Purchase chlorine tablets online or at a pool supply store. Tablets come in 1 inch (2. 5 cm) and 3 inches (7. 6 cm) sizes. The larger tablets are the preferred option. They’re easier to handle, last longer, and are generally less expensive than 1 inch (2. 5 cm) tablets.
Suppose you have a 50 ft × 20 ft (15. 2 m × 6. 1 m) pool. If the shallow end is 3 ft (0. 91 m) deep and the deep end is 6 ft (1. 8 m) deep, the average depth is 4. 5 ft (1. 4 m). After finding the average depth, you’d multiply 50 × 20 × 4. 5 ft (15. 2 × 6. 1 × 1. 4 m) to find a volume of 4500 cubic feet (127 m3). Since 1 cubic foot (0. 028 m3) contains 7. 48 gallons (28. 3 L) of water, your pool holds 33,760 gallons (127,800 L) of water. You can also download an app or use an online calculator to find your pool’s volume.
Your test kit will show multiple chlorine readings. Free available chlorine is active and kills germs, while combined chlorine is the amount that’s been used up killing germs. Test your pool water daily if it gets regular use, and maintain a free available chlorine level between 1 and 3 ppm. [5] X Research source If you’re maintaining a spa or hot tub, keep the free available chlorine level around 4 ppm. [6] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Always round up to the nearest 5,000 gallons (19,000 L). For instance, suppose you have a 33,760 gallons (127,800 L) pool, your current chlorine level is around 0 ppm, and your product directs you to add 1 tablet per 5,000 gallons (19,000 L) to increase chlorine levels by 1 ppm. You’d need 14 tablets to achieve a reading of 2 ppm.
Unless your pool’s chlorine level is below 1 ppm or above 5 ppm, it’s fine to go swimming while the tablets dissolve. They’re designed for routine, continuous use. You can find chlorine dispensers online and at pool supply stores. Simple floaters are inexpensive, while skimmers that clean debris and dispense chemicals can cost hundreds of dollars (U. S. ).
The right amount to add varies by product. In general, you’ll need to add about 4 pounds (1. 8 kg) of cyuranic acid per 10,000 gallons (38,000 L) of water to reach a level of 10 ppm. It’s recommended to maintain a cyuranic acid level around 50 ppm. Remember to wear goggles and gloves when you mix and apply pool chemicals. Do not add cyuranic acid to a spa or hot tub. [9] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
In general, you’ll need 3. 5 US quarts (3. 3 L) of liquid shock treatment or 1 pound (0. 45 kg) of a granular product per 10,000 gallons (38,000 L) of water. To be sure, check the instructions for the amount needed to produce a 1 ppm change in chlorine levels. Your aim is to bring free available chlorine to at least 8 ppm.
Be sure to wear protective gear when diluting or applying chlorine shock treatments and any other pool chemicals.
Do not add an undiluted shock treatment directly to the water unless the product’s instructions specifically call for it.
Ask an employee at the pool supply store or consult your pool’s installer about the right combination of shock treatments and pH amendments. Use products as directed, and apply them in the order advised in the instructions. It’s essential to keep the pH between 7. 2 and 7. 8. Ideally, try to keep it right around 7. 5. If it’s too high, chlorine sanitizes less effectively. If the pH is too low, chlorine can corrode pipes, damage pool lining, and irritate skin. [14] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Always test your chlorine levels after amending the pool water before you allow anyone to go swimming. Read your product’s instructions for specific wait times. Bear in mind a free available chlorine level over 10 ppm may burn the test strip and yield a false reading of 0 ppm. If that happens, retest the water after a few hours. [16] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
The combined chlorine level, or the amount of used up chlorine, should remain under 0. 2 ppm. If it exceeds 0. 2 ppm, it’s time to shock your pool. [18] X Research source To maintain the pool in good shape, get a vacuum once a week. The plaster and pebbles cannot tolerate loads of dust on them. [19] X Research source It does wonders to the color of the pool. It is a solution under $200 because most vacuums cost less than that.
