Probably one of the most frustrating things to hear on a blisteringly hot summer’s day is that you need to wait an hour after your boerewors roll before you swim. As a child, an hour was an absolute lifetime! These and other “wise” words from your parents or others standing around the braai may or may not be true. We’re here to bust those swimming pool myths right here and now.

The Truth Behind Those Swimming Pool Myths

Let’s start with the obvious.

You need to wait an hour after eating before swimming

What is the idea behind this? Well, as it happens, there is a reason to wait a little while after eating a big meal before dive-bombing your sister. Essentially, after you’ve eaten a large portion of your body’s energy and blood supply is directed to digesting the food. Vigorous exercise in the pool on a full belly may cause some muscle cramps, but you’re not likely to suffer any permanent damage.

You know your pool is clean if you can smell the chlorine

Hmm, not so much. When the chlorine in the water is doing its job then you shouldn’t smell it. However, when the chlorine starts reacting to impurities and bacteria in the pool such as skin cells, urine, oils or lotions, it creates chloramines. Chloramines are formed when chlorine combines with ammonia forming a chemical compound which escapes into the air.

What you’re smelling then is not chlorine, but these chlorimides which are a strong indication that the water in your pool likely needs more chlorine.

Chlorine burns your eyes and irritates your skin

Okay, so if you pour any chemical into your eyes, you’re going to experience more than a little pain. However, the correct amount of chlorine in your pool serves to disinfect it – hence making it cleaner and less likely to cause skin and eye irritation.

If your kids are coming out of the pool looking like Robocop then it’s likely that your pH levels are out. A pH between 7.2 and 7.6 is the balance to aim for to avoid eye and skin irritation.

So, there we have it. Three top swimming pool myths stopped in their tracks. If you need more information from our fabulous pool team, please just click on our contact page and get in touch.

Happy swimming.