Clorox Pool & Spa Alkalinity Increaser for Backyard Pool Maintenance, 16LB Granular pH Stabilizer
Clorox Pool & Spa Alkalinity Increaser for Backyard Pool Maintenance, 16LB Granular pH Stabilizer
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Why you'll love it
- Trusted Clorox brand reputation extends from household cleaning into pool care
- Granulated formula dissolves quickly and is easy to broadcast without clumping
- One 16LB bag handles multiple treatments, reducing trips to the store
- Prevents costly corrosion damage to heaters, pumps, ladders, and salt cell components
- Works across all major pool types so households do not need a separate product
- Companion app removes guesswork for owners who do not want to hire a pool service
Perfect for
- Raise total alkalinity in residential pool water to stabilize pH
- Balance pH after fresh fill, refill, or heavy rain to bring pool back to safe levels
- Prevent skin and eye irritation for family swimmers during regular use
- Protect pool heaters, pumps, and metal fixtures from acid-water corrosion
- Use the Clorox Pool App to test water and receive personalized dosage recommendations
For Beautiful, Comfortable Water
Balanced pool water prevents skin and eye irritation, and extends the life of equipment by protecting surfaces from corrosion, scale and stains. Balancers help to restore water parameters to their ideal ranges.
Preserves Pool & Equipment
Protects pool equipment and surfaces from the effects of unbalanced water.
Protects Against Eye and Skin Irritation
Improves swimmer comfort by preventing dry itchy skin and red burning eyes.
Test Weekly
Your pool chemistry can change quickly. Test your pool water weekly to ensure your chlorine and pH remain within optimal swimming levels.
Brush & Clean
Brush, vacuum and skim water surface weekly to remove dirt and debris.
Balance Water
Ensure your water parameters are balanced to their ideal ranges for optimal swimmer comfort and surface and equipment protection.
Product Information
For Raising Total Alkalinity: The Alkalinity Increaser helps maintain balanced pH levels in your pool water. Proper alkalinity levels reduce the need for frequent maintenance, and our product's granulated formula is easy to apply and dissolves quickly.
Improves Swimmer Comfort: This product plays a crucial role in enhancing swimmer comfort by preventing eye and skin irritation caused by unbalanced pH. It helps prevent dry, itchy skin and red, burning eyes, ensuring a more pleasant swimming experience.
Protects Pool Equipment from Corrosion: By keeping your pool's pH level balanced, this product helps prevent equipment corrosion, allowing you to spend less time maintaining and more time enjoying your swimming pool.
Perfect for All Pools: Clorox Pool&Spa Swimming Pool Chlorine Stabilizer is perfect for new pools, freshly refilled pools, saltwater pools, and pools that use liquid chlorine.
Clorox Pool App: Test like an expert anytime, anywhere with the Clorox Pool App. Solve common swimming pool problems and get personalized product and dosage recommendations.
Clorox Pool & Spa Swimming Pool Alkalinity Increaser, Keeps pH Balanced, 16LB (Pack of 1);12016CLX.Number of Items: 1
Item Type Name: Pool Total Alkalinity Increaser
Included Components: CLOROX Pool&Spa 12016CLX Pool Total Alkalinity Increaser
Item Form: Granular
Product Benefits: Prevents Corrosion, Protects Against Skin Irritation
Item Weight: 16 pounds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this alkalinity increaser in my above-ground pool that sits fully outdoors?
Yes, the formula is designed for outdoor residential pools including above-ground and in-ground setups. The granulated sodium bicarbonate broadcasts easily across the water surface and dissolves quickly, even when applied in open-air conditions with direct sun exposure.
Will the 16-pound bag hold up if I store it in my pool equipment shed through summer heat?
Yes. The granular formula is shelf-stable in a dry, covered storage space like an equipment shed or poolside storage bin. Keep the bag sealed between uses and the product will stay effective for multiple treatment cycles across the season.
Does it work in a saltwater pool set up on an outdoor equipment pad?
Yes. This alkalinity increaser is fully compatible with saltwater generator systems. Maintaining proper total alkalinity is especially important outdoors because it buffers the pH and protects the salt cell from acid-water corrosion over time.
How does this help after a heavy summer rain throws off my pool chemistry?
Heavy rain lowers total alkalinity and pH. Adding this increaser after rainfall brings alkalinity back into the 80–120 ppm range, which stabilizes pH and prevents the corrosive acid swings that damage outdoor equipment like ladders, heaters, and metal handrails.
Is one 16-pound bag enough for a full outdoor swim season?
For a typical residential backyard pool of around 15,000–20,000 gallons, one 16LB bag generally covers several alkalinity adjustments across a season, especially when paired with regular testing through the Clorox Pool App to avoid over-dosing.
Is this a good choice if I just opened my pool for the summer?
Yes, seasonal start-up is one of the most common times to add alkalinity increaser. Freshly filled or winterized water almost always needs alkalinity brought up first, before any pH adjustment, to lock in stable readings for the whole swim season.
Will it work in a pool that uses liquid chlorine instead of a salt system?
