Keeping your swimming pool clear and glittering is undoubtedly crucial.
It always feels like a hectic chore, particularly when you have to deal with bacteria and a green tinge that is continually threatening to come back.
A neglected pool can easily harbor microorganisms that can make swimming unpleasant and unhealthy.
These organisms are carriers of harmful diseases that can attack your skin and pose a severe threat to your general health.
Today, chlorine tablets are the most widely used disinfectants for safe and healthy pools due to their easy-to-use nature and effectiveness in eliminating waterborne pathogens capable of causing illness such as swimmer’s ear, diarrhea, and skin rashes.
We have painstakingly researched and come up with all you need to know about chlorine tablets, and the top 8 you can choose from.
What is a Chlorine Tablet?
Chlorine tablets or tabs are chlorine in a dense tablet form that commercial or residential pool owners can use to treat their swimming pools to prevent bacteria and algae formation in the still water.
They contain an active ingredient, trichloro-s-triazinetrione or trichlor, an organic compound for water sanitation. Trichlor has very high chlorine (up to 90%) and a low pH, usually about 3, and an increaser is typically required to raise and maintain the pH around 7.2 and 7.8.
Chlorine tablets also contain a stabilizing component, cyanuric acid or CYA, and could be pretty acidic up to 2.5pH. The cyanuric acid is introduced to protect it from the sunlight’s breakdown effect. One significant advantage of the tablets is that they are cost-effective in terms of purchase and labor.
What Types of Chlorine Tablets are there?
Knowing the types of chlorinating tablets available and the one that best suit your application is critical for getting your pool sanitized and safe. There are generally two major types, and they are:
Stabilized Chlorine Tablets
The stabilized chlorine tablets possess long-lasting power, and it’s best suited for outdoor swimming pools. They usually contain CYA, a component that protects against the sun’s ultraviolet or UV rays; hence the reason they’re suitable for outdoor use. Stabilized tabs make sanitation less time-consuming and also save costs by maximizing chlorine.
Unstabilized Chlorine Tablet
These chlorine tablet types are best suited for indoor swimming pools as they cannot last as long as the stabilized. The absence of cyanuric acid means no sun or UV rays’ protection, making them burn faster. Generally, unstabilized chlorine comprises three types: lithium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, and calcium hypochlorite.
How does Chlorine Work?
As stated earlier, chlorine is one of the common and most effective chemicals for sanitizing and keeping swimming pools free of microorganisms that could be harmful to human health.
Usually, when chlorine is added to a pool, it’s broken down into different chemicals such as hypochlorite ion (OCI) and hypochlorous acid (HOCI) – active sanitizing agents. These chemicals combat and kill bacteria and microorganisms by attacking the cell walls’ lipids and destroying the structures and enzymes inside the cell, making them oxidized and harmless.
The main difference between OCI and HOCI is their oxidation speed. While hypochlorous acid can oxidize organisms in a few seconds, hypochlorite ion could take up to 30 minutes to oxidize. However, OCI and HOCI level is largely dependent on the pool’s pH level. Sanitizing a pool can take a long time if the pool’s pH is too high – meaning the presence of HOCI is inadequate.
How to add Chlorine Tablets to Your Pool?
Adding chlorine to a pool is very simple and usually takes a few steps. You can add chlorine to your pool in the following ways:
Using Automatic Chlorinator
An automatic chlorinator is a chlorine feeder that combines convenience with the most excellent efficiency in distributing and adding chlorine to your pool. Using chlorinator is one of the best methods for pool owners that want to dispense chlorine tablets with proper chemical balance.
The method gives you better control over your pool’s chlorination process to avoid over chlorination. To use an automatic chlorinator, load it with tablets and set the chlorine level to 1 to 3 ppm. Verify with test strips and ensure you get the chlorine levels that best suit your pool use, water quality, and weather.
Floating Chlorine Dispenser
These are plastic gadgets that can be installed around your pool to sanitize it while the chlorine tablets inside it dissolve. Though this method is convenient and attracts low-maintenance, it is not usually suitable for pools with liner.
The tablets can sometimes be caught in an area of the pool, and when this happens, too much chlorine can be dispensed in a concentrated area which can damage your pool liner. Another thing is that they distribute chlorine unevenly without proper water circulation.
Skimmer
Another excellent method is to add the tablets to your pool skimmer directly. As the filter runs, water moves through the skimmer basket and dissolves the tablets effectively. This chlorinated water is then pushed evenly into your pool via the return jet.
However, a disadvantage of this method is that the tabs never stop dissolving even when the filter is not running, resulting in the production of highly chlorinated and corrosive water if left unattended.
