I asked a dumb question yesterday and nobody shamed me......so I'll ask another one. In my indoor pool, I have been debating for years whether or not to install UV system. However, there are about 20 flush mount overhead lights. A few have gone out, so I have to hire someone with really tall ladder to replace those bulbs (as I do every few years). They make UV bulbs that screw into regular sockets. So, can I just put UV bulbs over the pool and help out my cc's that way? The ceiling is about 1-1/2 stories tall. If the UV light is a different color, maybe I could alternate UV and regular?
Dumb question about uv lights
- Thread starter Jenmachen
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 64,979
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Those UV lights will not give sufficient UV into the pool water to do anything.
A UV system in your pool constantly flows the water next to the UV bulb.
www.troublefreepool.com
A UV system in your pool constantly flows the water next to the UV bulb.
UV Systems - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
You're either talking about blacklights that will do nothing but make things fluoresce, or legitimate UV-C lights which will burn your skin and cause severe and permanent eye damage.
I'd advise against installing the latter.
I'd advise against installing the latter.
Last edited:
- Nov 23, 2014
- 211
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I agree with @ajw22 and @Donldson, and just to add a bit more..... Some really good info is documented here UV Systems - Further Reading - - I can't tell who wrote that, but obviously someone with tons of related knowledge. In my own experience using UV-C (which is, as the author of that further reading says, "UV Germicidal Irradiation (280-200nm, with 260nm being the optimal wavelength)" I found it very effective in my HVAC air handler to eliminate most of the primordial sludge that builds up regularly from bacteria growth on the evaporator coils and leading down the condensate drains. Big clogging problem in Florida, totally solved with UVC. But for pools, not so much, see the article.
If you ever found lamps of the proper wavelength they would surely not be any standard pin type like A19 or whatever, and if by chance they could ever be found and powerful enough at some distance from the water (which is probably impossible), then the entire area would be uninhabitable without protective gear. The warnings with all germicidal lamps are rather clear: Never look at the lamp or expose skin to it.
If you ever found lamps of the proper wavelength they would surely not be any standard pin type like A19 or whatever, and if by chance they could ever be found and powerful enough at some distance from the water (which is probably impossible), then the entire area would be uninhabitable without protective gear. The warnings with all germicidal lamps are rather clear: Never look at the lamp or expose skin to it.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 64,979
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
- Nov 23, 2014
- 211
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Yes, I had read that article a couple of years ago. I have been thinking about UV for a few years, but simply never made a decision. The bulbs I saw are UV-C, and I did not realize they were dangerous. But GUYS thank you for not treating me like a dummy with the question.
The primary reason I think about the UV every spring, is it just seems I need to run my FC higher than average to control my CC's. My CC's are never zero, but I can easily maintain them at no more than .5 with my higher than average FC number.
I suppose there is simply not enough of us "indoor pool" people on here to really log some stats on the before/after regiments.
thanks
The primary reason I think about the UV every spring, is it just seems I need to run my FC higher than average to control my CC's. My CC's are never zero, but I can easily maintain them at no more than .5 with my higher than average FC number.
I suppose there is simply not enough of us "indoor pool" people on here to really log some stats on the before/after regiments.
thanks
I grew up in the heat/air industry, so my dad taught all of us kids to add some bleach in the condensation drain line to prevent clogging problems. Over the last 35 years of adulthood, I have always recommended the same to any friend of mine who ended up with a hallway full of water due to clogged line. One of those "ounce of prevention" items.
We have short seasons by me so it makes more sense up here, but it's pretty rare in general for residences.
In over 30 years of going to customers homes, I can maybe think of 10 with indoor pools. And trust me, they stood out being so rare and I didn't forget any. Lol. In my delivery days, we saw 30 houses some days.