Everyone wants to give their pool the best care. This is because, as you know, anything you diligently maintain lasts longer. So, when it comes to caring for your pool, regular and proper sanitation is a must. That being said, there is a right way and a wrong way of keeping your pool clean. Consequently, we’re here to find an answer to the question; can you put chlorine tablets directly in your pool.
Putting chlorine tablets in your pool is an ill-advised move because this doesn’t only NOT keep your swimming clean but it can also potentially harm your skin and overall health and wellbeing!
The fact remains that chlorine tablets are one of the best and most convenient ways of keeping swimming pool water clean. However, if you don’t introduce them to the water in the proper way, you risk triggering a less than pleasant reaction.
The Importance of Introducing Chlorine into Your Pool the Right Way
Contents
Adding chlorine to your pool properly ensures that the pool water has just the right concentration of this element. This in turn means that your skin and eyes won’t burn or have any reaction when this water comes in contact with it.
What’s more, the proper addition of this substance to your pool water also improves your swimming experience. The reason for this is that proper use of chlorine in pool water ensures that the pool doesn’t develop any foul and unpleasant smell.
Keep in mind that the smell in question can occur when you’ve added too much or too little chlorine to your pool water. Also, you should note that the unpleasant smell in question, if left unattended, may lead to respiratory damage.
Now that we’ve successfully established the importance of chlorine application the right way, let’s move on to finding the most efficient way to do this.
Can You Just Throw a Chlorine Tablet in the Pool?
Technically, yes you can. However, we strongly advise against this!
No matter what the case, you should never throw chlorine tablets into your swimming pool. There are several reasons for this, some of which we’ll go into greater detail on here.
To start with, it’s true that chlorine is a strong agent you can use to rid your pool of contaminants. However, you must always remember that when using this resource, the method of application is almost as important as the potency of the substance itself!
For clarity, when you throw chlorine tablets directly into your pool, you not only reduce the efficacy of this element but also put yourself at great risk.
This is because when you put chlorine tablets in the pool this way, the tablets dissolve at a much slower rate. Not only does this mean that the substance won’t reach all the contaminants fast enough, but it can also leave ugly and unpleasant bleach stains at the bottom of your pool!
And, when you happen to swim in this area, you expose your body to highly concentrated chlorine that can compel your body to react in less than pleasant ways.
So, for emphasis, ensure that you never just drop chlorine tablets in your pool.
What is the Right Way of Adding Chlorine to a Pool?
Now that you know that just throwing chlorine tablets into your swimming pool is out of the question, you need to find a more efficient way of applying this element safely.
To that end, there are three ways you can go about this. We’ll be explaining each one in detail.
1. Method One – By using a Floating Dispenser
This is one of the best ways you can slowly and effectively introduce chlorine tablets to your pool. A floating dispenser is a relatively affordable item to get as well as most of them don’t usually cost more than $20.
Once you have one, fill it with chlorine tablets, set it on your pool, and put on the pump. As it naturally floats around, it’ll dispense its contents slowly into the water in a safe and even manner. Some of the perks of using this method are that it gives you good distribution and is also remarkably convenient.
2. Method Two – By Using an Automatic Chlorinator
Also popularly referred to as a chlorine feeder, this device is typically installed in your filter system. Because of this, you’ll typically need the services of a professional to set it up.
Once you’ve appropriately filled the automatic chlorinator with the tablets, it slowly injects your pool water with it through the return jets.
While it might be a bit cost-prohibitive, it remains remarkably easy to use. Also, using this method of approach, there’s almost no risk that you’ll overdose your pool. This in turn means you don’t have to spend as much time worrying about maintenance.
3. Method Three – By Using a Pool Skimmer
The skimmer is already a part of your pool which makes this method arguably the most convenient way you can add chlorine to your pool. All you have to do is take advantage of the way the device operates in your filter system and use that to your advantage.
To get started, all you have to do is put the chlorine tablets in the skimmer basket and sit back. Your pool will do the rest of the work!
While this is a truly great way of chlorinating your pool, keep in mind that using this method for an extended period might destroy your skimmer basket.
How Often You Should Add Chlorine to Your Pool
The chemical levels of your pool water change with remarkable frequency. So, to stay on top of things, you need to do water tests and then act according to your findings.
However, on average, you should consider topping the chlorine content of your pool every 3 to 7 days. This makes sure that your pool stays safe for use without putting you at risk as well.
Where to Put chlorine in Your Above Ground Pool
When you’re dealing with an underground pool, you can also introduce the chlorine tablets to the water through the skimmer or floating dispensers.
All you have to do is follow the guidelines described earlier and you should be just fine.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer to forgo those methods, you can use a chemical feeder as well. This is also great for your above-ground pool because it keeps your pool chlorine level consistent and doesn’t require much effort to maintain daily either.
FAQs
Can I Put Chlorine Tablets in my Skimmer Basket?
Yes, you can.
What’s more, keeping your pool chlorine content level up with a skimmer basket is also a very cost-efficient and effective way to do this.
Unlike some other methods of chlorine application, you do not need to purchase any extra items beyond the chlorine tablets to put this resource to use!
However, you need to be careful when using this method as it may put your skimmer at risk of damage.
Can I Use Chlorine Tablets Without a Pump?
No, you cannot.
This is because your pool pump plays a crucial role in the proper dispersion of the chlorine content in your pool.
Whether you’re using a skimmer, floating dispenser, or an automatic chlorinator, without the action of your pump, the chlorination process cannot be considered complete. This is because the absence of a pump puts you at great risk of over-chlorinating your pool.
Can You Put Chlorine Tablets in a Pool Without a Filter?
In a nutshell, yes, you can.
However, doing so would be a greatly ill-advised move. This is because, in the very first place, using your pool without a filter at all puts you at various risks, even without the chlorine factor involved.
That being said, adding chlorine to a pool without a filter only puts your health and safety at further risk.
Final Word
Adding chlorine to your pool water is a rather simple and necessary affair. However, you just need to take some precautions to make sure that you do things right.
The first and most important thing to remember here is that you cannot put chlorine tablets directly in your pool as this can cause you and other swimmers a lot of harm.
Next, ensure that you carry out a water test before putting chlorine in your pool. This way, there’s less risk of over-chlorinating your pool water.
Lastly, when it’s finally time to add chlorine to your pool, make sure you use one of the methods we’ve recommended and see to it that your pump and filter system are on and fully operational. With this, you’re set for taking better care of your pool!