Cyanuric Acid

Cyanuric acid is added to outdoor swimming pools in order to prevent a loss of chlorine that will break down and escape the pool water when exposed to the UV rays from the sunlight.  Cyanuric acid is also commonly known as a chlorine “conditioner” or chlorine “stabilizer”. 

Cyanuric acid traps chlorine, protects it from the sun’s ultraviolet rays and prevents it from escaping by forming a bond with the free chlorine in the swimming pool water.  Cyanuric acid, used properly, can reduce the amount of chlorine needed in order to maintain outdoor swimming pools.  In a moderately used, smaller swimming pool, using cyanuric acid can reduce the money spent on chlorine.  Although cyanuric acid can protect a reduce the loss of chlorine in a swimming pool, it can also reduce the effectiveness of the pool’s chlorine, so it should not be overused.  Since cyanuric acid reduces loss of chlorine from the sun’s UV rays, there is no need to use cyanuric acid in indoor swimming pools.