What Is Pool Stabilizer? When and How to Add It In
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Pool stabilizer is sometimes called pool conditioner, and it's an essential part of your pool's chemical balance. This chemical helps condition the water to stabilize pool chlorine levels and helps control chlorine usage through the season, which can keep down costs. It's an important chemical to add if you aren't using stabilized chlorine.
Learn about what pool stabilizer is, what it does, and if you even need it at all.
What Is Pool Stabilizer and What Does it Do?
Pool stabilizer is a chemical added to pools to help maintain the existing chlorine level and slow down the rate at which existing chlorine is used up. It's added to pools at the beginning of the season and any time more water is added to the pool. Pool stabilizer can come in either powder or liquid form and only has to be added once until you add more water into your pool. If you never add any extra water to your pool after opening it, the stabilizer will only be added once per season because it does not get used up like chlorine.
Types of Pool Stabilizer
There are three main types of stabilizer: stabilized chlorine, liquid stabilizer, and powder stabilizer.
Stabilized chlorine will already have stabilizer in the chlorine and is the easiest to work with because it eliminates the need to add the stabilizer separately and minimizes any confusion around about how much stabilizer to add to your pool.
Liquid stabilizer and powder stabilizer are better if you want to control the level of stabilizer directly. Both of these work in a similar manner, but after adding powder stabilizer you need to brush the pool to ensure mixing. Liquid stabilizer doesn't need to be brushed if added around the pool because the movement of the pool water will do the mixing for you.
When to Add Pool Stabilizer
Pool stabilizer should only have to be added once per season as long as the water level of the pool remains the same.
If you properly winterize your pool, you drain it to below the skimmer to reduce the risk of a freeze breaking the pipes. When you refill the pool you introduce new, fresh water and dilute the existing stabilizer, hence why you after to add pool stabilizer when you open it.
During the course of the season, if the pool needs more water, you'll have to add more stabilizer to make up for the dilution of the existing stabilizer. You may, for example, need to add more stabilizer after repairing a leak or if a lot of water splashed out during a raucous pool party.
How to Add Pool Stabilizer
Make sure the pool is clean and chlorine is at the proper level.
Read dosage on bottle for recommendations.
For liquid or powder stabilizer, add to the pool by walking around the perimeter and slowly adding stabilizer along the edges.
If using powder stabilizer, brush pool down to promote mixing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you really need to add stabilizer to a pool?
You do not need stabilizer for a pool but it will significantly help manage chlorine consumption throughout your season and save you money on chemicals.
Can you use baking soda as pool stabilizer?
Yes, you can use baking soda as pool stabilizer, but the baking soda will also raise the alkalinity level.
Is shock the same as pool stabilizer?
No, shock is not the same as pool stabilizer. Shock is chlorine based and its primary role is disinfection of pool water, while stabilizer is used to help maintain the chlorine level. These chemicals work together to ensure that your pool stays clean and clear for as long as possible.
