Re: How to calculate cost per effective pool chlorine liquid vs powder

[Susan Chiang]

Here is the summary (without taking into account available chlorine)

1. Household bleach
Costco = $9/182 fl oz x 3 bottles, nominal 6% = $2.11/gallon
Safeway = $3.89/1.42 gallons, nominal 6% = $2.74/gallon

2. Pool bleach
Hasa = $21.44/8 gallons = $2.68/gallon
Hasa = $11.72/case (where a case is 4 gallons) minimum 36 cases delivered ,
12% = $2.93/gallon
Home Depot = $6.86/2 gallons, nominal 12% = $3.43/gallon
Lowes = $6.90/2 gallons, nominal 12% = $3.45/gallon
Hasa = $18.40/4 gallons = $4.60/gallon
Leslie = $10.49/2 gallons, nominal 12% = $5.25/gallon

3. Dichlor
Costco = $55/24 one-pound packets, see note A = $2.29/pound
Leslies = $122/40 pounds, 55% available Cl = $3.05/pound
Lowes = $70/22.5 pounds, 99% dichlor, 56% available Cl = $3.11/pound
Home Depot = $80/22.5 pounds, 99% dichlor, 56% available Cl, See Note B =
3.56/pound

4. Trichlor
Home Depot = $75/37.5 pounds, 99% trichlor, 90% available Cl = $2.00/pound
Costco = $84.79/40 pounds, 94.05% trichlor, 84.65% available Cl =
$2.12/pound
Lowes $75/35 pounds, 95% trichlor, 85% available Cl = $2.14/pound
Leslies = $80/35 pounds, 90% available Cl = $2.29/pound

5. Calcium hypochlorite
Leslies = $107.19/25 pounds, 73% available Cl = $4.29/pound

And here's the summary taking into account available chlorine!
1. Household bleach
Costco = $9/546oz * 128oz/gal * 1gal/9.0pounds * 100pounds/5.7pounds =
$4.11/pound of available Cl
Safeway = $3.89/1.42 gallons * 1gal/9.0pounds * 100pounds/5.7pounds =
$5.34/pound of available Cl

2. Pool bleach
Hasa $21.44/8 gallons x 1 gallon/9.7 pounds x 100/10.8 = $2.56/pound of
available chlorine (see note C)
Hasa = $11.72/case * 1 case/4 g * 1gal/9.7 pounds * 100pounds/10.8 pounds =
$2.80/pound of available Cl

2. Home Depot = $6.86/2 gallons * 1gal/9.7 pounds * 100pounds/10.8 pounds =
$3.27/pound of available Cl
Lowes = $6.90/2 gallons * 1gal/9.7 pounds * 100pounds/10.8 pounds =
$3.29/pound of available Cl
Hasa = $18.40/4 gallons x 1 gallon/9.7 pounds x 100/10.8 = $4.39/pound of
available chlorine (see note C)
Leslie = $10.49/2 gallons * 1gal/9.7 pounds * 100pounds/10.8 pounds =
$5.01/pound of available Cl

3. Dichlor
Leslies = $122/40 pounds * 100/55 pounds = $5.55/pound of available Cl
Lowes = $70/22.5 pounds * 100/56 pounds = $5.56/pound of available Cl
Home Depot = $80/22.5 pounds * 100/56 pounds = $6.35/pound of available Cl
Costco = $55/24 pounds * 100/36 = $6.37/pound of available Cl

4. Trichlor
Home Depot = $75/37.5 pounds * 100/90 pounds = $2.22/pound of available Cl
Costco = 84.79/40 pounds * 100/84.65 pounds = $2.50/pound of available Cl
Lowes $75/35 pounds * 100/85 pounds = $2.52/pound of available Cl[/b]
Leslies = $80/35 pounds * 100/90 pounds = $2.54/pound of available Cl

5. Calcium hypochlorite
Leslies = $107.19/25 pounds * 100/73 pounds = $5.87/pound of available Cl
Note: While I was there, I researched the comparison prices of the
following:

6. Muriatic Acid:
Leslies = $14/2 gallons of 29% HCl = $3.50/gallon of 14.5% equivalent
Lowes = $10/2 gallons of 14.5% HCl = $5.00/gallon of 14.5% equivalent
Home Depot = $11/2 gallons of 14.5% HCl = $5.50/gallon of 14.5% equivalent

7. Cyanuric acid:
Home Depot = $20/5 pounds = $4/pound
Leslies = $24/4 pounds = $6/pound

8. Soda ash:
Leslies = $66/50 pounds = $1.32/pound
Home Depot = $8/6 pounds = $1.33/pound

9. Calcium Chloride:
Leslies Hardness Plus (unlabeled but store said it's Calcium Chloride) =
$45/25 pounds = $1.80/pound
Home Depot = $11/5 pounds = $2.20 pound