Putting Chlorine Tablets in a Skimmer Basket – Yes or No?

Where to put chlorine tablets in a swimming pool and whether it is ok to put them in the skimmer’s basket are two often-asked questions pool owners have, particularly with new swimming pool owners.

It is perfectly safe to put chlorine tablets in the skimmer basket. It is the obvious place to put them, as the pool pump pulls water over the chlorine pucks through the basket, helping them dissolve.

I have been putting chlorine tablets (also known as chlorine pucks due to their size and shape) directly in my skimmer baskets without any problems for most of the past 11 years I have owned my pool. I usually do this immediately after I have cleaned the pool.

When I think about it, when swimming pools have been around for so long, it is surprising that they aren’t built with a specific chlorine/chemical feeder system as standard. This type of pool equipment is available but does not seem to be fitted as a matter of course.

Can you put chlorine tablets in the skimmer Basket? Despite what some may say, you can. Placing chlorine tablets directly into the skimmer basket can help distribute the sanitizer evenly throughout the pool, ensuring effective water treatment.

Chlorine tablets in the skimmer basket

One advantage of putting the chlorine tablets in the pool skimmer basket is that when the pool pump runs, the pool water flows over them, becoming chlorinated as some of the tablets dissolve. The water is then pumped back into the pool via the pool filter and distributed evenly throughout the entire pool.

I use 5-in-1 3″ tablets, which include sanitizer, clarifier, stain inhibitor, descaler and algaecide, all in one tablet, so they are very convenient to use. I use these – 3 inch Pool Mate All-in-1 Chlorinating Tablets

Other opinions

Opinions certainly differ concerning whether chlorine tablets should be put in a skimmer basket. Some top pool cleaning websites say it is the best place to put them, while others have opposite opinions and say it is a bad idea.

You will also see on swimming pool forums that “they” say that putting the tablets in the skimmer basket can eventually cause corrosion of the pool skimmer and other pool equipment.

Some pool owners on the forums get angry when someone suggests they put chlorine tablets in the skimmer basket. Yet I don’t doubt that they have never actually tried it.

My pool is over 20 years old, and the previous pool owner put the tablets in the skimmer, and so have I, yet there have been no ill effects.

It is true that when the pool pump isn’t running, the tablets will continue to dissolve in the skimmer basket (slowly, as the water isn’t flowing over them), and this water will become more highly chlorinated.

As long as your pump runs every day, that isn’t such a problem. As soon as the pool pump starts, the “concentrated” water passes through the system and out of the return jets in seconds, so it doesn’t have a chance to cause any damage along the way.

It is nice to see that Matt from Swim University agrees with me:

What other methods can I use to add chlorine tablets?

Floating chlorine tablet dispenser

Floating chlorine dispensers are the main alternative to putting chlorine tablets in the skimmer’s basket. These dispensers allow you to put tablets in them and float around on top of your pool slowly, allowing the tablets to dissolve as they go.

They normally have a method of restricting the amount of water that can enter the dispenser to slow or speed up the rate at which the chlorine tablets dissolve.

For some reason (to paraphrase Henry Ford) they come in every color you want, as long as it is blue. That is apart from some of the novelty versions, which may have a duck, a dolphin or even an alligator on top.

I have this one which has a high capacity and I tend to use it when I don’t have the pool cover on (yes, it’s blue) – Large Capacity Floating Chlorine Dispenser

I use a smaller version of the one above when adding chlorine tablets (actually small pieces rather than whole tablets) to my hot tub, as there is no basket in the skimmer system to use as an alternative.

Numerous novelty floating pool chlorine dispensers exist, from crocodiles to ducks or dinosaurs. My particular favorite is a turtle from WWD Pool.

Poolmaster makes a version with a Mallard duck on top that is quite realistic, too. Check out their full range of novelty chlorine tablet dispensers, which are available here on Amazon Poolmaster Chlori-Critter Chlorine Dispenser for Swimming Pools and Spas.

Read my post How to Use Floating Chlorine Dispenser

I used floating dispensers, too, before I bought a solar pool cover, but with the pool cover in place, they get stuck along the side by the cover as they cannot freely float around.

Inline chemical feeder

These are placed in the pipework that goes from the filter to the swimming pool. Chlorine tablets are placed in them, and the water flows over them to be delivered to the pool. An automatic chlorinator generally has the means to control the feed rate to select how quickly you want the chlorine tablets to be dissolved.

Inline feeders are inexpensive and can be retrofitted to swimming pools in most instances.

They are available on Amazon for less than $100, so they might be worth considering.

The Hayward CL200 In-line Automatic Chemical Feeder holds up to 9 tablets, so it would be ideal if you were going on vacation for a few weeks so the chlorine levels would be kept up while you were away.

Can you put chlorine tablets in your pump basket?

I would advise against putting chlorine tablets in the pool pump strainer basket.

But I say this for no other reason. Pump baskets are relatively small, so chlorine pucks will probably obstruct water flow into the pump.

Can you put chlorine tablets directly in the pool?

You should never throw chlorine tablets into your pool, no matter how tempting it may be to do that.

If you do, they will sit on the bottom, and the chlorine will bleach the color out of the liner under and around the tablet. You will end up with a pale, or even a white, patch at the bottom of the pool, which will make it look awful.

Also, when the chlorine tablets are on the bottom, very little pool water movement passes over them, so they will slowly dissolve and not get dispersed around the pool, which is what you are trying to achieve.

What alternatives are there to chlorine tablets?

Chlorine tablets or pucks are the most straightforward way to add chlorine to your pool. However, instead of using tablets, you can use powdered or granulated chlorine, such as those below, which are available in bulk from Amazon. You should never just pour this directly into the pool or the skimmer, though.

Get a large bucket and fill it with pool water. Then, add the granulated chlorine while stirring with a stick or other implement. Keep stirring until it is dissolved.

Then, walk around the pool, pouring the water back into the pool as you walk so that it is evenly distributed.

Never put the chlorine in the bucket first, and then add water. Always water first, then chemicals.

You can also use liquid chlorine for pool care, which can be poured directly into the pool.

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