How Should I Store Pool Chemicals in a Hot Garage?
Store pool chemicals in a cool, dry, shaded, well-ventilated place, in their original containers with the lids tight, and locked away from children and pets. Keep chlorine and acid well apart, and never mix any pool chemicals together. A Bakersfield garage can pass 100 degrees in summer, which weakens liquid chlorine quickly, so buy only what you will use in a couple of weeks and keep it in the coolest spot you have.
What are the basic rules?
- Keep every product in its original container, with the label on and the lid tight.
- Store them out of direct sun, off the floor, and away from heat sources such as a water heater.
- Keep liquids below dry chemicals, so a leak cannot drip onto them.
- Keep chlorine and acid apart, on separate shelves or in separate areas.
- Keep them away from gasoline, fertilizer, paint, and anything else that burns.
- Lock them up, or put them out of reach of children and pets.
- Make sure the space has airflow. Fumes from chlorine and acid rust metal and tools nearby.
What should never be mixed?
- Chlorine and acid. Together they release toxic chlorine gas.
- Different kinds of chlorine. Tablets and granular shock can react violently if they touch, even as dust in a shared scoop or feeder.
- Any chemical with another, in a bucket or a container.
- Water into chemicals. Always add the chemical to water, never water to the chemical.
What does heat do to pool chemicals?
Liquid chlorine loses strength as it ages, and heat speeds that up, so a jug that sat in a hot garage for a month is weaker than a fresh one. Buy liquid chlorine fresh and in smaller amounts in summer. Tablets and granular chlorine hold up better, but they must stay dry and sealed, because heat and moisture make them give off fumes. Never leave pool chemicals in a hot car. Take them straight home, upright.
What should I do if there is a spill or someone is exposed?
Get people and pets away from the area and into fresh air. Do not try to clean up mixed or reacting chemicals yourself. Call 911 if anyone has trouble breathing, or if there is smoke or a strong gas smell. For a splash on skin or in the eyes, rinse with plenty of water for 15 minutes. You can reach Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. For a small spill of a single product, follow the cleanup directions on its label.
How long does liquid chlorine last in storage?
It starts losing strength right away, and faster in heat and sunlight. In summer, try to use it within a couple of weeks of buying it.
Can I store pool chemicals outside?
Only in a shaded, dry, ventilated spot that stays locked. Direct sun and heat break down the chemicals and the containers.
Can I store chlorine and muriatic acid together?
No. Keep them well apart. If they mix, they release toxic chlorine gas.
How do I get rid of old pool chemicals?
Do not put them in the trash or pour them down a drain. Take them to a household hazardous waste collection site.
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.