Adding Conditioner

Note: A newer and more up-to-date version of this article can be found here.

Video transcription:

Hi I'm Peter with Leslie's swimming pool supplies and this video will teach you about adding conditioner to your pool. Conditioner adds cyanuric gas into your pool which protects your chlorine from the Sun. Ideally your cyanuric acid levels should range from 30 to 50 parts per million for pools using tabs and 80 to 100 parts per million for pools using salt systems. Adding conditioner to your pool is not complicated but requires you to follow a specific instruction. Unlike many chemicals, conditioner takes days rather than minutes to dissolve.

First determine how much conditioner you need to raise your cyanuric acid levels to the correct range. You can test your cyanuric acid levels with the home kit or take a water sample to your local Leslies store.

Next shut your system off, remove the skimmer and filter basket from your system. Baskets can halt the flow of conditioner to the filter once it's added. Turn your system back on then add the required amount of conditioner into a bucket of cool water and mix it into a slurry. In small increments pour the slurry into the skimmer, once you notice the conditioner beginning to disappear add the next dose. Continue this until the mixture is completely added to your skimmer. Let your pump run from one hour after adding the conditioner, this ensures all of the product will make it into the filter where it dissolves. Then replace all the baskets in your system.

At night make sure you run your system for at least eight hours to help the conditioner dissolve. Make sure you don't clean or backwash your filter for at least 48 hours after adding the conditioner. Because it takes days for it to dissolve, cleaning your filter could potentially remove some of the product.If you have any other questions about adding conditioner, call or visit your local Leslies store. For more videos & pool care tips visit our website.