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What are Chlorinators?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Chlorinators are devices used to inject chlorine into water. They are used to add chlorine to water for the purpose of disinfection. Chlorinators can also be used to add chlorine to sewage to destroy bacteria and eliminate odors.

Chlorinators are said to be fairly simple to operate. Easy operation, combined with chlorine's ability to destroy bacteria within a desirable time period, makes chlorinators popular for a number of applications. Furthermore, chlorine offers long-term protection against certain bacteria and is fairly low in cost.

Some areas use chlorinators to make drinking water safe.
Some areas use chlorinators to make drinking water safe.

Chlorinators are often used in swimming pools. Swimming pools can harbor dangerous pathogens that thrive in the water and have the ability to threaten the health of swimmers. Sometimes, bacteria found in swimming pools can cause rashes or illnesses. Chlorinators can be used to rid swimming pools of these often invisible, but still hazardous pathogens.

Chlorinators are used to cleanse swimming pools.
Chlorinators are used to cleanse swimming pools.

Though chlorine is capable of destroying certain harmful substances, its use in recreational pools is generally not harmful to humans. However, too much chlorine can be irritating to the eyes and skin. An overabundance of chlorine in a swimming pool can also cause harsh vapors. Therefore, it is important to choose a good chlorinator model, capable of effectively regulating the amount of chlorine in the water.

In addition to keeping swimming pools clean, chlorinators have another helpful purpose. They work to reduce the amount of labor required for pool maintenance. With many types of chlorinators, the amount of chlorine in the water need only be checked on a weekly basis. Most have automatic gauges that indicate whether or not more chlorine is needed. Such gauges also indicate when the water has too much chlorine.

Chlorinators with automatic gauges make adjusting chlorine levels easy. Many allow the user to change chlorine levels with a simple twist of a dial. With such easy adjustment, pool owners can spend more time enjoying their pools and much less time on pool maintenance.

Thought most people don’t have to worry about disinfecting their own drinking water, there are some locations in which homeowners find it necessary to do so. In such places, chlorinators can be used to make water safe for human consumption. Often, these chlorinators are part of in-house treatment systems, along with softeners and filters.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

donnieaustin

this is a very informative article. what about the mixing of chlorine and ammonia and the effects the ammonia has on the chlorine when added to water?

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    • Some areas use chlorinators to make drinking water safe.
      By: Andrey Kuzmin
      Some areas use chlorinators to make drinking water safe.
    • Chlorinators are used to cleanse swimming pools.
      By: nyul
      Chlorinators are used to cleanse swimming pools.