As most of you are aware by now there is a national chlorine shortage on chlorine tablets. This was caused by a fire last year at the nation’s largest producer of tablets. Another reason is the demand for backyard pools which shot up during the pandemic and is continuing this season. There is no reason to panic! Even if the national shortage on chlorine worsens, there are so many options for owners, such as liquid chlorine, pool shock, and salt water sanitizing systems. Here are some tips to make your chlorine last longer:

1. Chlorine stabilizer or Cynanuric Acid (CYA) is a pool balancing chemical used to help chlorine last longer. Chlorine, in its natural form, is unstablized—which means it degrades when exposed to sunlight. Adding a chlorine stabilizer reduces the sun’s impact on chlorine loss. Maintain a stabilizer level between 30-80 ppm. The longer chlorine is present in pool water, the longer it’s available to kill bacteria and sanitize the water.
2. Algaecides are used to treat and prevent pool algae. Many pool owners make the mistake of only using algaecides to treat an existing algae problem. However, using a weekly preventative algaecide treatment will help to kill algae spores and lessen the workload on chlorine. This will help chlorine last longer.
3. Clarifiers help to keep pool water clear. Clarifiers remove microscopic contaminants through the pool’s filtration system rather than allowing them to be broken down by chlorine. This will help chlorine last longer.
4. Pool chemistry can change quickly. Test pool water at least once per week. Maintain proper water balance by keeping pool water within the following ranges: Total Hardness: 175-275 ppm, Total Chlorine: 1-4 ppm, Free Chlorine: 1-4 ppm, pH: 7.2 – 7.6, Total Alkalinity: 80-150 ppm, Stabilizer: 30-80 ppm

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