Yes, it works in liquid chlorine, saltwater, and traditional chlorinated pools. The active ingredient is sodium bicarbonate, which adjusts alkalinity regardless of which sanitization method you use outdoors.
How long after adding it outdoors can the family swim?
With the fast-dissolving granular formula, most pools are safe to swim in within 15–30 minutes of application, provided the product is fully dissolved and circulation is running. Always retest before entering.
How does this compare to using baking soda from the grocery store?
Pool-grade alkalinity increaser and food-grade baking soda are chemically similar, but the pool product is sized and labeled for large-volume water treatment, screened for fast dissolution, and dosed based on pool volume in pounds rather than cups, making it more practical for outdoor residential use.
Why not just aerate or add borax to raise alkalinity outdoors?
Aeration raises pH but does very little for total alkalinity, and borax raises pH and alkalinity in a way that is harder to control. Sodium bicarbonate is the cleanest way to raise alkalinity without overshooting pH, which is why it is the standard recommendation for outdoor residential pools.
Will the granules clump if I leave the bag open on the pool deck?
The fast-dissolving formula resists clumping during application, but for storage keep the bag tightly closed in a dry spot. Moisture from outdoor humidity is the main cause of clumping, not the formula itself.
Is it safe to apply while the pool pump is running outdoors?
Yes, in fact running the pump and circulating the water helps the granules dissolve and distribute evenly. Broadcast the product across the deepest end of the pool with the pump on for best results.
Will the sun break down the active ingredient if I add it midday?
Sodium bicarbonate is not degraded by UV light the way chlorine can be. You can apply it at any time of day outdoors without losing effectiveness, though evening application can be convenient because it gives the chemistry all night to circulate.
Does outdoor debris like pollen change how much increaser I need?
Heavy organic debris can pull pH and alkalinity down over time, which may require slightly more frequent dosing. Regular testing through the Clorox Pool App will show you when alkalinity is drifting and how much product to add.
Can I keep the open bag in my poolside storage bin for the rest of summer?
Yes, as long as the bin stays dry and the bag is resealed, the product remains effective. Avoid leaving the open bag exposed to rain or sprinkler splash, since moisture will cause the granules to cake together.
Is this harder to dose than liquid alkalinity products outdoors?
Many owners find granular easier outdoors because you can broadcast it by hand across the pool surface, no pump or feeder required. Liquids are pre-dissolved but heavier to carry and store, while this 16LB bag is light enough to handle and pour from a poolside location.
How do I add Clorox Pool & Spa Alkalinity Increaser to my pool?
Test your water first to confirm alkalinity is below 80 ppm. Calculate your pool volume, then broadcast the recommended amount of granules evenly across the deepest end of the pool with the pump running. Allow the pump to circulate for at least 15 to 30 minutes, retest, and repeat if needed until alkalinity is in the 80 to 120 ppm range.
How much alkalinity increaser should I add per gallon of water?
A common guideline is roughly 1.5 pounds of sodium bicarbonate per 10,000 gallons to raise total alkalinity by about 10 ppm. Pool size, current alkalinity, and target level all matter, so use the Clorox Pool App for a personalized dosage based on your actual test results.
Can I add alkalinity increaser and chlorine at the same time?
It is best to add alkalinity increaser first and let it circulate and dissolve fully, then retest and add chlorine separately. Spacing the doses by 15 to 30 minutes prevents the chemicals from interacting and gives each one a chance to mix evenly throughout the water.
Is this product compatible with saltwater pools?
Yes. Sodium bicarbonate is fully compatible with salt chlorine generator systems and is in fact recommended for saltwater pools because stable alkalinity protects the salt cell and helps the generator run efficiently over a long service life.
Does this work with vinyl, plaster, fiberglass, and above-ground pools?
Yes. The product works with every common residential pool surface and structure, including plaster, vinyl liner, fiberglass, painted, and above-ground pools. It does not affect surfaces and is safe for all standard pool finishes when used as directed.
What is included in the 16-pound bag and what do I need to buy separately?
The package contains one 16-pound bag of granular sodium bicarbonate alkalinity increaser. You will need to supply your own test strips or test kit, a measuring cup or scale for dosing, and access to the free Clorox Pool App for personalized recommendations and tracking.
Is sodium bicarbonate safe to handle and store at home?
Yes, sodium bicarbonate is a food-grade compound that is safe to handle with normal care. Avoid breathing dust while pouring, keep the bag sealed and dry, and store it upright in a cool, dry location away from other concentrated pool chemicals and out of reach of children and pets.
Will this product expire or lose effectiveness in storage?
Sodium bicarbonate has a very long shelf life when stored dry and sealed. As long as the bag is kept closed and away from moisture, the product will remain effective for multiple seasons without losing potency.
What is the difference between alkalinity increaser and pH increaser?
Alkalinity increaser (sodium bicarbonate) raises total alkalinity, which then stabilizes pH with minimal pH change on its own. pH increaser (soda ash) raises pH directly with little effect on alkalinity. For stable, long-term water balance, raising alkalinity first is usually the correct order of operations.
