Stop making mid-season runs to the pool store. Calculate exactly how much chlorine, salt, and balancer you need to buy for the entire summer.
Buying chemicals in bulk at the start of the season is the easiest way to save hundreds of dollars on pool maintenance. Here is how to use our estimator to budget perfectly:
Not all pool chemicals are created equal, and how you buy them dramatically impacts your wallet. Understanding the shelf-life of these products will prevent you from throwing money away.
Dry chemicals are highly stable. You can buy Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer), Chlorine Tablets, Baking Soda, and Calcium Hardness in massive bulk buckets. As long as you keep the lids sealed and store them in a cool, dry place, they will last for multiple seasons.
Liquid Chlorine degrades very quickly, especially in the heat. A jug of 12.5% shock stored in a hot garage can degrade to 6% in just 45 days. Only buy a 30 to 45 day supply at a time. Muriatic Acid does not degrade, but the fumes are highly corrosive, so storing large amounts is dangerous.
It depends on the weather, bather load, and your Cyanuric Acid (CYA) levels. However, a general rule of thumb is that a standard 10,000-gallon pool will consume about 1 gallon of 12.5% liquid chlorine per week (4 gallons a month), or roughly 2 to 3 standard 3-inch chlorine tablets per week during the peak summer heat.
Yes, liquid chlorine degrades quickly. However, powdered shock (like Cal-Hypo) is highly stable and can last for years if kept cool and completely dry. Note: Never store liquid chlorine directly next to Muriatic Acid, as the combining fumes can create toxic chlorine gas.
Absolutely. Standard grocery store baking soda (like Arm & Hammer) is exactly the same chemical—Sodium Bicarbonate—as the expensive "Alkalinity Up" sold in plastic buckets at the pool store. Buying it in bulk at a big box store is one of the easiest ways to save money on pool maintenance.
Now that you have your supplies ordered, you need to know exactly how much to add each week. Use our calculators to get precise, ounce-perfect dosages.