Adding Bleach Method

[Deuce2]

I've seen where many on this forum are adding bleach through the skimmer. Wouldn't adding bleach this way be corrosive to the heater exchanger/manifold and also the pump? I'm currently adding bleach directly to pool by pouring bleach next to the returns, but I'm thinking this may be hard on the liner over time. Any input/experience would be appreciated. Thanks,

37,000 gal. IGV

[Poconos]

With the pump running the dilution by pouring in the skimmer is so great and the contact time with the various components is so short there should be no concern about damage.
Al

[Deuce2]

Thanks Al.

[topless]

I stopped adding to the skimmer after discovering what it was doing to the pump seal.
I had to change out my pump motor this summer. The motor had a 12 month warranty and it had only been in 9 months. When I installed the motor last year I had installed a new seal. I checked the seal while I had it apart and the rubber was hardened and showing signs of cracking.
At the time the motor went out, I was shocking my pool a high levels just after opening. Since I didn't have but a month last year and 2 weeks this year running the pump, I'm convinced it was the high chlorine level that was getting to the seal.

[Sam_I_am]

I typically add my bleach through the skimmer... and have had no problem with the pump (but that's just me).

Periodically I mix it up and pour at the returns and infront of the skimmer.

I have a bypass in my system which I always use to bypass my heat pump when shocking or dumping bleach directly in to the skimmer.


Dave

[Phillbo]

I walk around the pool and pour it in. The same with acid.

[TimWillin2]

Our liner failed this past season and I'm pretty sure it was from walking around the edge dumping bleach in the pool. I used tablets this year with about the same success and no ruined clothes!

[Spensar]

Our liner failed this past season and I'm pretty sure it was from walking around the edge dumping bleach in the pool. I used tablets this year with about the same success and no ruined clothes!

How old was the liner? Are you in a winter freeze zone?

[chem geek]

Acid should never be added to the skimmer. It is far too strong and does not get diluted enough even pouring slowly at 2 cups per minute into a 25 GPM flow in the skimmer -- I've calculated that the result is still around a pH of 1.5 which is very, very low (Muriatic Acid has a ph of -1, yes that's negative one).

As for chlorine, there is debate about that. The high pH of the chlorine makes the disinfecting chlorine upon dilution high, but not as high as one would think, though it is far higher than achieved with normal shock levels. At similar dilution rates as for the acid above, the pH will be around 9.0 and the disinfecting chlorine concentration will be equivalent to about 16 ppm FC with no CYA. For comparison, normal shock levels are equivalent to around around 0.6 ppm FC with no CYA.

The safest thing to do with both acid and chlorine is to slowly pour it in front of a return at the deep end of the pool. This allows it to mix with the largest amount of water. The key is to pour it slowly -- don't just dump it in. The flow from the return helps to disperse and mix it. Also, one should use a pool brush to brush and mix the bottom of the pool near where one pours chemicals. This is especially important with pools that don't have a floor drain (many above ground pools) as the circulation near the bottom of the pool is generally poor. Also, both acid and chlorine are denser than water so can settle at the bottom if not thoroughly mixed in the pool water.

Richard

[TimWillin2]

How old was the liner? Are you in a winter freeze zone?

The failed liner was 9 years old and we do get several freezes every winter.