How long do chemicals last

All pool chemicals do have a shelf life, but for some, the shelf life is so long that most people will use up the chemicals they buy long before they expire. This depends on the specific product, however. Some pool chemicals expire in a much shorter window. It's important to learn which products belong in each category and to keep an eye on the expiration dates of chemicals that are likely to expire before you run out of them.

As a general rule, liquid acids and dry pool chemicals can last for several years if they're properly stored away from heat and moisture while most chemicals in liquid form have a shorter expiration date. For example, granular chlorine has a long shelf life, but chlorine in liquid form does not. So if you buy liquid shock, be aware that it only lasts one to two months at the most before it starts to lose effectiveness.

While many swimming pool chemicals stay good for years if stored correctly, some pool-maintenance supplies expire more quickly. In particular, the test strips and reagents you use to check your pool's water chemistry will expire after one to two years depending on the brand. Old test reagents and strips can give inaccurate results if you use them for testing the water, so these should be replaced before they hit their expiration date. For example, if you have some of these supplies left over after winterizing your pool, it may be better to discard them and buy new test equipment when you reopen the pool.

How to Store Pool Chemicals Correctly The best way to make sure your pool chemicals stay fully effective is to store them properly. Generally, this means separating liquid from solid chemicals and separating acids from other chemicals. Where can I find the best before date on a bottle of chlorine graduals? We have only had it 2 weeks and have cha her water twice as all keep coming out in spots after we use it. I feel chlorine may be off and not working properly.

Hi Louise, chlorine does have a shelf-life, and will lose potency over time, but normally can last for several years, when tightly closed. Not holding chlorine for longer than hours may indicate that there are levels of contaminants higher than the level of chlorine can remove, but you are correct it could also indicate a loss of potency in the chlorine. I have a half bag of calcium flakes that are about a year old. They have seeped out fluid and it is now a big clump.

Can I break it up and dissolve the pieces to use in the pool? Hi Kim, yes you can still use it, no need to break it up, it will dissolve in the bucket, then just pour it in the pool. Does this still have potency or is it ruined, I can still smell chlorine. No harm in using it. Thanks, good question. I keep my pool shock in the original child proof container, indoors.

Last night i set it down outside and forgot to bring it in until this morning. Should I be concerned about moisture? Im not noticing a strong smell or anything. Hi, no worries! Just keep the lid on tight, that will keep out most moisture, and at those temps, no worries about condensation. I had a bottle of The bottle cracked but nothing spilled. The plastic seems deteriorated and the print is crumbling.

Is the stuff of any use? What do I do with this stuff? Not sure. Hi Bob, if you have a pool, pout the contents into a 5-gal bucket that has been pre-filled with water. Stir to dissolve and pour into the pool. Hypos fixer have a clearing time: that is, how long it takes to completely clear an unexposed piece of film, and when this time is doubled, it's time to dump.

Stop bath is so cheap, it doesn't pay to save it from the tray. With film developers, some makers indicate to add time with each roll used when not replenishing. There are many variables, so you are urged to read all the literature with each brand and type. The literature is usually available with the product that explains the exhaustion rate, replenishment information, or whether it is one time use only.

If you don't have the literature, check the manufacturer's web site. Kodak and Ilford have lots of info about chemicals on their sites. I use Agfa Rodinal which is a one-shot developer. Although Agfa recommend that the bottle be used within 6 months of opening I have had half-empty bottles sitting around for four years and it still worked perfectly. Use Kodak Indicating Stop Bath yellow when fresh which turns grey when it is exhausted. I use Ilford Hypam fixer which I test using the piece of leader cut off the film.

While Art knows alot more about this than I do, I must say that I keep both paper developer and stop bath between printing sessions. I only get into the darkroom for a few hours at a time and never exhaust either in one session. I try to keep them in full bottles, and use them up within two weeks. The other extreme is from Edward Weston's day books. He'd mix a gallon of paper developer, process out a fully exposed sheet of paper to "wake up the soup," develop 6 8x10s, then dump, and start over.

Whatever works! It's already been mentioned but odds are the package comes with the info. The problem is the working solution is good for I think 6 weeks if stored right. So the cut off for me will be the age of the developer not the number of sheets printed.