The Ultimate Guide To Storing Pool Chemicals

When it comes to storing your pool chemicals the most important thing to keep in mind is that they are all active toxins and have the potential to be very dangerous. Therefore, when it comes to storing them, it is important to err on the side of caution to avoid any mishaps. There's no denying that accidents do happen and when or if they do, you should immediately consult the label for the appropriate actions to take. Chemical reactions are also not out of the realm of possibility. To reduce the likelihood of a reaction occurring, your pool chemicals should be stored in the right environment. However, storing your pool chemicals doesn't have to be complicated. We've put together a list of helpful tips along with some do's and don'ts to make sure the way your storing your chemicals won't harm you or your family! 

Tips:

Store in a Cool Dry Place

• Many liquid chemicals don't react well to extreme temperatures on either end of the spectrum. So, if you store your pool chemicals in a place warmer than 95 degrees Fahrenheit, they will likely expand and potentially explode, leak out, or spill. However, if liquid chemicals are stored in an environment that is too cold and they freeze, they could begin to separate and become far less effective. There definitely aren't any positives coming from either of the scenarios, so make sure you store them in a cool and dry environment.

Be Careful With Storing Chemicals in Your Garage

• Storing pool chemicals in your garage is not a good idea unless they are in some sort of locked storage bin or cabinet. If they are out in the open they have the ability to make the metals in your garage brittle and eventually accumulate rust. Also, there have been instances where on hot summer days people have passed out due to the chemical exposure in a confined place. So, if you do decide to store your pool chemicals in your garage, be sure that your storage method complies with all of our tips on this page!

Keep Out of the Reach of Children and Pets

• For obvious reasons, you are going to want to make sure that all of your pool chemicals are stored somewhere that'll be out of the reach of your children and/or pets. All chemicals are toxins, so they need to be treated as such because if you get them in your eyes, mouth, or on your skin they have the potential to cause some serious health issues. Anybody who has children or pets know that there is really no telling what they will get themselves into, so a locked storage area would be ideal for anyone in that situation.

Should be Stored in the Original Container

• Storing your pool chemicals in a different container than the one it came in could cause an inadvertent chemical reaction. The reaction itself is going to vary depending on the chemicals involved, or if there are any chemicals present at all. For example, any chemicals that react to oxidize combustible materials could start a fire or let of an explosion, which obviously isn't any good for anybody.

Store in a Well-Ventilated Area

• In order to prevent any harmful exposure to toxins; pool chemicals should be stored in an area with a well designed and maintained ventilation system. A well-ventilated area will remove any toxic vapors, fumes, mists, or airborne dust that could be floating around. All of which could be very hazardous to your health. There is nothing remotely safe about being in a poorly ventilated area with chemicals around, so storing your pool chemicals in these conditions should most certainly be avoided.

Different Chemicals Should be Stored Away From Each Other

• Different types of pool chemicals should always be kept separate. For example, all your chlorine products should be stored away from any acids. Liquids should also not be stored above any other chemicals because they could easily leak and get into whatever's beneath them. Chemical reactions can be very dangerous, so its best to err on the side of caution to help avoid any unfortunate situation that could occur.

Keep Pool Chemicals Away From Heat Sources.

• Since some pool chemicals are oxidizers they have the ability to release oxygen. If a fire were to occur, the oxygen being released could escalate the fire causing it to spread rapidly. Direct sunlight and electrical sources can cause the same results, so it is also important to keep all of the chemicals away from all of these situations. The last thing you'll want to happen is for a fire to break out when it could have easily been avoided.

Always Make Sure the Lids are Sealed

• For many pool chemicals, all it takes to start a chemical reaction is the addition of water. An unsealed lid will allow water to enter the container and either start a reaction or dilute the chemical making it less effective. Also, if for any reason the chemical container gets knocked over, the unsealed lid will allow the chemical to spill all over the place. Not only would that cause a hazardous situation, but that would be a complete waste of money.

Conclusion:

After going through our all of our tips, there is no denying the possible danger associated with pool chemicals.  As a one last reminder, here are some additional do's and don'ts to help give you a better understanding of storing pool chemicals:

Do's

• Follow your local and state fire codes
• Store chemicals in a cool and dry place
• Store away from doors or windows
• Keep out of the reach of children and/or pets
• Check storage area frequently for any water leakage
• Dedicate separate storage areas for different chemicals
• Store in the original container
• Consult the manufacturer if the container is damaged
• Keep storage area free of clutter
• Use the chemicals on a first-in, first-out basis

Don'ts

• Store directly on the ground
• Store in an environment that's too cold or too hot
• Mix different pool chemicals together
• Place different types of chemicals near each other
• Stack chemicals on top of each other
• Store with incompatible or flammable materials
• Store near any ignition sources
• Smoke around the chemicals or storage area
• Purchase an excessive amount of pool chemicals at once

  The best place to store your chemicals would be in a shed with a lot of shelving or metal cabinets. However, as previously mentioned, you are going to want to make sure that the shed is well ventilated without any flammable materials. It is also important to store any liquids below powders, and completely different kinds of chemicals away from each other. This way they can't come into contact with each other.  If chemicals do happen to mix together they can form chlorine gas, which in return will do damage to your shed. Just remember, when it comes to storing your pool chemicals always think safety first!     Sources: http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/preventing-pool-chemical-injuries.html http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/swimming.html