When it comes to pool chemicals, there are a lot of options. It can be overwhelming to try to decide which products you need, what brands to buy, and even where to buy them. Is it really necessary to go to a pool store, or can you just buy them at a big box store? Of course, we’re all looking to save a little bit of time and money wherever we can. Buying your pool chemicals at a big box store seems like a good option, in terms of convenience and price. But those shouldn’t be the most important factors when you’re considering where to buy your swimming pool chemicals.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “You get what you pay for.” Well, it’s true–with anything, and definitely with pool chemicals. Big box stores can sell products at a lower cost because, typically, they purchase lower-quality products. They put a bid out for a product, and whoever can deliver for the lowest price wins the bid. This means the product comes from who-knows-where, and the quality control is mediocre at best. We have no way of knowing what kinds of additives are in these chemicals, or what they might do. Often, the glue that is used to hold lower-quality chlorine tablets together can be damaging to pool equipment, gumming them up and keeping them from working properly. Low-quality chemicals can be harmful for pools and for swimmers.
Pool stores are stocked and run by people who care about pools and who know what it takes to keep them running well. The chemicals purchased at your local pool store might be a little more expensive, but they will be well worth the price. They are of higher quality, meaning they will work better in addition to being less damaging to your pool. The products that are sold at pool stores are not stocked by the lowest bidder. Instead, they are stocked for their quality and effectiveness. You can be more confident about the quality of these chemicals, and the ingredients in them.
So, while it might be slightly more inconvenient to make a trip to the pool store, and you might have to pay a couple extra dollars, it will be well worth it in the end. You can be confident in your chemicals, knowing they are of good quality and will not harm your pool or the people who swim in it.