Five Secrets to Save Money on Pool Chemicals this Season

Here are is five secrets to help you save money on the cost of chemicals for your swimming pool this season. 

1. Instead of the pool store outlets that are in your area that sell only pool supplies, try department stores like Kmart and Wal-Mart. Pool chemicals are just that, and you don’t need to go to a specialty store to find them. Also, home improvement stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot carry them. Look for chemicals at these places this season and you will save money.

2. Most pool chemicals have a shelf life. Products like soda ash and muriatic acid will store until next season as long as you keep them in a cool dry place and out of the weather, but for the most part, buy chemicals in season. Chlorine has the shortest shelf life and should always be bought right before the season starts. Reagents for test kits also should be bought yearly. They go bad, so don't rely on them. If you are unsure at any time, speak to professionals such as the pool experts that remodel your pool for some advice and guidance on what's best to use.

3. All brands have different strength. Products like chlorine have an active ingredient that is listed on the label. The active ingredient is the chemical that performs the work. In chlorine, it is calcium hypochlorite. Check the labels on any chlorine products, especially shock and you will see the difference. Do this and you will save money. Buy chlorine with a stabilizer in it. The sun won't have an effect on it.



4. Now you have the chemicals, it’s time to balance the water’s chemistry in your pool. It’s easy and the most important thing for you to do to save money. First, you need to bring the alkalinity up to (80-120 ppm). Then raise the ph to (7.2-7.6). Always operate your pool at these levels. This will create the perfect environment for the chlorine to do its job. Shock the pool with chlorine every week for the rest of the season. Then add an algaecide solution that prevents algae blooms from developing every week or so. Chlorine is not enough. Anti-algae chemicals are inexpensive and last a couple of weeks used in conjunction with chlorine will save a lot of money. Look at this example. You come home from vacation and your pools went south and is green. Here is what you’re going to need. Ph adjustment chemicals, then super shock. After that, an algaecide (the kind that kills blooms that are already developed) this kind is very expensive. Do not confuse the two. After this, you will have cloudy condition and need a clarifier or settling agent to settle out the millions of dead algae organisms and particle involved with the bloom. By the time you are able to vacuum the mess out of the pool and then stabilize the water, depending on the size, you’re looking at two-three days downtime and a cost of around $100.00 that’s a conservative estimate. In an unbalanced pool, this could happen more than a few times. Pool stores make most of their money after the pools are up and running and problems start occurring. That why they test the water, they are the doctor and they sell the prescription. Be smart, and save money. This brings us to the fifth way to save money on chemicals for your pool.

5. Develop a maintenance plan that includes testing, chemical adjustment, and cleaning. A routine that fits your schedule and gives your pool the attention it needs. You will catch any problems that are coming long before they do, that will save yourself from a trip back up to the pool store and a bunch of money too.