Your pool requires different types of chemicals to remain clean and be in a swimmable condition. It requires sanitizers, balancing products, chemicals to kill algae, and others.
But adding these products is not enough; you need to ensure that they work correctly. That means adding a kind of chemical “assistant” called a stabilizer.
What is Pool Stabilizer?
Are you aware that the sun can evaporate about 90% of your swimming pool free, unstabilized chlorine if it does not have a buffer? A pool stabilizer or chlorine stabilizer or pool conditioner is a buffer that protects pool chemicals from the hungry sun.
One notable assistant or buffer is Cyanuric Acid or CYA, and you can find it in granule or liquid form. You can also find it mixed with sticks (trichlor) or chlorine tablets and in dichlor (chlorine shock).
You need to add the stabilizer once before the start of every season, and it remains unchanged unless you drain your pool. One thing to note is most pool chemicals contain CYA, meaning your pool gets a ready dose every time you add these products.
How Much Stabilizer Do I Need for My Pool?
Opinions vary from one pool expert to the other, but the general rule is to keep it at a level of between 30-50 ppm. A level above 50 ppm can cause chlorine lock – that means you add enough chlorine but still get a reading of zero when you test.
You still need to keep an eye on the chlorine levels when you add stabilizer by conducting regular water testing. The rule is to keep the sanitizer level at 7.5% of the stabilizer.
Hence, if your swimming pool stabilizer is at 50 ppm, the free chlorine level should be 3-4 ppm. That means adding a 4-pound of CYA in every 10,000 gallons of water to reach 30 ppm.
You should always remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when adding any chemical to your pool.
Steps of Adding Stabilizer to Your Pool without Skimmer
These steps also teach you how to add cyanuric acid to above ground pool.
Here are the steps to follow if your pool has no skimmer:
1. Add warm water in a bucket to about halfway
2. Wear your safety gears like gloves and goggles
3. Add the recommended dose of CYA into the bucket
- You need to check your pool size and brand’s instruction when adding the treatment.
- Ten ppm of this acid is recommended for 10,000 gallons of water, which means adding 13 ounces of CYA.
4. Pour the mixture around the pool – try to cover all corners.
5. Run the pool pump for a few hours to ensure that the acid mixes with the water. It is like stirring the solution in your swimming pool.
Note: Even when your pool has a skimmer, avoid pouring this acid directly without mixing with water.
Cyanuric Acid Testing: Keep an Eye on Your Pool Chemicals
You need to test your pool’s chemicals regularly to ensure that it is always balanced. Understand the basic pool chemistry and keep a testing schedule to make sure that you do not miss this critical task.
It is recommended you use test strips to check the pool CYA and other chemicals at least once per week. These strips are affordable, easy to use and keep an eye on free chlorine, pH, cyanuric acid, bromine, and other compositions.
You can also get a liquid test. Another option is to take water samples to your pool store and have the expert test it for you.
Your pool should contain at most 50 ppm of CYA and 7.5% free chlorine of that acid. That is about 3 ppm to help keep the algae away from your facility and keep it stabilizer and sanitized.
In Conclusion
The good or bad thing about stabilizers is they do not get used like other pool chemicals. They remain the same unless you drain your facility or add more water.
But when you need to add these acids, you should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. One product to consider is cyanuric acid, and it is recommended to add it at the start of the season.
Aside from adding stabilizers, you can also purchase the best robotic pool cleaner to make sure you have a clean and hygienic pool.
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