Why is the Chlorine Level at Zero in my Pool?

Рет қаралды 47,730

Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To - SPL

Күн бұрын

One of the biggest problems that you can run into with your swimming pool is that it stops holding chlorine. We refer to this in the industry is as the chlorine zeroing out. There are a number of reasons for this and it is more noticeable in the Spring and Summer when the weather starts heating up and the Sun’s UV Rays become stronger. I will touch on the most common reasons why your pool is not holding chlorine week to week.
One of the first things to look at is the pool’s filtration system in run time. This is often overlooked and is crucial to the pool holding chlorine. If the skimmer basket is clogged with debris or the pump basket is clogged the pool will not circulate well. The filter is just as crucial so if it is dirty or the cartridges or grids have tears in them, chances are the pool will have a zero-chlorine reading due to the organic contaminates not being filtered out properly. First, check your pool filtration and your skimmer and pump baskets and make sure they are running efficiently.
Next is the overall pool run time. If you are not running your pool long enough each week, chances are the chlorine level will be low each week. Make sure you are running your pool for at least one cycle each day which all the water in the pool is going into the filter and then back out into the pool. If you are running a Variable Speed pump know that on a lower speed the pump needs to run longer. If you were running your standard pump 8 hours a day it was running at a speed of 3450 RPM. So if you set your VS pump for 8 hours and run it at 1800 RPM that is less than 1/3 the actual run time as before. You may be running your VS pump way too short and at too low the RPM for it to be effective. The same is true for your standard speed pump. A good rule is to run your pump as much as you can until the pool starts holding chlorine.
If you have a Salt Water System (Salt Water Generator) and you do not run your pool long enough, the salt cell cannot produce enough chlorine each day to reach a sustainable level. You can also have the pool running long enough but you may have the salt output set too low. Set the salt output to 100% and then decrease it down if it is producing too much chlorine. Not the other way around.
Algae, Organic Debris, Phosphates, and Nitrates can all affect the chlorine in the pool also. If your pool has visible algae chances are the chlorine is being used up fast as it tries to fight the algae. Phosphates and the less common Nitrates can also quickly destroy the pool’s chlorine level. If the pool water is cloudy or there are visible algae, then there is a water quality issue. One way to solve this is to bring the chlorine level up to shock levels of 20 ppm and run the pool for 12-24 hours. You may also have too little Conditioner (CYA) in the pool. Test the CYA level and make sure it is at least at 30 ppm, otherwise, the Sun will burn off the chlorine within hours.
You could also be using bad chlorine. What I mean by this is chlorine that is expired, especially in the case of liquid chlorine. Over time the power of the chlorine gets weaker. Just like leaving a gallon of bleach in your laundry room and not using it for several months. When you do use it you will notice that it is very weak and does almost nothing when added to the washer. Liquid chlorine also will get weaker over time. So if you purchase it at your local Walmart or Home Depot don’t be surprised if it is ineffective because they failed to rotate their stock. Shock in a bag has a shelf life of about 2 years but that to can get weaker over time. Keep your chlorine fresh by purchasing what you need when you need it and try to buy it from a local pool store versus the big box retail or hardware stores.
These are a few reasons why your chlorine level may be zeroing out each week. There are more but I find these to be the most common.
Visit my Website: www.swimmingpoollearning.com/
eBook: www.swimmingpoollearning.com/...
KZfaq Video Index: poolmandave.blogspot.com/2014/... - A list of all of my videos.
KZfaq: / @spl
Visit my Website: www.swimmingpoollearning.com/
eBook: www.swimmingpoollearning.com/...
Blogger: poolmandave.blogspot.com/
Facebook: pages/Youtub...
Twitter: / mrdgvb1
Join me on Patreon: / poolguycoaching
Podcast: www.buzzsprout.com/110832
Podcast Website: www.thepoolguypodcastshow.com/
Coaching Site: poolguycoaching.com/

Пікірлер: 46

@audio1484 3 жыл бұрын

Dude you have great technical and practical knowledge of pools. Keep up the great content!

@danstauffer7572 2 жыл бұрын

I really appreciate the thorough information on this topic!

@saraw112 3 жыл бұрын

Very helpful!! Thanks!

@ikemattern9440 4 жыл бұрын

How do I test for TDS? Is there a test strip or something? Good vids and very informative. I've been looking for something informative like this.

@shteebo 2 жыл бұрын

My local pool store includes TDS in their free water analysis.

