Stupid Question...

[Ken S]

I have an AG and currently put mini-tabs into a chlorinator. If I were to use the BBB, where do you pour the bleach so as to avoid ruining the liner. I havent opened my pool yet, so I presume this is the perfect time to start using this method.

Also is bleach more likely to affect swimmers eyes?

[Watermom]

Yes, this is the perfect time start with using bleach! You can either pour the bleach slowly into the skimmer (which is what I usually do) or pour it slowly in front of a return jet. Either way, be careful to avoid splashing it on the liner or on yourself. It is no more likely to affect swimmers' eyes than any other forum of chlorine. Just give it a few minutes to disperse into the pool before swimming so as not to swim through any "hot pockets" of bleach.

When you open, post some current water testing results taken with a drops-based kit. (We like the Taylor K-2006 or K-2006C.) Someone here can take a look for you and advise you of anything you need to do.

[OddJob]

Bleach and Chlorine are two different names for the same thing (sodium hypochlorite).

(says the newbie who is learning as well)

[AnnaK]

If you do pour the bleach into the skimmer make sure your pump is running at the time and that the chlorinator is turned off.

[Watermom]

Yes. Thank you, Anna.

[Ken S]

If you do pour the bleach into the skimmer make sure your pump is running at the time and that the chlorinator is turned off.

The water flows from my filter, thru the chlorinator and into the pool so I cannot shut it off. If I use bleach I would think I could just disconnect the chlorinator.

[Watermom]

That is correct.

[aylad]

I just pour mine into the return stream in the deep end, and have had no problems.

Janet

[chem geek]

Bleach and chlorinating liquid are denser than water so if you dump them quickly in one place with no circulation it can settle to the bottom which isn't good. That's why you want to pour slowly over a return flow with the pump running, preferably at the deep end, and then for extra safety, lightly brush the side and bottom of the pool to ensure thorough mixing. Once mixed, the chlorine is perfectly safe and gets well diluted.

My own pool is plaster and has floor drains so I don't bother with the brushing. It's probably overkill even for vinyl so long as you pour slowly into a return flow, but I give that advice just to play it safe since there used to be PBs that swore bleach was bad for vinyl -- haven't heard from them in a while and thousands of vinyl pool owners using bleach or chlorinating liquid and properly pouring haven't reported any problems.

Richard