Hello from Vermont

[kateinvt]

Hi everyone,
I'm just introducing myself- My husband and I are in our second summer (well, I can't really call it summer here yet. Brrrrr!) of pool ownership. We are dumbfounded by the cost of pool chemicals and are so happy to have come across the TFP website. It makes so much sense!
I look forward to learning more, and sharing any pearls of wisdom I might gather over coming years.
Cheers!
Kate

 

[jblizzle]

Welcome to TFP!

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Hiya Kate Glad to have ya here at TFP!

I'm just like you...all about making it cost less and use common sense for which chemicals to buy. You'll learn a lot by reading Pool School. One article alone is about which chemicals we like, and another for which to avoid like the plague.

Maddie

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome!
Test Kits Compared

 

[bmoreswim]

Welcome!

As a note, I use a SWG (salt water generator) for chlorine. Aside from that I spend $100-150 per year on chemicals. Much of that is to re-balance in the spring due to draining in the fall and over the winter.

Just as an example, here's what I use for chemicals (and from where):
Salt (blue bags of softener salt at Lowe's), muriatic acid (Lowe's), calcium chloride (ice-melt - Lowe's or online if out of season), stabilizer (CYA - usually online is cheapest) and some liquid chlorine (bleach - Lowe's) when it's too cold for my SWG to produce.