What is Pool Stabilizer?

Are you finding yourself constantly adding chlorine or having to shock your pool? You may need to add stabilizer.

But what is pool stabilizer exactly and how does it work?

What is Pool Stabilizer?

Pool stabilizer, also known as cyanuric acid (CYA), helps stabilize chlorine in your pool so that it lasts longer.

Using pool stabilizer ultimately reduces the amount of chlorine you need to add to your pool, which can save you money. It also helps keep your pool water clean and clear by reducing the amount of chlorine that is lost to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Adding stabilizer becomes increasingly important for outdoor pools as the weather gets warmer and the sun’s rays become more intense.

Do You Really Need Stabilizer in Your Pool?

There is some debate on whether or not adding isolated pool stabilizer is actually necessary. Some pool owners believe that if they maintain their chlorine levels properly, they don’t need to stabilize the chlorine. Others find that using additional pool stabilizer helps them save money on chlorine and keeps their pool water cleaner and water chemistry more balanced.

If you are on the fence about whether or not to use pool stabilizer, you should monitor your chlorine levels. After adding chlorine, test your water after a couple hours in the sun. If the chlorine level has dropped quickly, you may want to consider adding pool stabilizer.

Keep in mind that many commercial chlorine products already include stabilizer in them. This is referred to as stabilized chlorine. If you are using one of these products, you may not need to add additional cyanuric acid to your pool.

How to Add Stabilizer to Pool

If you’re curious on how to add stabilizer to your pool, you’ve come to the right place.

At the end of the day, pool stabilizer is an acid. Because of this, it is very slow to dissolve. This is why you’ll want to make sure that you dissolve the stabilizer in water first. The best way to do this is to use an old empty chemical bucket, or to purchase one like this.

By dissolving the acid first, you can prevent potential damage to your pool surface and filtration equipment.

Once dissolved, you can pour the stabilizer directly into the pool. We recommend pouring it around the edges and brushing it up afterwards, especially if you have a vinyl liner or fiberglass pool. Make sure you always use chemical-resistant gloves and protection when adding stabilizer, or any other chemicals to your pool.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Stabilizer Should I Add?

The amount of stabilizer you need to add to your pool depends on a few factors. First, you need to know the size of your pool. Additionally, you should use a CYA test to check how much is already in your pool.

A general rule of thumb is to keep your stabilizer around 30 parts per million (ppm). If your pool is around 15,000 gallons, and you want to raise your chlorine stabilizer by 10 ppm you would need to add around 19.5 oz of cyanuric acid.

Can I Add Stabilizer Directly to the Skimmer?

Adding stabilizer directly to the skimmer is not a good idea. This is because the acid can damage the skimmer basket and other parts of the filtration system. It is best to dissolve the stabilizer in a bucket of warm water before adding it to the pool.