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Liquid Chlorine or Tablets: Which Is Better?

Both work. Liquid chlorine is fast, adds no stabilizer and no calcium, and is the better choice for shocking. Tablets are convenient and dissolve slowly, but every tablet adds stabilizer (cyanuric acid), and too much stabilizer makes chlorine weak. In Bakersfield's long, hot season, many pools do best on liquid chlorine most of the time, or a mix of the two, with a stabilizer check every month or two.
Pentair variable-speed pool pump sold and installed by Top Dog Pool Supply in Bakersfield

What are the pros and cons of liquid chlorine?

  • It works right away.
  • It adds no stabilizer and no calcium, so nothing builds up in hard water.
  • It is the best choice for shocking and for clearing algae.
  • It needs to be added often, every day or two in summer.
  • It loses strength in heat and sunlight, so buy it fresh and store it in a cool, shaded place.

What are the pros and cons of tablets?

  • They are convenient. A floater or feeder doses the pool slowly for days.
  • They store well and are easy to handle.
  • They add stabilizer every time they dissolve. Over a long season it builds up.
  • They are acidic, so they pull pH and alkalinity down over time.
  • They are too slow to fix a pool that is already cloudy or green.

What works best in Bakersfield?

For most pools here, liquid chlorine as the main source, with tablets as a backup when you travel, keeps stabilizer under control. If you prefer tablets, plan on replacing some water every few years as stabilizer climbs, and use liquid chlorine for shocking. Granular calcium hypochlorite shock adds calcium, which our hard water already has plenty of. We carry HASA liquid chlorine in disposable containers and in a returnable 4-pack crate. Bring back the empties and exchange them for full ones.

How do I switch from tablets to liquid?

Get a water test first so you know your stabilizer level. If it is in range, stop adding tablets and start adding liquid chlorine in the evening, testing every day or two until you learn how much your pool uses. If stabilizer is too high, replace some water first. If it later drops below 30 ppm, add a little stabilizer or go back to tablets for a few weeks.

Do chlorine tablets raise stabilizer?

Yes. Every tablet adds some. Test stabilizer every month or two if you use tablets.

Can I use both liquid chlorine and tablets?

Yes, in the same pool. Many pool owners do. Never mix them together outside the pool, and never put different chlorine products in the same feeder.

Is pool liquid chlorine the same as bleach?

It is the same active ingredient, but pool liquid chlorine is stronger. Plain, unscented bleach works in a pinch, but you need more of it.

Can I put chlorine tablets in the skimmer?

No. When the pump stops, strong acidic water sits in the pump and plumbing and can damage them. Use a floater or feeder.

Don't cry, we can help

Bring a water sample to Top Dog Pool Supply. Local pool owners get a free water test on our Taylor Xpress Flex system, and we'll tell you what to add, and how much, for your pool's size. Visit us at 7440 District Blvd Suite B, Bakersfield, CA 93313, or call (661) 664-9000. We're open Monday to Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 9 to 4, and Sundays 10 to 4 from April through September.

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ADDRESS
7440 District Blvd Suite B Bakersfield, CA 93313
Phone: (661) 664-9000
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Bakersfield, CA, with Zip Codes 93301, 93304, 93305, 93306, 93309, 93311, 93312, 93313, and 93314 HOURS Mon–Fri: 9am–5pm Sat: 9am–4pm Sun: 10am–4pm (April–September)
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