The local store prices are outrageous. Does anybody have a good source for male order chlorine, DE etc.?
TIA
TIA
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Pool chemicals - Mail order?
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Last: 1 day ago by ShinerDunk93
If you have one nearby, Ace hardware is my go to.
Tailgate88 said:
The local store prices are outrageous. Does anybody have a good source for male order chlorine, DE etc.?
TIA
Look into using bulk bottled muriatic acid and 5lb bags of baking soda to balance your ph instead and liquid concentrate chlorine with only occasional bags of shock like after a heavy rain. Home depot carries the acid and bulk baking soda. Chlorine you can get at many places, concentration and price wise, lots like Aldis or walmarts home brands for example. Stop using the junky expensive pucks with forever chemicals in them that make it extremely hard to actually balance your pool.
Chlorine cost calculator:
https://www.troublefreepool.com/blog/2026/03/03/chlorine-cost-calculator/
Compare gallons of liquid, dichlor powder, cal-hypo powder, and tri-chlor tabs. For me right now trichlor tabs are the cheapest. I also like them because you don't have to remember to test and add daily. I'm lazy and not good about messing with it every day. Pool stays clear when it slowly adds itself. And yes, CYA accumulates, so I have to pump it down and partially refill every few months. Better than a green pool, and it should mostly take care of itself if I would backflush often enough. Plus liquid bleach has me chasing the pH down with more acid all the time.
https://www.troublefreepool.com/blog/2026/03/03/chlorine-cost-calculator/
Compare gallons of liquid, dichlor powder, cal-hypo powder, and tri-chlor tabs. For me right now trichlor tabs are the cheapest. I also like them because you don't have to remember to test and add daily. I'm lazy and not good about messing with it every day. Pool stays clear when it slowly adds itself. And yes, CYA accumulates, so I have to pump it down and partially refill every few months. Better than a green pool, and it should mostly take care of itself if I would backflush often enough. Plus liquid bleach has me chasing the pH down with more acid all the time.
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I have found that shipping eats you up on the online idea on the regular use items because they are so heavy. Do get some non regular chemicals from Amazon - like phosphate remover.
Lately I have been using Pinch a Penny. Haven't checked the pricing exhaustively, but it seems ok on both their tablets and their liquid chlorine refill program.
I had settled on using Walmart for liquid chlorine because I figured out I could have them deliver 12 gallons from the store for the price of the tip with Walmart+. Before that I was getting it at HD. Pricing at HD and Walmart per gallon was pretty similar. I started to question the quality/freshness of their stuff, which led me to switching to the PaP idea.
I used the TFP method for four years with very good success. Not sure if it was chemical quality or maybe that I got complacent and sloppy, but last year I had to switch back to the tablets, because despite manually keeping my CYA where it was supposed to be, I could not keep my levels high enough and started having issues.
I guess I would say I am now doing a hybrid method. Decided it isn't the end of the world to drain a 1/3 and refill once a year.
Lately I have been using Pinch a Penny. Haven't checked the pricing exhaustively, but it seems ok on both their tablets and their liquid chlorine refill program.
I had settled on using Walmart for liquid chlorine because I figured out I could have them deliver 12 gallons from the store for the price of the tip with Walmart+. Before that I was getting it at HD. Pricing at HD and Walmart per gallon was pretty similar. I started to question the quality/freshness of their stuff, which led me to switching to the PaP idea.
I used the TFP method for four years with very good success. Not sure if it was chemical quality or maybe that I got complacent and sloppy, but last year I had to switch back to the tablets, because despite manually keeping my CYA where it was supposed to be, I could not keep my levels high enough and started having issues.
I guess I would say I am now doing a hybrid method. Decided it isn't the end of the world to drain a 1/3 and refill once a year.
ktownag08 said:
If you have one nearby, Ace hardware is my go to.
I go to ACE down the street often. I wait until I get a $20 off a hundred dollar purchase and then I buy my chlorine.
Liquid chlorine is just bleach. It definitely degrades over time. High storage temps make it degrade faster. As it breaks down it loses its potency and you have to use more of it.
Concentration is the biggest difference. Name brand Bleach is weak for use in pools.
malenurse said:ktownag08 said:
If you have one nearby, Ace hardware is my go to.
I go to ACE down the street often. I wait until I get a $20 off a hundred dollar purchase and then I buy my chlorine.
This is the way!
I guess I will have to give this liquid chlorine a try. Tablets have gotten outrageous.
Yes. The inconsistency and unknowns in the he and Walmart handling is why I switched to pinch a penny. Theirs is supposedly much fresher since they refill the containers from their store supply.
Shipping hazmat is going to kill any savings you think you are getting from online.
