Can You Put Stabilizer Directly In Your Pool
Yes, if you have a concrete swimming pool. Its an acid that takes a long time to dissolve. So itll sit on the floor of your pool. I recommend brushing it up until its fully dissolved. If you have a vinyl liner or fiberglass pool, we recommend dissolving it in a bucket of warm water and carefully pouring it around it around the edges of your pool. Remember to always wear chemical-resistant gloves and goggles before adding chemicals to your swimming pool.
What Is Cya And Why Keep It To A Minimum
CYA, also known as stabilizer or conditioner in the pool industry, protects chlorine from degradation from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. CYA can be very beneficial up to a point, but becomes increasingly detrimental to the pool beyond that. Figure 1 below illustrates this:
Figure 1: The relationship of chlorines staying power and CYA
Figure 1 shows us that roughly 20-30 ppm of CYA is enough to give us 95-98% protection from sunlight in the first hour, assuming this chart is accurate. This chart does not account for non-living organics or nitrogen compounds that chlorine still has to oxidize. Figure 1 just shows the relationship of sunlight, chlorine and CYA after one hour. As you can see, the benefits of CYA yield a diminishing return the higher you go. Granted, more CYA can give your chlorine more protection from sunlight for longer, but at what cost? For that, lets look at the work of the US Centers for Disease Control and their research on CYA.1
Heres How To Raise The Ph Level In Your Pool
If your pH dips below normal range in your pool, your plumbing may start to erode and your swimmers will start to complain with itchy skin and burning eyes. Talk about ruining summer fun!
To raise the pH levels in your pool, try adding sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate until your pools pH levels are between 7.2 and 7.8.
If your pH levels are a little low, keep on reading: in this ultimate guide, well go over what pH is, why pH balance is important, what causes low pH, and how to raise pH levels in your pool.
You May Like: How To Clean Pool Waterline Tile
How To Raise Stabilizer In Pool Water
If you need the pH level in the pool to rise, you need to add pool conditioner or stabilizer directly to the pool. As usual, follow the directions because some manufacturers may have you dilute the powder in a bucket while others suggest that you sprinkle it directly on the pool surface. If you have a sand filter, the product may suggest that you add it to the skimmer.
Make sure that you are adding the correct amount of CYA because you can actually over stabilize your pool. Test you CYA constantly and double check your pool size before adding so you know how much CYA you need.
If you have the pool drained, still test your water before adding CYA because some places use CYA in their water treatment. Test consistently and carefully to keep your water safe and healthy.
When it comes time to add stabilizer to raise your CYA level, you need to first find out how much stabilizer you need to add. Usually, about 13 oz of stabilizer will raise the CYA level of 10,000 gallons of water by 10 ppm.
Put the stabilizer in the skimmer basket while the pump is running, and keep it running for one day after you add the stabilizer. Dont backwash or clean the filter for a week after adding the stabilizer.
You must remember that stabilizers dissolve in the pool very slowly and you wont be able to accurately test your pool or get a solid reading on the CYA for several days. Wait a week before testing again and only then add more if you need to.
A Swimming Pool Chemical Calculator
Adjust sliders to calculate pool stabilizer
The main purpose of stabilizer in the water is to protect chlorine from the destructive Ultraviolet rays of the sun. Without stabilizer in the swimming pool, the UV rays of the sun will leave the pool with zero free chlorine in just a few hours. Proper levels of stabilizer can result in Free Chlorine residuals remaining three to ten times longer in the pool water.
When adding chemicals, it is recommended to add half, wait for one full turnover, re-test/calculate and dose again as necessary. Some dry Stabilizer can take days to fully dissolve.
RESULTS SHOWN HERE
More About Pool Stabilizer
When using a chlorine pool, actively maintaining the stabilizer levels in the water is very important. Cyanuric Acid has no disinfection properties; it is needed to stabilize the Free Chlorine extending the sanitizing active life, that is why CYA is referred to as “stabilizer.” Stabilizer is only necessary in pools using chlorine.
How much stabilizer to add to pool?
Cyanuric Acid
LOW STABILIZER EFFECTS < 60ppm:
Half the chlorine in the pool can be eliminated in under one hour by UV rays from the sun. Low stabilizer leaves the pool water vulnerable to organic contaminates and bacteria without proper sanitation.
HIGH STABILIZER EFFECTS > 80ppm:
Tips About Pool Stabilizer
Chlorine with Stabilizer:
Pool Stabilizer Alternative:
Want A Chlorine Free Pool?
POOL CHEMICAL CALCULATOR APP
Read Also: How Hard Is It To Build Your Own Pool
Is Baking Soda A Pool Stabilizer
4.8/5Baking Sodapoolstabilizer
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity. Many commercial pool products for raising alkalinity utilize baking soda as their main active ingredient.
Furthermore, does baking soda kill algae in pools? You often find this menacing algae setting down roots in your pool walls, leaving unseemly black dots that can ruin anyone’s pool day. Bicarbonate, the active ingredient in the baking soda, is an effective spot treatment to help to kill the algae and loosen it from the wall. Then, it’s time to start scrubbing!