@pattijesinoski1958 2 жыл бұрын

HElp With a vinyl pool liner. I have a regular spa waterfalling into my pool. I have zero chlorine. I am on my 4th pool help. I weekly guy, 2 pool repair guys and the 4th is a vinyl pool installer that won't listen to my quest for help. Doesnt understrand i am possibly having a giardia or ameoba problem looking at zero chlotibe since june in las vegas. Thanks fof any help you can advise.

@JOETERRANY 5 жыл бұрын

Any pool equipment/maintenance videos coming???

@SPL 5 жыл бұрын

Yes. Got a few I am editing.

@WhyYouAskingMe 4 жыл бұрын

Since my pool has a saltwater generator. It generates Chlorine gas. When my Chlorine is zero. I look at my pool and in my best Sling Blade voice I say "It ain't got no gas in it, mmm hmm."

@SPL 4 жыл бұрын

Nice! 😜

@arthurvin2937 5 жыл бұрын

David, remember I told you about my new iChlor reading salt at 4500ppm vs. SpinTouch insisted on 3600ppm. I wasn't comfortable with that 4500 number since my plaster has seen better days to be tortured by salt. I ended up draining 40% of water to match 3600ppm on my iChlor and make it happy. Spintouch is now reporting 2800ppm. It seems that iChlor is totally happy with 2800ppm as well, still producing tons of chlorine. Do you think low salt is bad for iChlor in long term?

@awhitepillow_1385 5 жыл бұрын

Arthur Vin I would say if your Salt cell is producing enough chlorine to keep your pool sanitized at that level even on extremely hot days you shouldn’t have issues, but if you notice it can’t keep up, I would boost that level to the recommended amount for your cell. It’s really about cleaning your cell and maintaining it that will hurt it if you don’t, if it gets calcium build up etc.

@SPL 5 жыл бұрын

Strange that your salt readings are off but if everything is working you will be fine. High salt has more of an effect than low salt.

@arthurvin2937 5 жыл бұрын

@@awhitepillow_1385 I wonder how low salt could affect pH climb. Technically, the salt cell would need to work harder to bring that chlorine, hence producing more hydrogen and oxygen atoms aerating water and hence messing with pH, which will require adding more acid to keep it in balance. But it's been 4 days since I diluted excess salt, and interestingly enough, I observed pretty much opposite effect, kinda against theory - the pH hasn't moved from day 1, it kept steady pH for 4 days at 7.6, for the first time in the history of my pool. It would be great to understand chemistry and science behind.

@mustbeheard9834 4 жыл бұрын

I had a zero reading every week, then I had the water professionally tested. Came back high level Chlorine but too much CYA! Pump not being run enough cause the problem? Will drain water down 11/2 feet, to dilute pool, to lower CYA, refill then hopefully it will resolve the Chlorine problem

@SPL 4 жыл бұрын

Depends on the pool size. Usually 1-2 ft will do the trick

@shteebo 2 жыл бұрын

@@SPL So, if understand correctly, when you pool guys say "drain the pool", context is important. For high CYA or TDS or similar, you really mean drain it 2 feet, enough so everything's diluted by about 30% and after refill those readings will be back in the acceptable range. But, presumably that doesn't apply to a "drain the pool" aimed at eliminating established algae? I was thinking such a thing would require acid washing the pool surfaces, for example. (Appreciate your content. Keep it up.)

@keithdantonio680 4 жыл бұрын

HELP 1 don’t know what’s going on with my pool all of a sudden this spring I keep having low chlorine readings so I crank up my output dial I test the chlorine in the morning the test strip shows bright pink like there’s too much chlorine and then I test again in the afternoon and test strip shows it’s almost out of chlorine what could be going on? My salt is around 3200 I check it with a digital meter and the display so I know the salt is good. I have the Hayward aqua right system

@SPL 4 жыл бұрын

If the salt system is giving you green lights and is producing check the CYA level and the Phosphate levels. Surpisingly high Phosphate levels can zero out your salt system chlorine.

@evelyneller9647 5 жыл бұрын

I have a 24ftx52in pool and I bought a Taylor 2005 water testing kit. When I test the chlorine it doesn't change to any color. Does this mean that I don't have enough chlorine in my pool? I put one gallon of liquid in the pool this morning and it still isn't showing any chlorine. We had a algae attack about 3 weeks ago but the algae is gone but the water is cloudy. We have vacuumed, brushed the walls, shocked and put in other chemicals that our local pool store said we needed and they are great people but our water is still cloudy. I ordered some Super Blue from Amazon which is suppose to clear up the cloudy water. So if I put a shock and swim in it ( we're having a birthday party for a 2-year-old) would that help bring up my chlorine #?

