Finding quality discount pool supplies can make all the difference when it comes to maintaining your pool without draining your wallet. Whether you’re restocking chemicals or replacing worn-out gear, shopping smart for discount pool supplies helps you cut costs without cutting corners.
So, where should you buy them?
💡 For me, In The Swim is the clear winner. I’ve tried several suppliers over the years, but In The Swim stands out for its consistent quality, fast shipping, and competitive prices.
In this review, I’ll explain why In The Swim has earned my trust, what to look for when buying discounted pool gear, and how to avoid common mistakes that cost pool owners time and money.
Table of Contents
Let’s dive right in!
Introduction to In The Swim: Discount Pool Supplies That Actually Work
Anyone who owns a pool knows one thing for sure — maintenance isn’t cheap. And while the fun and relaxation are worth it, the reality is that keeping your pool clean, clear, and safe takes time, effort, and money.
That’s where discount pool supplies can make a big difference — especially when you know where to shop.
If you’re new to owning a pool or just tired of overspending on chemicals and gear, you’re in the right place. In this article, I’ll share exactly how I manage year-round maintenance affordably, the brands I trust, and why In The Swim has become my go-to source for reliable and affordable pool care products.
The Truth About Pool Maintenance
Maintaining the physical parts of your pool—like pumps, filters, and chlorinators—is only half the battle. The real challenge is chemical balance.
Get it wrong, and your beautiful blue oasis can turn into a cloudy, green, algae-infested swamp seemingly overnight.
After years of trial and error (and more green pools than I care to admit), I’ve finally learned how to manage my water chemistry in a way that saves time, money, and frustration. And now I’m sharing that with you—so you can avoid the same headaches.
Maintenance Tip That Saves Me 87%
Here’s a quick tip that’s saved me over 87% on pool chemical costs each year: I start early.
Living in South Texas means I keep my pool open year-round, but even if you’re farther north with a shorter swim season, the principle still applies. Each February, I begin testing and balancing all chemical levels—before algae has a chance to bloom and while temperatures are still mild.
That one step has made all the difference.
My Favorite Test Kit After Trying Them All
After experimenting with several brands of pool test kits, one finally stood out. What sets it apart? It comes with an app that scans your test strip and instantly shows you your water chemistry right on your phone.
No more guessing. No more weird color-matching charts. Just clear, accurate results—fast.
And yes, Amazon carries it at a great price.
The AquaChek Select Connect 7-Way Pool and Spa Test Strips Kit is the best we’ve found and takes the guesswork out of manually reading the strips. It also tracks the history, so you always have stored results!
In general, I have had the best overall satisfaction from “In The Swim” products. They are high quality with their chemical balance and much more affordable than most others.
Beginning the Season: Winter Pool Prep Done Right
When it comes to managing your pool on a budget, it all starts in the off-season. Winter is the perfect time to get ahead of costly problems—and it begins with balancing your pool pH levels.
Each year, I kick off my pool maintenance routine by checking and adjusting the pH. I learned this the hard way after battling a mysterious white residue that kept collecting at the bottom of my pool. I tried vacuuming, brushing, and shocking—nothing worked.
The real culprit?
My pH levels were way too high. That imbalance was making my chlorine nearly useless and causing chlorine residue to build up and settle on the floor of the pool.
What looked like a chemical mystery was actually a case of over-chlorination paired with ineffective water chemistry. Since then, I always start the season by dialing in the pH before adding anything else.
If your chlorine isn’t working, check your pH first—before you waste money on extra chemicals.
Discount Pool Supplies: PH Reducer
I tried several PH reducers but continue to purchase In The Swim PH Reducer.
You get the most for your money with the 50lb tub and it has lasted 3 years. That’s pretty good for a product that costs less than $100.
Spring & Fall Pool Care: Smart Maintenance That Saves You Money
Once the swimming season begins and your pool chemicals are balanced, the goal shifts to maintaining safe, healthy water without overspending—or overworking your equipment.
Let’s break down what works for me in both spring and fall, when the weather starts to warm up (or cool down) but daily maintenance is still manageable and cost-efficient.
Filter Pump Run Time: My Simple Temperature Rule
The biggest energy expense in pool ownership is your filter pump, so running it efficiently makes a big difference. Here’s the rule I follow:
🕒 Run your filter 1 hour for every 10°F of outside temperature.
So if it’s:
- 60°F outside → I run it 6 hours/day
- 80°F outside → I run it 8 hours/day
- And so on…
This system has kept my pool crystal clear with minimal effort, and I’ve only had to replace the filter sand every three years.
🔧 Pro Tip: If you replace the sand yourself, wear long sleeves and gloves. The fiberglass from the filter lid ring can be extremely irritating to your skin.
