The Dangers of Over-Stabilizing Your Pool

Pool stabilizer, also known as conditioner or CYA (cyanuric acid), helps protect chlorine from being destroyed by the sun’s UV rays. While some CYA is beneficial, too much can create a major problem. 

As CYA levels increase, chlorine becomes less effective at sanitizing your pool water. This means that even if your test strip shows chlorine is present, it may not be strong enough to properly kill algae and bacteria.

Many pool owners accidentally over-stabilize their water because several chlorine products already contain CYA. Common examples include trichlor tablets and dichlor shock. Before adding any chemicals to your pool, always check the active ingredients to see if it contains cyanuric acid.

The higher your CYA level gets, the more chlorine is required to keep the pool properly sanitized. For example: 

• CYA level: 30-50 ppm (ideal range), chlorine level should be between 2-4 ppm (ideal range).
• CYA level: 100 ppm (high), chlorine level should be 7.5 ppm (high). 

If your stabilizer level gets too high, adding more chlorine is often only a temporary fix. In many cases, the only solution is to partially drain and refill the pool to lower CYA levels. 

The best way to avoid problems is to regularly test your water, monitor your CYA level, and always check chemical labels before adding products to your pool. Not sure if your stabilizer level is too high? Bring in a water sample and let our team help.