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. In fact, it is the normal 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 8 years that 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 basket of the pool skimmer is that when the pool pump is running, 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 actually 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 or not. Some of the top pool cleaning websites say it is the best place to put them, while others have completely 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 lead to the eventual 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 have the slightest 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 they 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 cause an obstruction in the flow of water 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 sitting 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.
Pool Care Handbook and Video Course
When I bought my house with a swimming pool, I knew absolutely nothing about pool care. I just winged it for a while, making many mistakes along the way.
Fortunately, I was recommended Swim University’s Pool Care Handbook and Video Course. I bought it and it was an absolute game-changer.
It was the best money I spent that year. I learned everything from basic cleaning to advanced troubleshooting. Swim University offers a no-quibble refund policy too so what do you have to lose?
What alternatives are there to chlorine tablets?
Chlorine tablets or pucks are easily 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.
FAQs
How long does it take for a chlorine tablet to dissolve?
When I add chlorine tablets to my skimmer’s basket, with the pool pump running for between 5-8 hours per day, they normally take around 3 days to dissolve completely. I have found that floating chlorine dispensers normally take a little longer than that.
How many chlorine tablets should you use?
This depends on the chlorine level that exists when you do a water test and your pool’s size (pool volume). When the pool chemistry is correct, I generally put 3 or 4 of the larger 3-inch tablets in my skimmer every week for my pool, which holds approximately 15,000 US gallons of water.
How to use chlorine tablets in above ground pool
Your options are pretty much the same if you have an above-ground swimming pool as with an inground swimming pool. That is unless you have a very cheap pool without a skimmer. In that case, put the chlorine tablets in the skimmer or a floating chlorine dispenser.
Can you swim with chlorine tablets in pool?
If your pool maintenance and chemistry are correct, you can swim while the chlorine tablets are in the skimmer or a floating dispenser without any problems. If you have an inline chlorine dispenser, you would have no choice anyway, as the tablets would always be there.
Do I need to shock my pool if I use chlorine tablets?
Chlorine tablets only help maintain a normal level of chlorine in a pool. You still need to give your pool a regular shock treatment to keep a pool clean.
Can I put shock in my skimmer?
You should never put the shock in your skimmer; instead, you should dissolve it in a bucket of pool water first (if using granulated shock) and then disperse it around the pool edges. If using liquid shock you should walk around the edge of the pool pouring it in as you go.
I have had hot tubs for over 20 years and a pool for the last 10 years. I had to learn how to clean, maintain and fix them the hard way. Since then I have helped many friends and neighbors with their pools and now I want to share everything I have learned with you. About Me