Chlorine Granules
This method involves sprinkling the tablets into your pool directly, and you can use it if you want. It’s the cheapest of all the methods as no equipment is needed.
However, it’s less effective and time-consuming; you will have to do a lot of “measuring”; else, you can get your poor over-chlorinated and bleach your liner or cause other damages.
How to Choose the Best Chlorine Tablets for Your Pool
Choosing the perfect chlorine tablets is often challenging considering the numerous brands available on the market today. However, some factors must be considered while picking the best pool chlorine tablets.
The primary factor to consider is your pool location (i.e., indoor or outdoor). For the outdoor pools, stabilized tabs are usually the best because of their ability to protect chlorine against the sun’s harmful effects. In contrast, unstabilized tabs can be used for indoor applications.
Top 8 Chlorine Tablets for Your Pool
With the numerous chlorine tabs available today, one may find it challenging to pick the best. Below are our eight best chlorine tablets that you can choose from to sanitize your swimming pool water and keep it free of bacteria.
HTH 42033 Super 3-inch Chlorinating Tablets
The HTH 42033 Super 3-inch chlorinating tablets are a 4-in-1 powerful formula that keeps your pool water sanitized and clear of bacteria. They contain built-in protection against algae and clarifiers for a spectacular do-it-yourself (DIY) pool care experience.
In addition to their microorganism-killing and other properties mentioned above, they dissolve slowly (last up to one week) and offer protection against the sun to eliminate chlorine loss. Applying HTH super 3-inch chlorinating tablets to your pool skimmer basket, floaters, or feeders (a tab for every 10,000 gallons of water) will guarantee a clean and safe pool.
Features
- Kill algae and bacteria that can cause skin and health issues, and your water looks blue
- Have protection against the sun and enable your chlorine to last longer
- Dissolve slowly and chlorinate your pool water for long (up to one week)
- Outstanding product with a built-in clarifier for your excellent DIY job
In the Swim 3-Inch Stabilized Chlorine Tablets
In the swim 3-inch stabilized chlorine tablets are another great product you can rely on to keep your swimming pool safe and healthy for use. The tablets are usually thicker than other pool chlorine tablets available. This thickness makes them dissolve slower than others and keep your pool water chlorinated sanitized for longer.
The 3-inch standard size makes the swim 3-inch stabilized tablets a perfect fit for your automatic feeders or floaters. In the swim pool chlorine tablets are enriched with stabilized chlorine of 90%, a long-lasting sanitizing power that will keep your pool in perfect condition.
Features
- Stabilized for long-lasting protection and contain 90% chlorine
- Thicker and last longer than other chlorine tabs available
- They are light weighted with each tablet only weighing 8 oz
- Contain 99% Trichlor (Trichloro-s-Triazinetrione)
- Idea size for all kinds of automatic chlorine feeders or floaters, making them easy to use
Kem-Tek 2815-6 1-Inch Chlorinating Tablets
If you are a pool owner and are looking for chlorine tablets that will provide you with a robust and steady chlorine balance for your pool, Kem-Tek 2815-6 1-inch chlorinating tablets are your best bet. These tablets are awesome in providing a long-lasting effect for pools and spa chemicals.
They are suitable for all kinds of pool sanitization and offer super chlorination effects to keep your pool’s chlorine levels very stable. With each tablet size being 1-inch, Kem-Tek 2815-6 chlorinating tabs are very economical for owners with little above-ground pools and pup-up pools.
Features
- Stabilized chlorinating tablets for protection against sun
- Dissolves slowly with concentration for long-lasting sanitation
- Suitable for all kinds of pool sanitation
- Tablets contain great chlorination to maintain a steady and robust chlorine balance
- Economical size for small above ground and pop-up pools
Rx Clear 1-Inch Stabilized Chlorine Tablets
You can make your pool sanitization job easier and better with Rx clear 1-inch stabilized chlorine tablets. They are stabilized with cyanuric acid to form an iso-cyanurate that gives a less odor and longer shelf-life than other chlorine tablets that employed calcium hypochlorite.
Rx clear 1-inch stabilized chlorine tablets are top chlorine tabs for swimming pools and spas sanitation. Powerful chlorine tablets with added algaecide, bactericide, and disinfectant. They dissolve slowly, contain 99% trichlor and 90% available chlorine to balance your spa and swimming pool chemistry and keep the water clean and safe.
