Chlorine works hard to keep your pool clean and safe. But on sunny days, ultraviolet rays can break down unprotected chlorine quickly. Traditional pool stabilizers help prevent this chlorine loss, but they also add cyanuric acid, or CYA, to the water. If CYA levels climb too high, chlorine becomes less effective and restoring balance may require partially draining and refilling the pool.
SunSmart Stabilizer offers another way to protect your chlorine. Its proprietary, CYA-free formula helps chlorine last longer in sunlight without contributing to CYA buildup.
Table of Contents
What Is SunSmart Stabilizer?
SunSmart Stabilizer is a liquid pool water stabilizer designed to shield chlorine from the effects of UV rays. Think of it like sunscreen for your sanitizer. By slowing chlorine loss caused by sunlight, SunSmart helps chlorine stay in the water longer and work more efficiently.
Unlike traditional stabilizers, SunSmart provides UV protection without raising the pool’s CYA level. This makes it especially useful for saltwater pools and pools that regularly use stabilized chlorine products.
Why Is CYA Buildup a Problem?
CYA is not always bad. At the proper level, between 30-100 ppm, it protects chlorine from sunlight and helps maintain a consistent sanitizer residual. The problem occurs when too much CYA accumulates.
Stabilized chlorine products, including trichlor tabs and dichlor shock, add a small amount of CYA each time they are used. Because CYA does not evaporate or break down quickly, it gradually builds up in the water.
When CYA levels get too high, chlorine becomes less effective. This can lead to:
- Increased chlorine demand
- Cloudy or dull water
- Greater risk of algae growth
- More complicated water care
- The need to partially or fully drain and refill the pool
SunSmart Stabilizer helps reduce reliance on traditional CYA-based stabilizers, making it easier to manage CYA levels over time.
How Does SunSmart Stabilizer Work?
SunSmart works the same way a traditional stabilizer does, by forming a protective barrier around the chlorine molecules and shielding them from the sun. With less chlorine being broken down by UV rays, more sanitizer remains available to fight bacteria, algae, and other contaminants. This can help maintain a steadier chlorine level, especially during hot, sunny weather or periods of heavy pool use.
SunSmart Stabilizer differs from traditional stabilizers by using 0.25% titanium dioxide instead of CYA. Titanium dioxide provides dual benefits to your pool water. In addition to protecting chlorine molecules from UV damage, it’s also a catalytic oxidizer. Which, in simple terms, means when UV light hits the titanium dioxide particle, it creates short-lived oxidizers that quickly kill organic contaminants in the water. This combo means your chlorine stays protected from the sun and lasts longer thanks to fewer contaminants in the water.
However, even with all these great benefits, remember that SunSmart does not replace chlorine, shock, or routine water balancing. Instead, it supports your sanitizer and helps it work more efficiently.
How to Use SunSmart Stabilizer
The initial dose is 1 gallon of SunSmart Stabilizer per 10,000 gallons of pool water. For continued protection, add 1/2 gallon per 10,000 gallons each month.
Always follow the product label and confirm your pool’s volume before dosing. Keep the circulation system running as directed to help distribute the product throughout the water.
Using SunSmart Stabilizer in Saltwater Pools
Saltwater pools generate chlorine instead of relying on chlorine tabs for everyday sanitizing, but that chlorine is still vulnerable to sunlight. Traditionally, saltwater pool owners add a CYA-based stabilizer to protect the chlorine from UV rays.
SunSmart provides that UV protection without adding CYA. This removes the need to regularly add traditional CYA-based stabilizers, drastically reducing the risk of CYA buildup over time.
Using SunSmart may also help the salt chlorine generator operate more efficiently. When chlorine lasts longer in the water, the system does not have to work as hard to maintain the proper sanitizer level. This can simplify water care while helping protect the life of the salt cell.
Keep in mind that SunSmart will not remove CYA already in the pool. Pool owners should continue testing their CYA and chlorine levels regularly.
Using SunSmart Stabilizer in Chlorine Pools
Stabilized chlorine tabs are convenient and effective, but they add CYA to the pool water every time they dissolve. Using them continuously will gradually raise the pool’s CYA level, especially in areas where pools are not regularly drained or diluted.
To help slow down CYA buildup, consider alternating stabilized tabs with liquid chlorine and SunSmart Stabilizer. Liquid chlorine sanitizes the water without adding CYA, while SunSmart helps protect that chlorine from sunlight.
A simple routine may look like this:
- Use stabilized tabs when convenient or when additional CYA is needed.
- Switch to liquid chlorine plus SunSmart when CYA approaches the recommended range.
- Test the water regularly to determine when to alternate products.
This approach allows pool owners to keep the convenience of chlorine tabs while gaining more control over CYA levels. Because every pool has different needs, use regular water testing to determine the right balance between tabs and liquid chlorine.
Benefits of SunSmart Stabilizer
If you’re looking for a different way to protect your chlorine and pool, SunSmart Stabilizer deserves a spot at the top of your list. Just take a look at all the ways it benefits your pool:
Helps Chlorine Last Longer
Direct sunlight can quickly reduce the amount of available chlorine in an outdoor pool. SunSmart protects against UV loss so your chlorine stays active longer.
Avoids Additional CYA Buildup
SunSmart provides chlorine protection without adding more CYA to the water. This gives pool owners greater control over their stabilizer level and helps prevent problems associated with excessive CYA.
Helps Prevent Algae
When chlorine levels fall too low, algae can gain a foothold. By helping maintain a more consistent sanitizer level, SunSmart supports proactive algae prevention.
Supports Clearer Water
Efficient chlorine performance helps control the contaminants that can make pool water look cloudy or dull. SunSmart helps your sanitizer keep up during hot weather and heavy swimming periods.
May Reduce Chemical Use
Because less chlorine is lost to sunlight, you may not need to replenish it as frequently. More efficient sanitizer use can make routine pool care simpler and may help lower chemical costs over time.
Great for Saltwater Pools
Saltwater pools generate their own chlorine, but that chlorine is still vulnerable to UV rays. SunSmart helps protect it without increasing CYA, allowing the salt system to operate more efficiently.
A Smarter Approach to Chlorine Care
SunSmart Stabilizer helps solve a common pool care challenge: protecting chlorine from sunlight without allowing CYA to build up over time. By helping chlorine last longer and work more effectively, it can support clearer water, simpler maintenance, and more reliable algae prevention.
Whether you have a traditional chlorine pool or a saltwater system, SunSmart Stabilizer can help you spend less time managing your sanitizer and more time enjoying the water. Bring a water sample to your local Leslie’s for a free 10-point water test and customized treatment plan. Our expert associates will walk you through the plan and show you exactly what your pool needs!
