Walk into any pool store (or your garage shelf), and you’ll find two of the most common sanitizers used to keep backyard pools safe and sparkling: liquid chlorine and chlorine tablets.

Both add chlorine to your water, both keep algae at bay, and both can be part of a healthy pool routine — but they’re not the same.
And using the wrong one at the wrong time can slowly throw your water chemistry out of balance.

So how do you know what to use and when?
Let’s break it down — clear, simple, and based on what works best.

Why Chlorine Matters

Before we pick sides, here’s the core job of chlorine:
Kill bacteria, sanitize the water, and prevent algae growth.

A properly chlorinated pool:

•  stays clear
  
•  smells clean (not “chlorine-y”)
  
•  won’t burn skin or eyes
•  It is safe to swim in

The method you use to add chlorine — liquid or tablets — affects how well it works, how long it lasts, and how balanced your water remains.

Chlorine Tablets (Trichlor): Slow, Steady, and Convenient

Tablets are the most common choice for homeowners because they’re:

• Easy to store

• Easy to handle

• Slow releasing

• Great for feeders or floaters

If you’ve ever tossed a tab in the skimmer and walked away, you already know why they’re popular.

Why Tablets Are Great

 Convenience

• You can “set it and forget it.”
  Tabs slowly dissolve, giving your pool a steady drip of chlorine throughout the week.

 Perfect for Busy Weeks

• Vacations, long work trips, or crazy schedules — tabs keep chlorine levels from crashing.

 Ideal for High-Sun Climates

• They contain stabilizer (CYA), which protects chlorine from burning off under heavy Texas sunshine.

The Hidden Downside: Too Much Stabilizer

That stabilizer (CYA) is helpful — until it isn’t.

Every tab adds more CYA.
And unlike chlorine, CYA doesn’t evaporate or break down fast.

Over time, levels can spike.
High CYA = chlorine gets weaker, even when you add more of it.

Signs you’re in “too many tablets territory”:

• Water looks dull or cloudy

• Chlorine reads zero even when dosing

• Algae returns quickly after treatment

• You keep shocking the pool, but nothing sticks

The fix?
Not more chlorine — often a partial drain and refill, which nobody enjoys.

Best Use for Tablets

• At the start of the season
  
•  During vacations
  
•  When stabilizer levels are low (under ~50 ppm)
  
•  In a floater or feeder — never directly in the pool

Tabs are a tool — just not the whole toolbox.

Liquid Chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite): Fast, Pure, and Clean

Liquid chlorine is straightforward:
Just chlorine — no CYA, no binders, no additives.

It mixes instantly and starts killing bacteria right away.

Why Liquid Chlorine Rocks

No Added Stabilizer

• You can dose every week without worrying about CYA creeping up.

Ideal for Routine Maintenance

• Great for weekly or daily dosing to maintain proper sanitizer levels.

Works Immediately

• Shock today, swim tomorrow. No dissolving, no waiting.

Best for Heavy Swimmer Load

• Parties, cannonballs, sunscreen storms — liquid handles quick spikes in demand.

Things to Know About Liquid Chlorine

 It Burns Off Faster in Sunlight

Since it contains no stabilizer, chlorine gets consumed more quickly unless CYA is already balanced.

 Needs Consistency

Because it doesn’t slow-dissolve, you need to:

• Add weekly

• Or install automation (salt system, peristaltic pump, etc.)

 Slightly More to Store and Carry

A jug weighs more than a puck.
(Some customers prefer tabs simply because they’re lighter.)

Best Use for Liquid Chlorine

Use liquid:

•  As your primary sanitizer
  
•  When CYA is already in range
  
•  Throughout the summer, when pools get heavy use
  
•  Anytime chlorine demand spikes (heat, storms, parties)

The Best Choice: Use Both, But Strategically

Most pool owners think they must pick one sanitizer and stick with it — but the smartest, most cost-effective approach is using both liquid chlorine and tablets, each for what they do best.

They Balance Each Other's Weaknesses

Using only tablets risks:

• Skyrocketing stabilizer

• Ineffective chlorine

• Expensive drain/refills

Using only liquid requires:

• Frequent dosing

• More consistency

• Higher UV loss

Using the two together:

• Tablets add stabilizer slowly and predictably

• Liquid prevents CYA overload

• Chlorine stays strong all season

This hybrid method prevents the biggest headache in pool care: chlorine lock.

 Adapts to Seasons, Weather, and Real Life

North Texas pools see:

• Bright sun

• Heavy rain

• Wind and pollen

• High summer heat

A liquid + tab combo lets you switch gears:

•  Spring/Fall → More tablets to build stabilizer
  
•  Peak Summer → Mostly liquid to prevent CYA creep
  
•  Vacations → Tablets carry the load
  
•  Post-party weekend → Liquid restores balance fast

Protects Equipment & Saves Money

Balanced water = longer equipment lifespan

Using both helps avoid:

• Heater corrosion

• Salt cell scaling

• Pump seal damage

• Filter overload

• Algae cycles caused by weak chlorine

Saving $ today on sanitizer isn’t worth $1,000 later in repairs — the hybrid approach is the sweet spot.

Final Takeaway

Both chlorine tablets and liquid chlorine are solid sanitizers.
The real key to crystal-clear water isn’t choosing one over the other —
It’s knowing when to use each one.

• Tabs give you stability and slow-release power

• Liquid gives you flexibility and control

• Together — used intelligently — they keep your pool healthier, clearer, and cheaper to maintain

If you have further questions or comments about which chlorine is right for you or pools in general, contact us here. One of our amazing and knowledgeable team members can assist you.