A common practice of many pool owners is placing chlorine tablets in their skimmer baskets. This may seem like a quick and easy way to chlorinate your water, it could be more harmful than beneficial for your water chemistry.

Potentially Corrosive

Chlorine has a low pH, and in concentrated amounts is highly acidic and corrosive. This amount of acid in your skimmer can accumulate fast and travel to your pump and filter. As it interacts with the metal components of your equipment, it will cause corrosion, which reduces the longevity of your equipment!

Uneven Chlorination

If you don’t have a variable speed pump that allows your water to be filtered at all times, the chlorine tablets in your skimmer sit stagnant while your pump is off. The tablets will dissolve regardless of the pump being on or off and the chlorinated water will accumulate in one area. This can cause your water to be over chlorinated in one area and not in another, which can result in bacteria growth or discomfort for your swimmers. It is not the most efficient way to chlorinate your pool!

Skimmer Damage

Chlorine tablets can leave behind reside in your skimmer and cause it to malfunction, resulting in cloudy water. The reside is also hard to clean and can lead to maintenance issues.

Putting chlorine directly into your skimmer way seem like an easy solution, but it is not the most effective or efficient solution to keeping your water clean! To avoid these issues, simple use a floating chlorine dispenser in your pool! You can also explore other chlorine alternatives like switching to a salt water system!