Something seems wrong with amount of chemicals

[davehfa]

Hi, I would appreciate any feedback or guidance. I have a salt water pool ~30000 gallons (20x40x3.5-7) that was installed in 2017. I have a pool service company that services the pool. In the first couple years, my bills were insane and noticed that the cost of chemicals were very high. So the service company recommended I buy my own chemicals from a local store and they will simply use them as necessary. I live in NJ so the pool is only open from May-Sept. I've been tracking how much I spend on chemical costs each year.

2019 - $1951
2020 - $2175
2021 - $1852
2023 - $2400

In 2024, my service provider gave me a list of what to buy for the season

1. 200 lbs. of Hardness
2. 12 Gallons of Muriatic Acid
3. 100 lbs. of Alkalinity
4. 10 quarts of Orenda (MUST be Orenda-no other brand name!)
5. Phosphate-Free 6 bottles of 3 liters
6. 1-50lb Bucket of tablets
7. 50 lbs. of Shock (Power Powder)
8. 8 quarts of Metal Out
9. 15 bags of salt
10. 4 quarts of algae control
11. 8 Gallons Conditioner (MUST BE LIQUID)
12. 6 Bags of D.E.

The cost of the above was over $4000 so I only bought half and will wait for them to tell me to restock.

Since then I already had to buy more salt bags for a total of 26 bags.

Doesn't this amount of chemicals seem insane? The chemical store clerk ask me how many pools I have.

I talked with the pool service company and they indicated this is what was necessary to balance the pool. I am wondering if I have a leak or some other issue.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
What type of pool surface do you have? Filling out your signature would be a big help.
You are being ripped off. Most of us with a SWCG use a bit of acid and cyanuric acid (stabilizer), with some salt as necessary. Should be well under $500 per year.
I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[Bperry]

Hi, I would appreciate any feedback or guidance. I have a salt water pool ~30000 gallons (20x40x3.5-7) that was installed in 2017. I have a pool service company that services the pool. In the first couple years, my bills were insane and noticed that the cost of chemicals were very high. So the service company recommended I buy my own chemicals from a local store and they will simply use them as necessary. I live in NJ so the pool is only open from May-Sept. I've been tracking how much I spend on chemical costs each year.

2019 - $1951
2020 - $2175
2021 - $1852
2023 - $2400

In 2024, my service provider gave me a list of what to buy for the season

1. 200 lbs. of Hardness
2. 12 Gallons of Muriatic Acid
3. 100 lbs. of Alkalinity
4. 10 quarts of Orenda (MUST be Orenda-no other brand name!)
5. Phosphate-Free 6 bottles of 3 liters
6. 1-50lb Bucket of tablets
7. 50 lbs. of Shock (Power Powder)
8. 8 quarts of Metal Out
9. 15 bags of salt
10. 4 quarts of algae control
11. 8 Gallons Conditioner (MUST BE LIQUID)
12. 6 Bags of D.E.

The cost of the above was over $4000 so I only bought half and will wait for them to tell me to restock.

Since then I already had to buy more salt bags for a total of 26 bags.

Doesn't this amount of chemicals seem insane? The chemical store clerk ask me how many pools I have.

I talked with the pool service company and they indicated this is what was necessary to balance the pool. I am wondering if I have a leak or some other issue.

I have about the same size pool, open from march through november. I cant remember spending more than $500 for the entire season, including the $100 test kit refills.

Like said above, your service provider probably not using a reliable test method and so goes on lots of unnecessary chemical excursions. I might use 2 gallons of acid for the season. They maybe have you buy 12 gallons to counteract the 100lbs of baking soda they had you buy, which is not necessary either. Very odd.

 

[Bill Winston]

You’ve been PoolStored! That’s insane

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

I live in NJ and my annual chemical usage and costs are:

15 40lbs bags of Aquasalt @$14 ea = $210
16 gallons of liquid chlorine @8 ea = $128
16 gallons of muriatic acid @10 ea = $160
50lbs Snow Joe Calcium from HD = $25
25lbs stabilizer = $56
30lbs DE = $40
Annual test reagents - $50

About $700 and I don't shop for the lowest price. I buy the salt, chlorine, acid, and DE from my local Pool Store because they are convenient and I support local family owned businesses. Stabilizer is Putitech bought from Amazon.

I spend maybe 30 minutes a week maintaining the pool. Do you have 30-60 minutes a week available to save thousands on your chemicals plus your Pool Servcie cost?

Where are you in NJ? It is a big state.

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[sande005]

I do shop around, mostly big box stores. My pool is a bit smaller. I do have to dump a lot of water for fall closing. With the test kit refill, and no DE (cartridge filter), I'll likely land at about $300 for the summer.
ajw22's list is pretty comprehensive. You should never, ever need more than that, and might need somewhat less.

STOP, do not pass Go. Right this minute order a valid test kit. This site recommends a couple....but with what you will save in future chems, just get this one and know you got the best: TF-Pro Salt

While waiting for the kit to arrive, read through all the articles ajw22 linked to. Download the PoolMath app to your phone, and begin to get familiar with it.
Go to your profile, and update your signature to list the particulars about your pool (gallons, type of construction - plaster/vinyl/etc, equipment makes and models, the TF-Pro kit) so in the future we don't have to re-ask about it when giving advice.

I spend more time monkeying with pool stuff, including cleaning, than he does. 2-3 15 min. sessions per week. But I'm retired and bored easily.


26 bags of salt this year???? Did they drain the pool 1 1/2 times completely??? Yikes! Do you have a hose or autofill running almost all the time to keep water in it????
50 lbs of tablets with a salt pool???