By The Zagosa Team. Published .
Reviewed or updated .
The advantages of chlorine tablets, and why they are such a popular biocide
- Chlorine tablets keep your pool or spa healthy by holding back bacteria and algae.
- Chlorine costs less than most other sanitisers, so it is the most cost-effective way to keep water clean.
- Chlorine comes as granules or tablets, so you can pick whichever suits your water. Hard water, for instance, tends to do better with granular chlorine than tablets.
The disadvantages of chlorine tablets:
Tablets are not as strong as granules and they give off an odour. The chloramines they release can irritate some people's eyes, nose and throat. Granules avoid all of that, because in solid form they do not release chloramine straight into the spa.
Customers often ask what a chlorine tablet actually is. It is a man-made chemical designed to give you the benefits of chlorine without the usual downsides. Every hot tub needs a biocide to sanitise the water, because organic material lands in the tub from rain and airborne dust and can cause infections if the water is not properly sanitised. Chlorine handles that job well, though it does have side effects such as irritation to the eyes, skin and airways.
The main issue is that chlorine vaporises quickly in water, so it can take a while to bring your tub up to the level you want. Chlorine tablets are made from sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione, a chemical proven safe for use around people, animals and plants.
Chlorine tablets keep their potency for about 3 years before they weaken, and it is worth noting that most granules last longer than that.
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