Liquid vs Chlorine Tablets: Which One Should I Use?

For many pool owners, the sanitizer recommended to them during their pool’s installation became their go to option. Over time however, as your needs and the pool’s needs change, occasionally the method of sanitization may change. 

Every so often, it’s worthwhile to examine your current sanitization plan. Take into account advances in technology, availability of various chemicals, and your own ability to maintain the pool. 

The professionals at Family Pool Maintenance of Delaware know you want what’s safest, easiest, and most cost effective when it comes to pool maintenance.

That’s why knowing whether you should use liquid or chlorine tablets should be decision number one. Here are a few things to know when deciding between liquid chlorine or chlorine tablets. 

How Liquid and Chlorine Tablets Differ

Much in the same way you would use laundry detergent to clean clothes, you use liquid chlorine to sanitize your pool. Liquid chlorine comes in bottles and is usually labeled as pool sanitizer, pool cleaner, or chlorinating liquid. 

Depending on the size of your pool, a specific amount of liquid chlorine is poured directly into the pool, immediately affecting the chemistry, altering the pH, and effectively cleaning your pool water of harmful bacteria. The addition of liquid chlorine provides fast-acting shock treatment with ease of use, helping you keep your pool water safe for recreational use all season long. 

Chlorine tablets are usually 3-5 inches in diameter, and are designed to provide long-lasting protection against harmful bacteria and algae. When dropped in the skimmer basket or pool itself, the tablets slowly dissolve, emitting a mixture of chlorine and other stabilizers that work to sanitize your pool. While not as fast acting as liquid chlorine, chlorine tablets are designed to work over time, allowing you to enjoy your pool for longer periods between treatments. Using a few chlorine tablets (vs liquid chlorine) can keep your pool’s pH stable for weeks due to the tablet’s individual chemistry and composition. 

Which is Better: Liquid Chlorine or Chlorine Tablets?

The two products do the same job but at different speeds and frequency. Let’s consider your unique situation and lifestyle, such as how much you use your pool.

Liquid Chlorine for your Pool

Liquid chlorine has the benefit of being fast-acting, since its direct use immediately works with your pool’s chemistry, sanitizing it for use. 

For the pool owner who may need to more quickly prepare the pool for a swim, liquid chlorine will provide immediate support, allowing you to use your pool more quickly. Unfortunately, that same action would be required more often since there is a need for regular addition of chlorine to keep the pool stable. Liquid chlorine would need to be stored for use, and used rather quickly after purchase since the liquid in the bottle can degrade over time. 

Chlorine Tablets for your Pool

Where tablets are favored is for the pool owner who enjoys using the pool and wants to perform fewer service calls. The tablets are long-lasting, working over a period of days and weeks to keep your pool stable. 

If the pool’s pH has gotten too out of range, the tablets take a while to dissolve and to stabilize. The time required to safely sanitize the pool with tablets alone is far greater than that of liquid chlorine. What you pay for convenience in the tablet, you ultimately sacrifice in timing should you let the pool water fall too far below recommended pH level. 

The Decision: Liquid Chlorine vs Chlorine Tablets

So which is better? That ultimately depends on how often you can perform maintenance services and how soon you would want to get into the pool after a period of non-use. 

For the pool owner who wants that instant gratification, liquid chlorine may be the best way to get you back into your pool. But for the pool owner who regularly uses the pool and wants the convenience of not having to perform as much maintenance, tablets may be preferable. 

Should You Use Liquid Chlorine or Chlorine Tablets?

Ultimately the decision between liquid or chlorine tablets for your pool depends on your own preferences and maintenance planning. If you have a smaller pool and can effectively store liquid chlorine, the fast-acting liquid addition can have you in your pool quicker than use of tablets. For larger pools, the amount of liquid chlorine needed grows, so your storage and addition plans would need to be scaled up as well. 

If you favor convenience and longer-lasting treatments, tablets are your best option. Having tablets dropped in the skimmer basket or in a floating dispenser frees you from the frequency of dosing that is needed with liquid chlorine and allows you to maintain a higher water quality for longer periods of time. 

First, Consult the Pool Maintenance Experts

Whichever method you choose, you should consult a local professional to better know which method would work best for your individual needs. Should you want to take the guesswork out of your chlorine treatment routine this year, give the team at Family Pool of Delaware a call at 302-270-3700.