Correspondingly, what is pool stabilizer?
Pool stabilizer or pool conditioner allows you to get the very most out of your chlorine sanitizers. However, pool stabilizer contains cyanuric acid or s-triazintrione, which combines with the chlorine in your swimming pool, making the chlorine less likely to react to sunlight.
How do I get the stabilizer up in my pool?
Adding StabilizerIn general, about 13 ounces of granular stabilizer will raise the CYA level of 10,000 gallons of water by 10 parts per million. Add the stabilizer to the skimmer basket while the pump is running, and keep the pump running for 24 hours after you add the stabilizer.
How To Reduce Cya In Pools
What can you do if your CYA levels are already high? Can CYA levels be reduced in a pool?
Yes, the most economical way to lower CYA is to partially drain and dilute the pool with fresh water. Consult a pool professional if you want to drain more than 1/3 of your water, because there are risks with hydrostatic pressure and other concerns. There are also some specialized filters that exist to capture CYA and remove it from water, such as reverse osmosis . RO is far more costly, but it may be the best option for people in regions of the country that are unable to drain their pools.
It really just comes down to cost and risk. Significant draining has risks and should only be done by a pool professional, so dilution over time is often the best option. The alternatives to draining your water are to 1) pay big money for filtration, or 2) try to manage the pool with high levels of CYA. Neither of those two options are as easy or affordable as replacing water with fresh water.
The bottom line: keep CYA levels low enough to manage sanitation and maintain LSI balance. If your CYA is too high, draining and diluting is the most cost effective means to reduce CYA in your pool.
1 Falk, R.A.; Blatchley, E.R., III; Kuechler, T.C.; Meyer, E.M.; Pickens, S.R.; Suppes, L.M. Assessing the Impact of Cyanuric Acid on Bathers Risk of Gastrointestinal Illness at Swimming Pools. Water. 2019, 11, 1314.
Read Also: How To Build An Inground Pool For Cheap
How Much Pool Stabilizer Do You Need
According to the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, the ideal range for pool stabilizer should be between 30 and 50 ppm when used in the average backyard pool. The concentration should never exceed 100 ppm, which is the absolute upper limit prescribed by the World Health Organization.;
Maintaining levels around 50 ppm will safeguard your chlorine, allowing it to do its job without getting destroyed by sunlight. Remember, more pool stabilizer doesnt mean more protection, it will actually just decrease your chlorines efficacy. This is a Goldilocks situation 50 ppm is just right and stabilizer is really only helpful at these specific levels.
Pro Tip for Indoor Pools: Pool stabilizer is not recommended for indoor pools that do not receive direct sunlight. Since indoor pools dont have to deal with the destructive effects of UV radiation , the pool stabilizer would actually counteract your chlorines effectiveness, rather than doing any good.
What Is A Swimming Pool Stabilizer
Swimming pool stabilizer is a pool chemical designed to help regulate chlorine levels, reducing wastage of chlorine and keeping the amount of chlorine in the pool steady to ensure it acts effectively to inhibit the growth of unwanted organisms. Generally, stabilizer concentrations in a pool should be between 80 and 100 parts per million and they can be tested with pool chemistry kits. Stabilizer may need to be added periodically throughout the season a pool is in use, and it is advisable to check pool chemistry regularly to address imbalances as promptly as possible.
Pool chemicals are used to maintain a pH hostile to harmful organisms. A swimming pool can be a tempting location for bacteria and other potentially pathogenic organisms if the pH is not kept in balance, and people can get sick. Levels need to be adjusted as water splashes out and is replaced, and because chemicals like chlorine can interact with ultraviolet radiation. On sunny, hot days, chlorine can rapidly deteriorate, making the pool less safe and requiring people to add chemicals to bring the level back up to normal.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Calcium Buildup In Pool
Stabilizer Or Sunscreen For Your Pool Why Do I Need It
What is Stabilizer?
Cyanuric Acid, or C³H³N³0³, belongs to the chemical family of Isocyanurates, and is used as a chlorine stabilizer. ;It forms a weak bond with chlorine, and shields the molecule from degradation by the suns ultra-violet rays.
Cyanuric acid is abbreviated as CYA, and is commonly sold in granular form, and may be labeled as pool stabilizer or sunscreen.
Who should use Cyanuric Acid?
Outdoor swimming pools benefit the most from having a proper level of Cyanuric Acid in the pool water, by protecting the chlorine from rapid depletion by the sun. ;Cyanuric Acid is considered a stabilizer as it stabilizes the chlorine molecule from solar degradation.
Indoor pools and spas or hot tubs need not use Cyanuric Acid, since the exposure to sun in both cases is usually very minimal.
What Level of Cyanuric Acid is Optimum?
Even very small amounts of Cyanuric Acid will help extend your chlorine in an outdoor pool. ;CYA is measured in parts per million, and a reading of 40 80 ppm is considered optimum.
