CHLORAMINES: The
chlorine molecule is
strongly attracted to nitrogen and ammonia. When these two
combine they form a chloramine, which are undesirable, foul smelling, space taking, compounds that require
shocking
the pool water to get rid of.
CHLORINE: A member of the halogen family of sanitizers, it's use in swimming
pools is in the elemental form of a gas, liquid, granular, or tablet compound. When
added to water it acts as an oxidizer, sanitizer, disinfectant, and all around biocidal
agent.
CHLORINE FREE
AVAILABLE: Free Available Chlorine is that which is active, not
combined with an ammonia or a nitrogen molecule, and ready to react to destroy organic
material.
CHLORINE
COMBINED: That portion of total available chlorine left over when free
available is subtracted. The measure of chlorine which has already attached itself to
other molecules or organisms. Most of this is made up of chloramines.
CHLORINE
TOTAL AVAILABLE: The sum of combined and free chlorine levels. With a DPD
test kit, one determines free available level, then total available. The difference, if
any, is the level of combined chlorine.
CHLORINE
GENERATOR:
A miniature chlorine factory. This device creates its own
sanitizer
for your pool.
CHLORINATOR: Devices which allow for the safe controlled introduction of
chlorine
into the water.
CHLORINE DEMAND: The quantity of free available chlorine
removed during the
process of sanitizing. The amount of organic and non-organic material contained in the
water will demand a certain level of oxidizer to be destroyed.
CIRCUIT BREAKER: A switch which allows manual override of an electrical circuit. It
also automatically breaks the circuit when current fluctuations are detected.
CIRCULATION SYSTEM: The circuit of plumbing which continuously carries the
water out of the pool, through the pump and filter then returns it to the pool.
CLARIFIER: A clarifier is a chemical used as a
coagulant of suspended
micro particles. It helps the filter by clumping smaller particles into filterable sizes.
COAGULANT: The properties of a chemical used in the assemblage and
precipitation
of suspended material which may make the pool appear cloudy.
CONDUIT: A pipe, usually gray PVC or flexible
PVC designed to carry wires from a source
(i.e. time clock) to a load (i.e. pump motor).
CONTAMINANTS: Any
micro-particle or organism which reduces water clarity or quality
and may
present a health hazard. All of our filtering, circulating, and sanitizing is directed
here.
COPING: The capstone on top of the bond beam which finishes the edge around a pool or
spa. It may be pre-cast concrete or brick. On vinyl liner pools pre-fabricated coping is usually
part of an integrated system for the wall, vinyl liner, and deck.
COPPER: An effective algaestat and algaecide.
Copper as elemental is used in many pools
in products like "Pooltrine."
COPPER SULFATE: Similar to aluminum sulfate, this chemical provides a
coagulating
and flocculent function in water. Used mainly in ponds, a large amount of copper
sulfate would
stain a swimming pool.
CONDITIONER: Also called Cyanuric Acid (CYA) or
a stabilizer, this chemical
provides a shield from the sun around the chlorine molecule, extending the efficacy;
saving you money.
CORONA DISCHARGE:
An electrical discharge brought on by the
ionization of a fluid surrounding a conductor,
which occurs when the potential gradient (the
strength of the electric field) exceeds a
certain value, but conditions are insufficient
to cause complete electrical breakdown or
arcing.
CORROSION: The effects of a acidic pool environment.
One in which the
pH and/or alkalinity
are very low. Corrosion in the form of etching, pitting, or erosion of pool equipment and
surfaces is the result.
COUPLING:
A plumbing fitting designed to join two pieces of pipe.
COVER AUTOMATIC: Solid reinforced vinyl which rolls onto a reel on one end of the
pool and attaches on the sides into small aluminum tracks. It can be be motorized or hand-crank
style.
Some models may snap the sides into small anchors placed into the deck providing more
shape flexibility. Provides safety (with water pumped off - cover pump), debris protection, and
heat/chemical/water retention.
COVER HARD: A cover which rests on the edge or coping of the spa or small pool. Provides a barrier to debris and possibly people, while keeping the heat trapped in.
COVER SOLAR: Sometimes called a thermal blanket, this cover floats on the surface
magnifying the sun's rays to warm the water and also prevents chemical/heat/water
evaporation.
COVER WINTER: A barrier to sun and debris, winter covers secure the pool from
contamination. These are subdivided below.
COVER MESH:
These stretch tightly across the pool like a trampoline. They
are the only covers
which can be called "safety covers" in that the mesh polypropylene allows precipitation to
pass through.
COVER SOLID: These are usually made of some form of plastic or vinyl and are secured
around the edges either by aqua blocks, similar weight, or the edges attach to anchors set
in the concrete or wood deck.
