Water Chemistry Problems - Sanitizers

PROBLEM: High rate of chlorinating product usage

POSSIBLE CAUSES: Low pH (below 7.2), lack of adequate level of chlorine stabilizer, extreme heat, introduction of large amounts of debris & waste: high bather usage, children urinating in the pool, heavy rains; high combined chlorine level, or presence of algae.

SOLUTION: Make sure to maintain proper Free Chlorine levels, pH and stabilizer. If needed, adjust pH with SUN pH Plus or pH Minus and stabilizer with SUN® Conditioner; filter continuously. Inspect for the presence of algae or bacterial slimes. If present, see Algae Problems. Make sure that children are not urinating in the pool, vacuum all debris from the bottom, and clean the skimmer. Combined chlorine levels (chloramines) are ineffective as a pool water sanitizer. Shock the pool with SUN-Brite® Non-Chlorine Oxidizer, SUN-Burn® Extra, SUN-Burn® 35, or SUN Shock ‘N Clear® Multi-Purpose Shock per label directions to destroy or eliminate these chloramines.

PROBLEM: High Free Chlorine levels

POSSIBLE CAUSES: Adding too much chlorinating product (incorrect feeder setting), shocking too frequently or using too much shock or low bather demand.

SOLUTION: The Free Chlorine level will lower over time. Thereafter, adjust the amount of chlorinating product being added to the pool based on how the pool is being used and the water temperature. Add more during times of heat and peak usage, and less during cooler and less active periods of usage. If chlorinating product is added at too high a rate, the Free Chlorine level can build up. Always follow label directions carefully. Proper free chlorine levels should be maintained between 1-3 ppm.

PROBLEM: High combined chlorine (chloramines - causes chlorine odors)

POSSIBLE CAUSES: Presence of organic waste products (children urinating in the pool), insufficient shock treatment, failure to adequately maintain Free Chlorine residual or poor circulation and filtration

SOLUTION: Combined chlorine (chloramines) can be odorous and irritating and is ineffective as a pool water sanitizer. Shock the pool with SUN-Brite® Non-Chlorine Oxidizer, which destroys the ineffective Combined Chlorine level. Add sufficient amounts of shock until the difference between the Combined Chlorine level and Free Chlorine level is less than 0.2 ppm. If needed, add SUN-Burn® Extra or SUN-Burn® 35 to raise the Free Chlorine level to 1-3 ppm. Follow label directions for proper dosage rates. For questions concerning proper amounts to add consult your professional SUN Dealer.

PROBLEM: Low Free Chlorine levels

POSSIBLE CAUSES: Insufficient dosage of chlorinating product, high bather usage, heavy rains or extreme heat, lack of adequate level of chlorine stabilizer, low pH (below 7.2), poor circulation or short filter cycle or presence of algae and organic waste products.

SOLUTION: Shock the pool weekly with a quick-dissolving product such as:, SUN-Burn Extra or SUN-Burn 35 or SUN Shock ‘N Clear Multi-Purpose Shock. Repeat shock treatment until a Free Chlorine level of 3 ppm can be maintained overnight. Check pH and stabilizer level, and adjust accordingly SUN pH Plus or pH Minus or SUN Conditioner respectively; filter continuously. Resume normal chlorination and filtration.

PROBLEM: Chlorine/Sanitizer Appears Ineffective

POSSIBLE CAUSES: Presence of organic waste products (children urinating in pool) or lawn fertilizer, high levels of combined chlorine (chloramines), insufficient shock treatment, presence of algae and bacterial slimes, failure to adequately maintain Free Chlorine residual, poor circulation and filtration or high pH and/or stabilizer level and/or TDS.

SOLUTION: Super chlorinate the pool to raise the Free Chlorine level 10 times that of the combined chlorine level. A quick-dissolving product such as: SUN-Burn Extra or SUN-Burn 35 should be used.

Hints/Preventive Maintenance: Test your water daily to maintain proper sanitizer and pH levels. Make sure your filter is in good working order and the filter cycles are long enough. Take a water sample into your professional SUN® Dealer at the first signs of poor water quality. If you use a chlorine feeder with trichlor tablets, be sure to add tablets weekly to replace the quantity dissolved. Trichlor tablets are acidic and may require regular additions of SUN Pool Plus in order to maintain a proper pH. Shock the pool to destroy contamination and help the regular chlorine product additions work more effectively. Do not allow chlorinating products to come in direct contact with vinyl pool surfaces as it will cause bleaching.