commercial pool with tanning ledgeHave you ever heard the common warning that you need to wait an hour after you eat before you swim? How about that chlorine water will burn your eyes? There are a lot of myths about swimming pools that have been passed down over the years. Your trusted pool professionals at Summerhill Pools decided to put these myths to the test and find out if they are fact or fiction. Here are 6 common swimming pool myths busted!

1. Wait an Hour After You Eat Before Swimming

The worst part about spending the day at a swimming pool was when you had to break for lunch, eat, and then wait the excruciating hour before you jumped back in. Watching the glimmering sunlight on the water’s surface, the need to dive in was overwhelming. However, you wouldn’t dare jump back in, unless you wanted a debilitating muscle cramp. Constantly, you watched the clock, waiting for the hour hand to move so that you could resume your day of fun.

How true is this myth though? Do you actually need to wait an hour before diving back into the pool? Well, this myth is somewhat true.

What Happens Right After You Eat?

The human body is an amazing biological system. When you eat, your food is transferred down into your stomach where the digestion process begins. At this point, your body shifts the blood flow to prioritize your stomach to aid in digestion. This results in less blood going to your other muscles, which is why some people do experience cramping during exercise after they eat. However, it takes a lot of exertion to get to the cramping point.

Thankfully, most individuals enjoy lounging in the pool or taking a light swim. The threat of a muscle cramp during this time is relatively low because your body isn’t exerting too much effort into these activities. However, if you are hard swimming, either by playing a game or exercising, the risk goes up due to the strain you are putting on your body.

Summerhill’s Pro-Swimmer Tips

If you are still concerned about cramping while swimming, there are some precautions you can take. For example, if you are hungry, eat a light snack, such as pickles or crackers, to ease the hunger pains. The lightness of this meal will aid in the quickness and easiness of digestion, leaving more blood flow for your muscles. After you have eaten your snack, ease back into swimming.

Once you are done swimming for the day, you can follow it up with a larger meal to replenish your body’s energy and prepare for the next day of swimming.

2. I Can Smell Chlorine, Which Means There Is Too Much In the Pool

Chemicals used to service your poolThis is a common misconception that our experts hear a lot. As pool maintenance and construction experts, we know chlorine like the back of our hands. When you can smell chlorine, it isn’t the water you are smelling, it’s the air. Chlorine attaches to the bacteria in the water, creating chloramines. When you shock your pool, these chloramines turn into oxygen and escape into the air.

The bacteria and dirt can give off a nasty odor which means that your pool may still be dirty because there isn’t enough chlorine. Test your water’s chemistry and adjust the chlorine levels accordingly. The air around your pool will start smelling better soon as the bacteria and dirt will soon be captured by the chlorine and leave your pool the next time you shock it.

3. Chlorine Burns Your Eyes If You Open Them Up Under Water

This is false. Chlorine will not affect your eyes but an unbalanced pH will. Always check your water’s pH levels before getting into the pool. The pH should be between 7.2-7.6. Too low levels can lead to the burning of the eyes and too high of levels can lead to scaling on your pool walls.

4. Saltwater Pool’s Don’t Have Chlorine

We are not sure where this one got started but we can tell you, as pool specialists, we know this is wrong. To sanitize a saltwater pool, the salt is forced across a special metal cell which is charged with an electrical current. This results in the creation of chlorine that captures the dirt and bacteria in your pool.

The truth is, while saltwater pools don’t have as much chlorine as a chlorine pool, there are still subtle traces.

5. My Pool Water Is Clear, It Is So Healthy!

Unfortunately, the water chemistry of your pool tells you whether or not your pool is healthy, not the color of the water. You need to test your pool’s water weekly to ensure that it is balanced correctly. Unbalanced water chemistry is dangerous for both the swimmers and your pool. If you are just going off the look of your water, you may run into some serious problems and costly repairs. This includes the following:

  • Algae growth
  • Scaling
  • Corrosion of pool tiles
  • Stains on your pool’s plaster

6. I Can Only Swim When It’s Warm Outside

This isn’t necessarily true. Many pool owners enjoy their pool year-round, thanks to the aid of a solar cover, pool heater, or heat pump. These tools help keep the water at a comfortable temperature, giving you the freedom to enjoy your pool all year long! Don’t restrict your pool usage to one season and ask our team about these amazing pool products!

Need Pool Maintenance or Repairs? Summerhill Pools Can Help!

Summerhill Pools team of pool specialists love putting smiles on the people of DFW’s faces by offering unparalleled pool maintenance, construction, repair, and renovation services. We work hard to ensure that you can get the most out of your pool and create a lifetime of memories. We don’t let pool myths or challenges hold us down. Instead, through ongoing learning, innovative design, and dedication we continue to make our clients’ pool usage the best it can be. Contact our team today for more information on our services or to schedule a consultation!

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