Can You Use Chlorine Tablets in Your Pool Skimmer?
One of the most common questions I encounter from pool owners is whether it’s safe to add chlorine tablets directly into the skimmer for sanitizing their swimming pool. While this method may seem straightforward and convenient, it is not recommended.
It’s important to avoid placing chlorine tablets directly into the skimmer. Instead, invest in a simple floating chlorinator to hold your tablets. This allows the chlorinator to drift throughout the pool, effectively distributing chlorine. If desired, you can use a string to secure the chlorinator in a specific area of the pool, as long as it remains in a sufficiently deep section of water for optimal performance.
Why Placing Chlorine Tablets in the Skimmer is Detrimental
Your skimmer is designed to remove debris from the water, ensuring a clean swimming environment. It achieves this through suction created by the pool pump, which draws water through hoses connected to the skimmer. The water then passes through a filter that captures debris before returning the clean water through the pool’s return jet.
At first glance, it may seem logical to place chlorine tablets in the skimmer, as the circulation from the pump would distribute the chlorine effectively throughout the pool. However, the real concern lies with the periods when the pool pump is not operating.
Understanding Pool Pump Operation
Most pool owners operate their pumps for a set duration based on factors such as pool size, pump capacity, and the frequency of swimming activity. When the pump is turned off, the chlorine tablets remain in the skimmer and begin to dissolve. This process can produce an extremely concentrated and highly acidic solution of chlorine that accumulates in the skimmer until the pump is restarted.
This potent chlorine solution can erode the skimmer walls and basket over time. When the pump is turned back on, the corrosive water is pushed into various components of your pool system. If your pool uses a cartridge filter, this highly concentrated chlorine can damage it significantly. Each time the pump cycles on and off, the cartridge is subjected to this harsh environment, leading to premature wear and replacement needs.
Moreover, other essential components of your filtration and pump system, such as O-rings, pistons, gears, and gaskets, are also exposed to these high concentrations of chlorine whenever the pump is inactive. Regularly placing chlorine tablets in the skimmer can lead to increased maintenance costs and potential damage to your pool equipment that could easily be avoided.
The Better Alternative: Using a Floating Chlorinator
Instead of using the skimmer, opt for an affordable floating chlorinator that can effectively sanitize even larger pools. When the pump is off, the floating chlorinator allows chlorine to disperse in thousands of gallons of water, thereby minimizing the risk of damaging pool components.
Alternatively, consider installing an automatic chlorinator near the pool return. This device feeds water through the chlorinator before it reaches the return jet, introducing chlorine directly into the pool. You might wonder about the risk of highly acidic water sitting in the automatic chlorinator when the pump is off, similar to the skimmer. The key difference is that the automatic chlorinator is located past the pool pump and filter. Thus, when the pump resumes operation, the concentrated chlorine is directed straight through the return jet, avoiding any potential damage to the pump and filtration system.
To learn more about the distinctions between an automatic chlorinator and a floating chlorinator, check out my previous post by clicking here.