You may have noticed that your local pool store has run out of chlorine tabs. But, you may not know why. In the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, a chlorine plant in Lake Charles, LA caught fire in August, causing a chlorine shortage across the Southeast.
This has led to customers asking two questions; “what is the alternative to chlorine?” And, when we invariably answer, bromine, they then ask, “what is the difference between chlorine and bromine?”
Chlorine and bromine are both very effective sanitizers. The decision to use one over the other, aside from issues with the supply chain, are really just a matter of preference. If you are a pool owner who may neglect managing your water chemistry, chlorine could be the answer to your prayer. Chlorine dissolves quickly, allowing you to raise or lower your levels in a snap. If you are a spa owner with sensitive skin, you may want to choose bromine.
As chlorine disinfects your water, it forms a compound called chloramine; a chlorine molecule combined with either ammonia or nitrogen. The “chlorine smell” that most associate with swimming pools is actually the scent of chloramine. As the chloramines begin to outnumber the chlorine molecules, chlorine’s effectiveness as a sanitizing agent is decreased. It is at this point that a shock treatment is required, oxidizing the contaminants and converting your “combined” chlorine back to “free” chlorine.
Chlorine naturally breaks down in the presence of sunlight, requiring a stabilizer (also known as a conditioner) if your pool is outdoors.
As bromine disinfects your water, it forms a compound called bromamine. Bromamines produce no odor and do not burn the eyes. Due to bromine’s slow-dissolving nature, it takes longer to build up a residual existence in your water, making it difficult to quickly raise or lower levels. Bromine is far more stable than chlorine and does not require a conditioner. In addition to its inherent stability, bromine is more effective in high temperatures, making it ideally suited to use in your spa. Chlorine is more economical, however, it will exhaust itself at higher temperatures more quickly, negating the perceived savings.
Bromine is also more effective than chlorine over a wider pH range. This is important, again in the spa environment, where the sudden addition of four or more bodies will cause extreme swings in pH levels. For instance, at pH levels of 8.0 or greater, the efficacy of chlorine drops below 50%, whereas bromine retains maximum efficacy at higher levels.
If you have any questions about which sanitizer is right for you, feel free to call us or stop by!
