This occurs when too
much stabilizer
is added to the water or when the swimming pool isn’t being partially drained and refilled periodically. Chlorine lock can also occur if the pH is unbalanced. The quickest way to determine if a chlorine lock is present is to perform a test for total chlorine and free chlorine.
How do I raise the free chlorine in my pool?
Raising pool chlorine can be much easier than trying to lower chlorine levels. Simply
adding chlorine in the form of chlorine tablets, granular chlorine, liquid shock or powder shock
will increase the total amount of chlorine within the pool.
Why is my free chlorine so low?
What causes low free chlorine in pool? … Things that cause low free chlorine levels are
excessive sunlight, high bather loads
, and improper water chemistry. Not having enough chlorine in your swimming pool will also cause the little bit of chlorine that’s in there to be used up faster too.
How do you fix high chlorine and low free chlorine?
If your total chlorine level is high, you will use a non-chlorine shock; if it is low, you will use a chlorinated shock. As a rule, you will need to
raise free chlorine to 10 times your combined chlorine
to hit what is known as “break point.” Therefore, it is good to deal with combined chlorine while it is still small.
Is it safe to swim if free chlorine is low?
As mentioned above, you
could probably swim in a pool without chlorine without any major health issues
. However, long-term use of a pool lacking chlorinated H2O could make you sick or, at the very least, contribute to rashes and other types of skin irritation.
Does shock raise free chlorine?
“Shocking” refers to the process of adding chlorine or non-chlorine pool chemicals to the water in order to raise the “free chlorine” level. The goal is to
raise this level to a point where contaminants
such as algae, chloramines and bacteria are destroyed. … In fact, a clean pool will be almost odor-free.
Can total chlorine be less than free chlorine?
The
Total Chlorine level cannot be less than the Free Chlorine level
. Once you know how much Combined Chlorine is in the water, you add about 10 times that amount of Free Chlorine to get rid of it.
What’s the difference between total chlorine and free chlorine?
Free Chlorine – This is the chlorine that you usually test for in your pool water. This chlorine is available to sanitize your pool. Your pool should have
between 1 and 3 parts per million
(ppm) in the water. … Total Chlorine – This type of chlorine is the sum of both free chlorine and combined chlorine.
Why does my chlorine level keep dropping?
Sunlight Affects
Chlorine
The bright sun breaks down the chlorine and you’ll notice your pool chlorine levels drop. … Adding shock during the sunlight hours will render the chlorine less effective. Your pH levels affect your chlorine levels and the ability for the chlorine to do its work properly.
Why is my chlorine level low after shocking?
You might have
an infestation of algae, fungus or bacteria
that can deplete normal chlorine levels and it is possible for this to occur without many visible signs. Your pool may appear to have a dusty look on the pool bottom. If you brush it and it clouds the water, then it is most likely a Mustard Algae.
Does too much chlorine make pool cloudy?
Excessive levels of pool chemicals can cause your water to become cloudy
. High pH, high alkalinity, high chlorine or other sanitisers, and high calcium hardness are all common culprits.
What is more important free chlorine or total chlorine?
If the total chlorine level is higher than the free chlorine level, the difference of the two is
the combined chlorine level
. In order for your pool to be properly sanitized, the free chlorine level must remain higher than the combined chlorine level. This is why it’s so important to test your pool water regularly.
How long can pool water sit without chlorine?
I think the answer to your question is
about 3-6 days
. The problem is that the chlorine that you need to keep the bacteria in check is used up more quickly as the temperature rises, the activity increases, and as sweat and other body stuff is put into the pool.
How long after shock can I add chlorine?
And how long do you have to wait before you can swim? You should
wait one hour per pound of shock product added
, and then test the water to confirm the pH and chlorine are in the proper range before letting anyone enter the pool.
Can I use pool shock instead of chlorine?
SKIMMER NOTES: No. Chlorine and shock are
not the same
thing.
Shock has a more intense chemical strength than the traditional chlorine sanitizers, and it also differs in how you should apply it to your swimming pool. Short answer: No.