Had to add one of my Walmart delivery experiences on the Hazmat note.
On one order I guess they did not have it in the local store. For those unfamiliar, Walmart will automatically switch those type of things to a free shipping order. I noticed, but didn't give it any thought. When I got the order someone had just thrown a dozen one gallon jugs into 5 randomly sized boxes. No packing, no tape on the lids. Three of the boxes had at least one leaking bottle. There was liquid chlorine everywhere. It had to have gotten all over the Fedex truck. It was all over my porch. I am amazed that they even delivered it and did not go back to Walmart with all kinds of penalties.
Since then I avoid that idea.
On one order I guess they did not have it in the local store. For those unfamiliar, Walmart will automatically switch those type of things to a free shipping order. I noticed, but didn't give it any thought. When I got the order someone had just thrown a dozen one gallon jugs into 5 randomly sized boxes. No packing, no tape on the lids. Three of the boxes had at least one leaking bottle. There was liquid chlorine everywhere. It had to have gotten all over the Fedex truck. It was all over my porch. I am amazed that they even delivered it and did not go back to Walmart with all kinds of penalties.
Since then I avoid that idea.
OP - check out Doheney's or InTheSwim. I order my 3" tabs from them. Most of the time if you go straight to their website (versus buying their stuff on Amazon), you can get a promo coupon. They always have free shipping.
The prices you will find there are WAY CHEAPER than local pool stores.
The prices you will find there are WAY CHEAPER than local pool stores.
BlueHeeler said:
OP - check out Doheney's or InTheSwim. I order my 3" tabs from them. Most of the time if you go straight to their website (versus buying their stuff on Amazon), you can get a promo coupon. They always have free shipping.
The prices you will find there are WAY CHEAPER than local pool stores.
Great call! Had not tried this. Just bought a 35lb container of 3inch tabs from PaP for around 165. Intheswim has a 50lb for 175 with free shipping.
I use liquid chlorine with TFP method. Tabs are trash and will eventually lock your pool with CYA.
I use tabs and liquid chlorine. Have been managing my pool this way for 10 years and never had to drain it. My CYA is currently 30.
I use liquid chlorine from pinch a penny and tabs in my chlorinator. I've only been doing it for a year but can't figure out why anyone would do anything different if they have access to pinch a penny.
Or Walmart
I buy mine at costco.. good prices
Teslag said:
I use liquid chlorine with TFP method. Tabs are trash and will eventually lock your pool with CYA.
Well, TexAgs has BBQ snobs. Beer snobs. And now we have chlorine snobs.
Sean Mercer said:Teslag said:
I use liquid chlorine with TFP method. Tabs are trash and will eventually lock your pool with CYA.
Well, TexAgs has BBQ snobs. Beer snobs. And now we have chlorine snobs.
Haha. I think I have settled on the hybrid idea as well. Less tablet usage and cya increase but easier to maintain a steady level with the liquid. Worked pretty well for me last year. And is easier than pure liquid.
Hybrid method here as well. Tabs from Costco & liquid chlorine from Walmart (free delivery over $35). CYA never got too high doing this method last summer. Nice having tabs on hand for when you leave for a week for summer vacation as well.
Absolute said:
Yes. The inconsistency and unknowns in the he and Walmart handling is why I switched to pinch a penny. Theirs is supposedly much fresher since they refill the containers from their store supply.
PAP's bleach is also 12% concentration versus 6% or lower at HEB/Walmart. And you can buy PAP in five gallon containers and take them back for refill.
That said, I switched to salt years ago and it's nice just having to add salt about every 2-3 months and toss a cup or two of acid in weekly. Also have to add liquid CYA about once or twice a year depending on pool use and rainfall.
https://www.3chlorine.com/?country=US
Least expensive Tabs I've found is 3Chorine. Much cheaper than pool store or big boxes. They also sell granules, but it is also stabilized so it will build up CYA in your pool like the tabs/pucks do. "on sale" now with Free shipping, 40lbs for $89.99
I do a combination of both pucks and non-stabilize chorine granules that I buy from Leslie's when they put it on sale or send an email coupon. This helps me control the CYA build up so I don't need to drain my pool. Big old pool, and refilling is expensive.
Least expensive Tabs I've found is 3Chorine. Much cheaper than pool store or big boxes. They also sell granules, but it is also stabilized so it will build up CYA in your pool like the tabs/pucks do. "on sale" now with Free shipping, 40lbs for $89.99
I do a combination of both pucks and non-stabilize chorine granules that I buy from Leslie's when they put it on sale or send an email coupon. This helps me control the CYA build up so I don't need to drain my pool. Big old pool, and refilling is expensive.
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