Features
- Stabilized chlorinating tabs with sun UV rays’ protection to prevent easy chlorine burn-out
- Embedded with liner protection against bleaching, making your sanitation job a lot better
- Long-lasting chlorine tabs with 99% trichlor and 90% available chlorine
- Easy-to-use, low price, high-quality product, and adaptable to many kinds of pools
Pool Mate 1-1404 Jumbo 3-Inch Chlorine Tablets
Pool mate jumbo 3-inch chlorine tablets are amongst the most potent and most effective chlorine tabs available on the market today, with an individual wrap for safe and easy handling. The pool mate tabs are stabilized for sun protection to improve the pool chlorine residual by providing a slow-dissolving and long-lasting effect. They are mainly suitable for in-line feeders or floaters and are not recommended to be added directly to the pool.
Features
- 3-inch chlorine tabs stabilized for protection against the sun
- Slow-dissolving and long-lasting sanitizers that improve your pool chlorine residual
- Individually wrapped tablets for easier and safer handling
Swim Best U009050050 3-inch Swimming Pool Chlorine
Originated from the United States, the swim best chlorinating tablets are the best chlorine tabs around – EPA-approved. The tabs are well concentrated and produced to slowly dissolve in water for maximum safety with no mineral scale build-up.
With each tablet being sized 3-inch, the swim best chlorine tablets are ideal for your skimming basket, floaters, and feeders to give you stress-free sanitation and your pool the needed disinfection and clearing for a safe and healthy swimming experience.
Features
- 3-inch chlorinating tablets with the highest quality
- Concentrated with 99% trichlor and 90% stabilized chlorine
- Long-lasting chlorine tablets that dissolve slowly and
- Tabs weigh 8 oz each and are individually wrapped for safe handling
- Suitable for use in skimmers, floaters, and feeders
Clorox Pool and Spa XtraBlue 3-inch Chlorinating Tablets
The Clorox pool and spa XtraBlue chlorinating tabs are multi-functional pool chlorine tablets that effectively kill harmful organisms and unsighted algae. They are stabilized for long-lasting sanitation as they dissolve slowly to give your pool that lasting sanitation and protection.
The Clorox pool tablets also contain conditioners and other agents that make your pool water feel smooth and protect the surfaces against corrosion and scale. You can also use them on skimmers, floaters, and feeders, thanks to their standard 3-inch sized.
Features
- Kill bacteria and algae for clear and clean water
- Offer long-lasting chlorine protection against sunlight
- Prevent scales, corrosion, and stain to keep your pool always sanitized and clean
- 3-inch tablets, suitable for feeders, floaters, and skimmers
POOLBRAND 3-inch Chlorinating Tablets
Another effective chlorine tablets available today are the Poolbrand 3-inch chlorinating tablets, which can work with all kinds of pools and give owners desired results.
Poolbrand chlorinating tablets are concentrated pool sanitizers ideal for routine clarification and sanitation. They effectively eliminate microorganisms and algae with a long-lasting and slow-dissolving effect to keep your water safe for swimmers.
Features
- Suitable for skimmer, floater, and feeder application
- Dissolve slowly, proving a long-lasting protection
- Chlorine tabs with 99% active ingredient work for all pool type
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pool chlorine tablets any good?
Yes! Chlorine pool tablets are the best and most effective for swimming pool water sanitization – a tablet in some cases can sanitize up to 10 thousand gallons of pool water. In addition to their effectiveness, they are cheap, less time-consuming, and very easy to use.
How do I add chlorine tablets to my pool?
Adding chlorine tablets to your pool is quite simple; you can do this through an automatic chlorinator, floating chlorine dispenser, skimmer, or chlorine granules. Check the “how to add chlorine tablet to your pool” section for more information about each method.
Can you swim in a pool with chlorine tablets?
Yes! In reality, most of these tabs last long in water because they dissolve slowly. However, you can swim with the tabs in, but it’s good to test and be sure that the sanitization level is safe for swimming.
Should I put chlorine in my inflatable pool?
No! There is no need to add chlorine in your inflatable pool as they do not require it to remain clean. Although large inflatable pools can benefit from chlorine, refilling the pool or adding salt are also good options.
Which are the best pool chlorine tablets?
All eight chlorine tablets mentioned above are top products, and it’s really difficult to pick one or two. However, HTH 42033 super 3-inch chlorinating tablets remain the best due to their 4-in-1 formula, DIY pool care experience, and availability in the market.
Conclusion
While it’s good to use the best chlorine tabs for your pool, it’s also imperative to apply the correct quantity or dosage to avoid over chlorinating your pool water. The above-listed chlorine tablets are all top-quality water treatment products; however, for the best result, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions as doing this will keep your swimming pool safer and healthier.