Experts agree that when Cyanuric Acid levels are too high, a phenomenon known as Chlorine Lock can occur, where your test kit will show no chlorine in the water, even though you have witnessed chlorine tablets dissolving, or have just shocked the pool. ;Generally, this occurs when CYA levels climb close to 100 ppm.
What is Stabilized Chlorine?
How do I Raise Cyanuric Acid Levels in my Pool?;
How do I Lower Cyanuric Acid levels in my Pool?
Dilution Is The Solution
First thing’s first. You cannot add chemicals to lower the stabilizer level. Cyanuric acid can be added, but to lower it, the pool needs to be diluted with fresh water. There is no chemical on the market that you can add to your pool water to lower the stabilizer.
If you just need help with cleaning a green pool, learn how to properly shock your pool.
Also Check: How Much Is Salt Water Pool
What Is Chlorine Pool Stabilizer
Pool stabilizer is also known as pool conditioner, chlorine pool stabilizer, chlorine stabilizer, or Cyanuric Acid. And you can buy this chemical additive as either liquid or granular . Its also included;in chlorine tablets or sticks or shock . When theyre mixed together in shock or tablets, the resulting product is called stabilized chlorine.
Typically, pool owners wont need to add any extra stabilizer separately if youre using one of the combination products. In fact, if you add too much, you might develop a problem called creep, which describes the stabilizer chemicals tendency to build up to problematic levels over time. Too much of any chemical in your pool is never a good thing.
To determine how much chlorine stabilizer is in your water, you need to check your CYA level. You can check using either test strips, a liquid test kit, or taking a water sample to your local pool supply store. Just make sure if youre testing it yourself that you buy a test kit or strips that can check for CYA or Cyanuric Acid levels.
If your pool stabilizer levels creep too high, it can reduce the effectiveness of your sanitizer, or in other words, do the exact opposite of what its meant to do.
The only way to lower stabilizer levels in your pool is to remove some of the water and add clean water. Once you do that, youll have to balance all your chemicals again.
Add More Stabilizer If Needed
Usually, you should see some changes in the reading levels aweek after you add the stabilizer. If you see that the CYA levels haventreached the desired levels, then you may need to add more stabilizer. You canadd the same amount of stabilizer that you added the first time around and seewhat happens. If the CYA levels have already reached a significant point butnot the ideal level yet, you can just add a little bit more.
Also Check: When Do Pools Open Up
How Does Cyanuric Acid Work
The suns UV rays break down chlorine at an alarming rate. Within 2 hours, sunlight can actually destroy 75 90% of your pools chlorine. When in direct sunlight, the half-life of chlorine is a measly 45 minutes .
As you well know, chlorine is essential to the hygiene of your pool. Without it, youd be swimming in an E. Coli bath.
No, thank you!
Without getting into too much of the chemistry, cyanuric acid works on the molecular level by attaching to 3 chlorine atoms through a weak nitrogen-chlorine bond. While the chlorine is attached to the CYA, its protected from sunlight. However, the weak nitrogen bond allows the chlorine to let go when it needs to kill bacteria and other pathogens.
Without a stabilizer like cyanuric acid, youd be having to constantly add chlorine to the pool. In fact, before it was introduced to the pool industry in 1956, thats what people had to do. Imagine adding up to 8 times more chlorine that what youre already adding. Thats a lot of money.
Why Is My Pool Stabilizer Always Low
Low stabilizer in a pool is a common issue that can be easily fixed. When a pool is exposed to sunlight, chlorine breaks down and no longer sanitizes causing the sanitizer to be low. This happens quickly and on sunny days the chlorine level can go down to an unacceptable level in a matter of hours.
Also Check: How Do I Open My Pool
Determine The Amount Of Stabilizer Necessary
While its faster to place a chlorine stabilizer into your pool, you should first determine its exact amount. Keep in mind that balanced chemistry in the water is a must for your pool to be safe for swimmers.
Too little and too many chemicals like chlorine and its stabilizer can damage equipment and cause illness.
You must also know the products that youre putting into the water! Often called cyanuric acid , its a chemical sometimes included in chlorine tablets or shock liquid . When these are combined in tablets or shock, its called stabilized chlorine.
As a general rule, the CYA level in a pool ranges between 30 ppm and 50 ppm. As such, it should neither dip below 30 ppm nor rise above 50 ppm. If it rises above 50 ppm, the chlorine test will read zero , known as a chlorine lock.
There are also other disadvantages related to CYA levels above 50 ppm. First, there isnt a significant increase in ultraviolet protection for the sanitizer, meaning chlorine will continue to evaporate quickly.
Second, there is an increased risk for algae and bacteria growth in the pool. The bottom line: Youre wasting money if you add too much pool conditioner.
Yet another general rule is keeping the chlorine level at about 7.5 percent about the stabilizer. For example, if the CYA level is at 50 ppm, the free chlorine levels should be at 3-4 ppm. About 4 pounds of CYA can be used for a 10,000-gallon pool for a 30 ppm increase at these levels.;
