Stop Putting Chlorine Tabs in the Skimmer! Pool Damage, Critters, and Chemical Safety – Ep. 177

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 177 of The Deep End Pool Podcast, Frank and Jacque Disher break down one of the most common (and dangerous) pool care mistakes: putting chlorine tabs in the skimmer. This episode dives into why trichlor tablets can destroy your plumbing, heaters, and plaster—and why proper chlorination and equipment setup matters. Plus, they share hilarious poolside stories, pet and critter tips, and essential safety warnings about chemical storage, trash fires, and why mixing pool chemicals is a recipe for disaster.💥 Learn how to avoid costly pool damage 🐸 Hear how to get frogs, snakes, and other critters to leave your pool 🔥 Stay safe with chemical handling best practices 👉 Subscribe, rate & review — and be sure to visit https://www.thedeependpoolpodcast.com 🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more! 📧 Questions or topic ideas? Email: [email protected]*Get Your Betta Solar Skimmer Discount!Use code BTRFFD62 at BettaBot.com for 5% OFF your Betta Solar 💙 BluRay XL Mineral Purifier - Reduce chlorine & maintain crystal-clear water: BluRayXL.com💨 Cyclone Filter Tools - The easiest way to clean your filters: CycloneFilterTools.com (Use code DEEPEND for 10% off!)🛠️ Culator Metal Remover - Eliminate pool stains & metals: Culator.com (Use code DeepEnd44 f1:13 – Intro by Russel Owens 2:26 – Jacque welcomes listeners, introduces Daisy the dog 3:05 – Store update: Flower Mound closed, new partner added 3:53 – YouTube vs TikTok: educational vs eye candy 4:52 – Aqua 100 award celebration and shout-out to Brandon 5:05 – Frog in the internet box story → Critter talk begins 6:45 – Why frogs get into pools (bugs → frogs → snakes) 7:24 – Water bugs, algae, and backswimmer bites 8:50 – Topic shift: Chlorine tabs in skimmers – DON’T DO IT 9:44 – Skimmer tab myths and bad advice in pool groups 10:06 – Damage to flexible PVC and old pool builds 12:13 – Discolored plaster, gasket damage, and chemical punch 13:50 – Damage to pumps, filters, and heaters from skimmer tabs 16:16 – Sponsor break (BluRay XL, Cyclone, CuLator, Fluidra, Poolwerx) 17:00 – Cyclone Filter Cleaner promo 18:20 – BluRay XL mineral system pitch 19:20 – CuLator metal eliminator promo 19:33 – Fluidra brand overview (Jandy, Polaris, etc.) 20:13 – Segment 2 begins: Chlorine tabs and summer swim season 21:11 – Frank’s 1:30 AM Beta skimmer fix video story 22:25 – Home security and backyard lighting humor 22:39 – Inline trichlor feeder warning: Use a chemical-resistant check valve 25:40 – Damage from not using a check valve: heater horror stories 27:01 – New Raypak heater-chiller models announced for DFW 27:14 – Poolwerx store locations mentioned 27:18 – More chlorinator risks: spa over-chlorination warning 29:48 – When tabs are set for a pool but hit just the spa 31:20 – Safer spa sanitation tip: use small liquid chlorine doses 31:45 – NEVER mix cal hypo with trichlor tabs = BOOM 32:30 – Chemical skimmer safety tips: no acid or shock in skimmer 33:36 – Proper chemical handling and container rinsing 36:06 – Trash truck fire story caused by unwashed chemical buckets 38:00 – Vacuum cleaner fire story from early pool days 38:40 – Final sponsor thanks and wrap-up 38:43 – Outro by Russel Owens 5% on your Betta purchase at wwPlease give us a 5 star rating and a review, and contact us at [email protected] for questions and show ideas. Thank you