@SPL 5 жыл бұрын

I would add more chlorine right away. Bring it up to 10 ppm to remove the cloudy water before the party.

@robertaeby7136 4 жыл бұрын

Evelyn Eller I

@joegalvagna 4 жыл бұрын

My timer for the chlorine as no off switch is this correct. This means my chlorine is on all the time is this correct.

@SPL 4 жыл бұрын

I am not sure what brand that is but in that case, yes - it will always be letting chlorine is as long as pool is running.

@Bunkysworkshop 4 жыл бұрын

I have a 30,000 gal pool. I also have a two speed two horse power pool pump. I run the pump 24/7 on low and a Frog leap system. I normally don’t have any problems. Do you feel this is a good running program?

@SPL 4 жыл бұрын

I think a few hours on full speed is important in the Summer months.

@erinrn8784 3 жыл бұрын

How many gallons of liquid chlorine do I need for a 20,000 gallon pool with a reading of 0? Pool calculator is telling me 2.5 gallons but that doesn’t seem enough.

@JessicaMichel123 4 жыл бұрын

Salt pool 9:35

@artemisapaulina29 2 жыл бұрын

Every week?? Every 24 hrs at the most! I've read high TA and too high or low CYA could be the culprit,, so after testing at Leslie's...I used muriatic acid for my 207 TA & 130 CYA levels. After 5 gallons of muriatic acid, the Clorox test strips shows TA at 180 and CYA at ZERO! How in the heck did muriatic acid lowered CYA??? Everybody says the only way to lower this is by draining, plus the TA didn't even get to a proper level either. PH went down to 6.2 which I'm now trying to rise with aeration as to not add anymore chemicals. I'm going nuts! My pool is only 4,500gals.

@SPL 2 жыл бұрын

Maybe the low pH is causing interference on the test strip.

@artemisapaulina29 2 жыл бұрын

@@SPL ohhhhh,,,yeah, that could be it., thanks!!!

@fernandoHernandez-tl3bo Жыл бұрын

I have a inground pool lyner. 20,000 gallon. For the pass month my pool guy cleans pool adds chemicals. But 2 days later pool starts turning green. I check with test strips. Says no free chlorine. I add more chlorine. And i check the levels the next day. And still says zero free chlorine. Pool guy tested for phosphate. And reads between 300 to 400 ppb. He used to keep my pool clean and blue. But not cant seem to be able to maintain anymore. Any suggestions thx

@SPL Жыл бұрын

You need to treat the phosphates. Use a good phosphate remover - Orenda PR10000

@fernandoHernandez-tl3bo Жыл бұрын

Excellent thnk u for responce

@shirishkumarjoshi7860 4 жыл бұрын

What is the permissible Chlorine level in swimming pool?

@SPL 4 жыл бұрын

Up to 10 ppm.

@sls78.. 5 жыл бұрын

Is it better to circulate the pool during the heat of the day to prevent the water from evaporating and protect the chlorine better?

@John-gm8ty 5 жыл бұрын

pool cover, limits UV that breaks down the chlorine and stops evaporation and crap landing in the water. win win.

@carlosmacias7326 5 жыл бұрын

During summer its best to circulate more hours to keep it cooler and use less chemicals.

@John-gm8ty 5 жыл бұрын

@@carlosmacias7326 warmer doesn't really affect chlorine, it's UV breakdown and evoporation. *The Effects of Temperature Temperature indirectly affects chlorine breakdown. Many bacteria species grow better in warmer water. When bacteria proliferate, free chlorine is used up more quickly as it kills them. Here's a general rule of thumb: For every 10 degrees Fahrenheit above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, twice as much chlorine is needed in the pool to maintain an adequate free-chlorine level. This is more important for spas, which are regularly operated at higher temperatures.* sciencing.com/heat-sun-affect-pool-chlorine-21723.html

@jesysand13 4 жыл бұрын

I have chlorine in my pool but is not reading it? And the water is clear the ph is fine their tablets in water

@SPL 4 жыл бұрын

You would get a reading if chlorine is present. Otherwise add some chlorine in another form besides the tablets. Try adding some liquid chlorine.

@schulze25 4 жыл бұрын

My pool is cloudy and no matter how many chlorine tabs I put in it reads no chlorine. Idk what to do. Any advice plez?

@SPL 4 жыл бұрын

It could be a number of things but the tablets are slow dissolving so you may need to shock your pool with some liquid chlorine or some bags of shock.