Best Way to Use Pool Conditioner

There are many components that go into caring for a pool to keep it healthy and ready for swimming. Part of this is putting in the right chemicals in the right amounts to have balanced water. Let’s look at one of these important chemicals, pool conditioner.  
 
What is Pool Conditioner? 
Also referred to Cyanuric Acid and Pool Stabilizer, Pool Conditioner is a chemical compound known as triazine. It contains three nitrogen atoms and three carbon atoms. This chemical compound stabilizes the pool and helps keep the water clean longer.  
 
How Does Pool Conditioner Work? 
Chlorine in your pool water burns off with time while working to sanitize it. Chlorine can also  dissipate in the UV rays of the sun. Pool Conditioner helps to protect the chlorine from burn off due to sun exposure. Without pool conditioner chlorine can burn off completely from your pool water in as little as two hours! 
 
How to Add Conditioner to a Pool 
The process of adding pool conditioner to pool water is not a super difficult one, but it is one that requires careful attention and exact following of instructions. Pool conditioner takes days, not minutes or a few hours to dissolve like many other pool chemicals do. Pool conditioner will also expand a little once it enters the pool water and this causes it to require a little bit different application process.  
 
Here are the steps to adding pool conditioner to your pool water: 

• First determine exactly how much pool conditioner you need to put in the pool. Your target is to be between 30 and 50 parts per million or between 80 and 100 parts per million. The conditioner levels can be tested with a home test kit purchased at a pool supply store.  
• Shut the filtration system off 
• Remove the skimmer and filter basket from the pool filtration system. The basket will slow the flow of conditioner to the filter  

• Replace any lids you needed to remove to get the baskets out of the filtration system 
• Turn the filtration system back on 
• Grab a bucket and fill it with your pool water 
• Add the necessary amount of pool conditioner to the bucket of pool water and mix it into a slurry 
• Add the slurry pool conditioner mixture into the skimmer just a little at a time. You can add more in small amounts when the conditioner you just added has disappeared into the water. Continue this slow adding in small increments until the entire bucket of conditioner mixture has been added into the pool. This slow and methodic way of adding in the conditioner allows for it to get stuck in the filter where it will safely dissolve into the main pool water and keep from staining the pool.  

• Run the pool pump for one hour after adding the conditioner 
• Replace the baskets in the filtration system 
• Run your filtration system for at least 8 hours the first night to ensure the conditioner is completely dissolved 
• Refrain from backwashing and cleaning the filter for at least 48 hours after adding conditioner, you don’t want to remove any conditioner before it has a chance to dissolve 
• Test your water 7 days after adding conditioner to make sure it is in the correct range. ​

For more information and help with at home pool care and maintenance in Lake Havasu City please browse our website and/or contact us anytime.  

Time to burn those holidays calories in the pool!