Why is my pool showing no free chlorine?

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.

How do you fix low free chlorine?

To fix this problem, you'll need to add salt. It's recommended that your pool's salt level should be at 5,000 ppm. Just remember that for a 16,000 gallon pool, a 44 lbs bag of salt comes out to about 500 ppm. Another reason your chlorine level may always be low is because your salt cell needs a good cleaning.

What does it mean if free chlorine is 0?

If the chlorine level is zero, it doesn't sound like your chlorinator is doing its job. It is safe to swim with active chlorine in the pool, below shock levels. Provide the full results of your most recent chemistry results. Chlorine is affected by the other chemical components of your water.

Will 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.

What causes chlorine levels to drop?

In short, the UV rays produced by the sun have a major effect on chlorine. When exposed to UV rays, chlorine ions begin to separate, which eventually destroys them. And as your chlorine burns away, your sanitizer level drops. This is the very reason why CYA (cyanuric acid), or chlorine stabilizer, exists.

Why Your Pool Isn't Holding Chlorine

Can you swim with low free chlorine?

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.

How much shock Do I need to raise free chlorine?

The goal of shocking your pool is to raise the free chlorine level of your pool water to roughly 10 times the combined chlorine level of your pool water.

What eats chlorine in a pool?

Look for algae. Algae growth in your pool will rapidly consume free chlorine. High temperatures, high levels of phosphates, dirty or clogged filters and low chlorine levels can promote algae growth. Scrubbing with a brush can remove algae from surfaces if they have accumulated in one place.

What happens if free chlorine is low?

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.

How do you balance free chlorine and total chlorine?

Subtract the free chlorine measurement from the total chlorine measurement to calculate the amount of combined chlorine (total – free = combined). If combined chlorine is higher than 0.5 ppm you should shock the pool. Depending on the total chlorine level, use either a non-chlorine shock or a chlorinated shock.

What is more important free chlorine or total chlorine?

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. This is easy to do with test strips or a liquid test kit.

Does sunlight burn off chlorine?

Direct sunlight (UV)

Direct sunlight breaks down chlorine. Without a stabilizer (cyanuric acid) in the water, as much as 90% of free available chlorine could be destroyed within just two or three hours.

What happens if you put too much shock in a pool?

Although, if you overdo the shock treatment, you risk getting green hair from chlorine due to the excess chlorine oxidizing the copper in the water. You can execute a shock treatment with a few different types of pool shock, just be mindful of how much you're using.

Why is my pool still cloudy after shocking it?

But if the cloudy water persists long after you've shocked the pool, you're likely having an issue with water balance, circulation, or filtration. Heavy use of a calcium based pool shock (cal-hypo) may increase Calcium Hardness over a period of time, increasing your odds of cloudy water.

How long does free chlorine last in pool?

Most floating chlorinators can hold anywhere from two to eight weeks worth of chlorine, depending on conditions such as the season and your pool's size. An automatic feeder works in a similar way, allowing it to mix with the pool water slowly and deliberately.

How fast will free chlorine evaporate from a pool?

Depending on its levels of content, the evaporation time for chlorine from tap water can be estimated: 2 ppm of Chlorine will take up to 4 and a half days or around 110 hours to evaporate from 10 gallons of standing water.

What temp does chlorine stop working?

If water temperature exceeds 113º F, the Cell may fail. Reduced chlorine output at low temps. Reduced chlorine output at low temps. Reduced chlorine output at low temps.

Does a warm pool need more chlorine?

Warmer water means more chlorine demand. This is not due to sunlight degradation of chlorine, though summertime does mean more hours of direct sunlight hitting an outdoor pool. The real reasons for higher chlorine demand are because both living and non-living contaminants are more prevalent in warmer water.

Are chlorine tablets free chlorine?

Chlorine that is added to swimming pools is "free" chlorine, in that it has not yet bonded with nitrates, ammonia or other compounds in the dirty pool water. Free chlorine to treat a pool can come in liquid form, tablet form or granular form.

Does chlorinating liquid raise free chlorine?

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.

Is pool shock the same as chlorine?

Shock is chlorine, in a high dose, meant to shock your pool and raise the chlorine level quickly. Chlorine tabs (placed in a chlorinator, floater, or skimmer basket) maintain a chlorine residual in the water. You do need to use both tabs and shock.

Can I put chlorine tablets in my skimmer basket?

Never put chlorine tablets into the skimmer baskets of your pool. Some pool companies will put chlorine tablets directly into the skimmer baskets of the pool. Never allow anyone to put chlorine tablets in these skimmer baskets.

Does sun affect chlorine in pools?

That gorgeous sunlight you like to enjoy near the pool also affects the chlorine. The sun's ultraviolet rays can cut down the chlorine concentration by 90% in as little as two hours. And on very hot days, the chlorine will deplete faster, becoming a cesspool for bacteria.

Can I put chlorine in my pool during the day?

Best Time to Shock Your Pool

The best time of day to shock pool is when the sun is down. So, experts recommend shocking your pool in the evening or at night, to make sure it does its job. Shocking during the day can be ineffective as UV rays from direct sunlight significantly reduce free chlorine levels.