How to Protect Your Chlorine Levels with Pool Stabilizer – AQUASTRONG Tips

When managing your pool’s water chemistry, one common problem is chlorine depletion due to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. While you can’t move your pool to a shaded area, you can use pool stabilizer to protect your chlorine levels from rapid loss. This simple step will help keep your pool water clean and your chlorine usage efficient, saving you money in the long run.

What is Pool Stabilizer?

Pool stabilizer, also known as chlorine stabilizer, cyanuric acid, or pool conditioner, is a chemical additive that prevents chlorine from breaking down too quickly in the sun. It's available in both liquid and granular (powder) forms, and is often included in chlorinating products such as chlorine tablets (trichlor), chlorine sticks, and shock treatments (dichlor).

For most pool owners, using stabilized chlorine tablets or sticks eliminates the need for separate stabilizer. However, if you’re adding stabilizer separately, it’s important to keep an eye on the concentration. Too much stabilizer can actually cause problems and reduce the effectiveness of your chlorine.

Why Do You Need Pool Stabilizer?

In simple terms, pool stabilizer helps your chlorine remain active in the water for a longer time. The UV rays from the sun break apart free chlorine molecules, causing them to evaporate and reducing their ability to sanitize the water. Pool stabilizer binds to the chlorine molecules, making them less vulnerable to sunlight and ensuring they stay effective for longer periods—up to three to five times longer than without stabilizer.

However, there’s a catch. While stabilizer protects your chlorine from UV rays, it also slightly reduces the chlorine’s ability to kill bacteria and germs. This means that chlorine with stabilizer takes longer to disinfect the pool water compared to unprotected chlorine.

Can You Swim in a Pool with Stabilizer in it?

Yes, it is completely safe to swim in your pool after adding stabilizer, but make sure you wait at least 20 minutes for the chemical to fully dissolve. This rule applies to all pool chemicals, including chlorine, alkalinity increasers, algaecides, and others.

How Much Pool Stabilizer Should You Use?

Before adding stabilizer, it’s important to measure your pool’s current cyanuric acid (CYA) level. This can be done using a pool test kit or test strips. You can also bring a water sample to your local pool supply store for analysis. Knowing your pool’s size and current CYA level will help you avoid overuse of stabilizer.

The ideal stabilizer level for most pools is between 30-50 ppm (parts per million). Concentrations higher than 50 ppm can hinder chlorine’s effectiveness and may encourage algae growth, so aim to keep it within the recommended range.

To add stabilizer to your pool, first determine your pool volume. You can use AQUASTRONG’s Pool Volume Calculator to find the exact amount of stabilizer you need. Here’s a general guideline for CYA dosage:

• For every 10,000 gallons of water, add 1 lb (about 450 grams) of stabilizer to increase CYA by 10 ppm.

Once you've determined how much stabilizer to add, use AQUASTRONG’s dosing chart or your test kit to ensure your pool’s levels remain balanced.

How to Add Pool Stabilizer to Your Pool

Properly adding stabilizer to your pool is crucial to prevent any damage to your pool surfaces or filtration system. Here’s how to do it safely:

1. Dissolve the Stabilizer First: Never add stabilizer directly to the skimmer or pool filter. Instead, dissolve it in a bucket of water before adding it to the pool. This prevents the acid from sitting on your pool surfaces and potentially causing damage.

2. Spread Evenly: Once the stabilizer is fully dissolved, pour it around the edges of your pool while the circulation system is running to help it mix evenly. If you have a concrete pool, brushing the pool floor can help ensure the stabilizer dissolves completely.

3. Wait for It to Dissolve: It can take a while for stabilizer to dissolve completely, especially if you're using granular form. Wait several hours (or even up to 24 hours) before testing the water again to ensure it’s fully dissolved.

4. Test and Adjust: After the stabilizer has dissolved, test your pool’s CYA levels and adjust accordingly. You may need to add more stabilizer or dilute the pool if the levels become too high.

What if Your Stabilizer Levels Are Too High?

If you notice that your stabilizer levels are higher than recommended (above 50 ppm), it can affect your chlorine’s effectiveness. To reduce the stabilizer levels, you’ll need to dilute your pool water by draining and refilling some of the pool with fresh water. After this, you’ll need to retest and adjust the chemical levels to ensure your pool remains properly sanitized.

When Should You Add Pool Stabilizer?

Unlike other pool chemicals, stabilizer doesn’t get consumed over time. Once added, it stays in the water until diluted by rainfall, evaporation, or splash-out. If your pool water level drops, you may need to add more stabilizer to maintain the proper CYA levels.

In general, if you’re using stabilized chlorine, you may not need to add extra stabilizer throughout the year. However, if you find that your pool stabilizer levels are creeping up, it may be a good idea to reduce your stabilizer levels and switch to non-stabilized chlorine if necessary.

Does Every Pool Need a Stabilizer?

Stabilizer is essential for outdoor chlorine pools, especially those exposed to direct sunlight. Indoor pools, or pools that are not exposed to UV rays, typically don’t require stabilizer. Additionally, if you have a hot tub, it's important to avoid using stabilizer as it can slow the chlorine’s ability to kill harmful bacteria in the hot tub water.

Conclusion

Using a pool stabilizer is an easy and effective way to protect your chlorine levels from being prematurely broken down by the sun. By maintaining the proper stabilizer levels, you can extend the life of your chlorine, reduce maintenance costs, and keep your pool water clean and clear throughout the summer.