enough chlorine, it may take a little longer to get things back on track compared to the more immediate control you get with a chlorine pool.

The Pros and Cons of Chlorine Pools

Chlorine pools are the tried-and-true option for many pool owners. For decades, they’ve been the standard when it comes to keeping pools clean and safe. While they may not have the same “natural” appeal as saltwater pools, they’re reliable and effective. 

Pros of Chlorine Pools

1. Lower Initial Costs: Chlorine pools are typically more affordable to set up. There’s no need for a salt chlorine generator, which means lower upfront costs. You’ll still need to buy chlorine, but that’s pretty easy to come by, and you’ll have a system that’s easy to maintain from the start.
2. Quick Chlorine Adjustment: With a chlorine pool, if something goes wrong with the chemical levels, it’s often easier to make quick adjustments. Whether you need to add more chlorine or balance the pH, you’ve got immediate control, which can be reassuring, especially for first-time pool owners.
3. Less Corrosion Risk: Since chlorine pools don’t rely on salt, they are less likely to suffer damage to pool equipment, tiles, and surfaces. This can mean fewer repairs and less wear and tear over time.

Cons of Chlorine Pools

1. Regular Chemical Additions: One of the downsides to chlorine pools is that they require more consistent chemical maintenance. Chlorine levels can fluctuate, and you’ll need to monitor and add chemicals more frequently than you would in a saltwater pool. This can mean more trips to the store for supplies and more time spent managing your pool’s water chemistry.
2. Stronger Smell and Irritation: The telltale chlorine smell is something many people associate with swimming pools. It’s caused by chlorine reacting with contaminants in the water, and while it’s harmless, it can be unpleasant. Chlorine can also cause skin and eye irritation for sensitive swimmers, especially when the levels aren’t perfectly balanced.
3. Higher Ongoing Costs: Over time, chlorine can be more expensive than salt. You’ll need to consistently purchase bags or bottles of chlorine, and the cost can add up, especially if you need to shock your pool frequently or if you're in an area with high water temperatures.

Captains Pool Care, No Matter the Choice

No matter which pool type you end up going with, you’ll get a unique set of benefits and challenges. The key is knowing what fits best with your needs, preferences, and lifestyle. But either way, if you’re in the Atlanta area, Captain’s Pool Care will be there to keep your pool in tip-top shape year-round.

We have a dedicated communications team and use the most advanced monitoring technology to give you peace of mind that your pool—whether saltwater or chlorine—is at the ready no matter what time of year. Drop us a line to make sure your pool stays in perfect condition all season long!