does anybody buy their pool chemicles online?

[my2kidsmom]

I'm getting a house with a pool and have been told that the owner wants me to keep the pool open year round. I am going to go through "pool school" in a couple of weeks, but I don't want to be "scammed" into buying high priced pool chemicles from the pool guy's store.

 

Any advice on where to get the chemicles?

[bugsette]

we have been buying some at Kmart and Walmart then others nd pool stores

[rosebud513]

We always use www.intheswim.com

[mackeeg]

We always use www.intheswim.com

me too

[gingersunshine]

i will have to look into that place! i usually go to the pool store which gives me a 10-20% discount on all items

[Stowasser]

You might look into some of the sites mentioned earlier this summer in discussion area as to using Bleach, Borax and baking soda as your main chemicals for a pool. We have an above ground 18' pool and I was having trouble about mid summer with the chemicals really not working so I tried Bleach (6% sodium Chloride) instead of Chlorine and it turned my pool water around, it was sparkly, in the right range when tested and was alot cheaper than pool chemicals. Borax and Baking soda raises the PH which helps the chlorine (which is what bleach is primarily made of sodium chloride) maintain balance in the pool. High PH you use muratic acid (paint supplies) to lower it.

 

In essence, when I start my pool up next year, I am not messing with all the different pool chemicals, I am using Bleach and if needed the other products (our PH was high and after adding the bleach a few times, didn't need to lower it, it fell in the acceptable range). Get a good test kit.

[my2kidsmom]

You might look into some of the sites mentioned earlier this summer in discussion area as to using Bleach, Borax and baking soda as your main chemicals for a pool. We have an above ground 18' pool and I was having trouble about mid summer with the chemicals really not working so I tried Bleach (6% sodium Chloride) instead of Chlorine and it turned my pool water around, it was sparkly, in the right range when tested and was alot cheaper than pool chemicals. Borax and Baking soda raises the PH which helps the chlorine (which is what bleach is primarily made of sodium chloride) maintain balance in the pool. High PH you use muratic acid (paint supplies) to lower it.

 

In essence, when I start my pool up next year, I am not messing with all the different pool chemicals, I am using Bleach and if needed the other products (our PH was high and after adding the bleach a few times, didn't need to lower it, it fell in the acceptable range). Get a good test kit.

What would constitute a "good" test kit without spending a bunch of money?

[Stowasser]

What would constitute a "good" test kit without spending a bunch of money?

I probably should of said that differently LOL, you need a test kit, it should read the chlorine, PH and there is another one that most can read but I never use it LOL. The test strips do a pretty good job too (they usually cost alittle more than the ones where you add drops to little vials). The kids have fun doing the test, we have the drops one for the pool and you fill up the vials, put 5 drops in and compare it to the chart on the vials. I use the white card included as a background to make sure I get the color matching right. We use test strips for the hot tub.

[elena_398]

Check out Target in store right now. all their pool items are 50% and more... We have a 30' pool and use the 3" chlorine tabs. For the huge bucket it can run up towards $80++. Target had the large buckets of 3" chlorine tabs on clearance for $39... I bought both containers they had.

 

also had the test kits for 1.48, new skimmers for $2.48 (also the strips if you prefer), and other vacuum stuff for the pool. Really cleaned up and now I won't have to buy anything for next summer (had shock, PH + or - , etc)