If you own an above ground pool, or you are thinking of doing so, then you are probably aware of how much effort goes into keeping it safe and clean for the whole family (and those friends) who use it.
The people who visit your pool, or children, are likely not to see all the hard work that is spent making sure algae does not form, and that bugs are removed, and instead are probably excited when they see the crystal clear water that invites them in on a particularly warm Saturday afternoon.
Not only do you have to make sure birds and ducks stay away (think of those crazy inflatables that float along the water - they are not just for fun!), but you also have to make sure the water itself is sanitized.
If you are new to the idea of owning a pool, or if you want to find a new way of cleaning yours, then you are going to want to know how to add chlorine to avoid bacteria and pollution from growing.
One of those ways is chlorine tablets, but what exactly are they and can you just toss them in to dissolve?
If you are curious to know, read on to find out more.
Why Is Chlorine Added To Water?
Chlorine has been added to water for decades due to it being an easy and inexpensive way to clean water, whether in a general sports swimming pool, or an above ground pool in a backyard.
It is a powerful ingredient to kill bacteria, and is widely available on the market making it accessible to every pool owner.
It is also available in a number of ways such as in stick form, as granules or as tablets - with the latter being the ones we are going to talk about in this article.
When To Add Chlorine To A Pool
Whilst at first it might seem a little tricky to do, knowing when to add chlorine is really important if you want to keep the water healthy, as well as your family.
There are two values that you need to know about each week, and these are the pool’s PH value (which should be around 7.2 and 7.6), and the value of the chlorine.
The value of the chlorine all depends on the size of the pool. So basically you are looking at the chlorine concentration being 1 part per million (ppm). This is important to know because it also helps you understand how much chlorine to use.
For example, 4 chlorine tablets will be used for a 20,000 gallon sized pool.
There are test kits available to help you determine what the numbers are, making it a quick thing to do on a weekly basis.
What Happens If You Add Too Much Chlorine?
Even though chlorine is great to sanitize with, it can also cause bad side effects if too much is used. Whilst you do want to maintain healthy water, too much can pose a threat to humans and wildlife.
If too much chlorine is put into the pool, it can cause a swimmer to faint, but that is not the worst of it. It has been known to cause lung and heart issues, as well as skin irritation, eye problems and feeling sick.
You will know if you have used too much chlorine because you may feel that your throat is burning, your eyes may itch and you could possibly have difficulty breathing.
So long as you stick with the recommended dose for your size of pool, there will be no problems.
As with everything in life, sometimes you can have too much of a good thing.
So, Can You Throw A Chlorine Tablet In The Pool?
Absolutely not. It is never a good idea just to throw a chlorine tablet into the water and let it dissolve.
If you do it this way, you will find that the tablet bits will just end up on the bottom of the pool. In doing so, it will damage the pool and create a lovely stain to remind you of what you did.
It also takes much longer to dissolve a tablet, so if you are used to using granules, never apply the same method to another way of adding chlorine - ever.
The best thing to do? Apply the chlorine tablet properly.
How To Add Chlorine Tablets
Chlorine tablets are really handy when it comes to sanitizing a pool, and make the job really easy. They steadily release the chlorine into the water, making sure every area is clean.
So, how do you add them to your pool?
Swimming Pool Skimmer
One way to add chlorine tablets to your pool is by putting them directly into your pool’s skimmer.
Once the filter is running, it passes water over the tablets causing them to dissolve and disperse into the pool via the return jets. It means chlorine is added to the pool water efficiently and evenly.
If the filter stops running, you may be left with half-dissolved tablets which can cause damage.
Chlorine Dispenser That Floats
A floating chlorine dispenser is convenient and inexpensive, and works by travelling around the pool dispensing chlorine to different areas.
If you have a pool liner, this will not be a good option for you. Also, it does have a habit of getting stuck and dispensing too much chlorine in one place. This can cause damage to the pool, similar to if you throw a tablet in to dissolve.
Automatic Chlorinator
One of the best ways to add chlorine tablets to your swimming pool is by using a pool chlorinator.
All you need to do is add the tablets to the gadget, change the settings to what suits your pool, and let it do its job.
Over time you will understand what works best for your pool and the current weather.
Final Words
If you are used to throwing chlorine granules into a pool, then do not be mistaken into thinking you can do the same with tablets.
If you do throw chlorine tablets into a swimming pool, you may find that the bottom surface of the pool will become damaged due to the high concentration of chlorine.
Finding another solution, such as using a floating pool skimmer or an automatic chlorinator will do a safer and much better job.
Keeping up with the cleaning will mean you and your family can enjoy using the pool for many years to come without getting sick.