Chlorine & Shock Levels in Spring and Fall
At this point in the season, I reduce the amount of shock I use (more on that later), but I keep my chlorinator set at 2. I use an inline chlorinator tower that holds 3-inch chlorine tablets.
Now here’s where I learned an expensive lesson…
💸 I used to fill the chlorinator to the top with tablets, thinking more chlorine was better. But I later discovered that was completely unnecessary. Now, I only use 2 tablets at a time—and it works just as well.
Why does this matter?
Those tablets contain Cyanuric Acid (CYA), a stabilizer that protects chlorine from being broken down by the sun’s UV rays. But too much Cyanuric Acid can actually reduce your chlorine’s effectiveness, leading to cloudy water and wasted money on chemicals.
Reminder: Pool Size Affects Everything
My pool holds 13,000 gallons, so the dosages and settings I mention may need to be adjusted for your pool size. Always refer to product instructions—or use an app-based test kit to dial in the exact amount.
Discount Pool Supplies: 3-Inch Chlorine Tablets That Last
When it comes to reliable, long-lasting pool care, 3-inch chlorine tablets are a staple—and one of the most common purchases pool owners make. But not all chlorine tablets are created equal.
We use the In The Swim 3-Inch Stabilized Chlorine Tablets, and they’ve been a game-changer for both water quality and cost-efficiency.
Why We Use In The Swim 3-Inch Chlorine Tablets
These tablets strike the right balance between chlorine and stabilization, helping maintain healthy water without overdoing it on Cyanuric Acid (CYA). Once I learned to reduce the number of tablets in my inline chlorinator, my usage became much more efficient.
I now only keep two tablets in the tower at a time—and that small adjustment lets me stretch a 50 lb. bucket for nearly two years.
That’s serious savings when you’re shopping for discount pool supplies—and it proves that smarter use often beats higher quantity.
Chlorine Tablets Shouldn’t Be Your Primary Sanitizer
Here’s one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned:
Don’t rely on chlorine tablets as your pool’s main sanitizer.
Overusing stabilized tablets causes a steady increase in Cyanuric Acid levels, which can lead to unbalanced water and ineffective sanitation. Instead:
- Use weekly pool shock treatments as your primary sanitizer.
- Supplement with a minimal number of 3-inch chlorine tablets to maintain proper chlorine levels.
This approach keeps your water balanced, your chlorine effective, and your costs under control.
Discount Pool Supplies: Calcium Hypochlorite Pool Shock
During the spring and fall months, I shock my pool once a week, but at a lower dosage than in the summer. Currently, I use about 1.5 lbs of shock per week, increasing to 3 lbs per week during the hotter summer months to keep the water clean and safe.
For both value and quality, I rely on In The Swim Pool Shock. This product contains 68% Calcium Hypochlorite (Cal-Hypo) granular sanitizer, which effectively kills bacteria, algae, and other micro-organisms—keeping the water crystal clear.
A 50 lb bucket of this pool shock lasts me about one year. While shock treatments can be a bit pricey, they are a necessary investment for maintaining healthy pool water and preventing costly problems down the line.
Summer Pool Care: Adjusting for the Heat and Saving Money
When summer arrives, the maintenance routine stays largely the same—just with adjusted amounts to match the higher temperatures.
As mentioned earlier, I increase my pool shock dosage to 3 lbs per week. With daily temperatures often reaching the 90s, I also run my filter pump for about 9 hours per day to keep the water circulating and clean.
Since reducing the number of chlorine tablets in my chlorinator to two and consistently using weekly shock treatments, I’ve been able to eliminate almost all other chemicals from my routine. This streamlined approach is how I’ve managed to save roughly 87% on my annual pool chemical costs.
Over the past year, I’ve only needed to add pH reducer twice. While my pH levels didn’t get dangerously high, I stayed vigilant to avoid another green pool—yes, it has happened before, and I’m determined to keep it from happening again.
Discount Pool Supplies: Summing It All Up
Owning a pool is both a luxury and a commitment—it takes time, effort, and yes, money to keep it clean and safe. Hopefully, this guide has helped ease the burden by pointing you toward quality discount pool supplies that deliver great results without breaking the bank.
Before you go, here’s one final tip for battling a stubborn green pool:
When treating your pool, submerge all your poles, nets, and cleaning tools in the water along with the chemicals. This allows the sanitizers to kill algae and bacteria that may have built up on those tools.
Why? Because algae and bacteria can multiply on cleaning equipment left out, and if you keep using contaminated tools, they will keep reintroducing unwanted contaminants back into your pool.
Taking this extra step can help speed up recovery and keep your pool water clear and healthy.
Where to Buy In The Swim Discount Pool Supplies
In The Swim discount pool supplies are available from many retailers, but my preferred place to buy is Amazon. I find that prices are often better there, plus the delivery is fast and reliable.
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