SWG not making chlorine--new cell needed?

[ccrimmin]

Hello everyone--love this forum! My pool is 6 years old, and the saltwater generator (Zodiac DuoClear--which is no longer making this SWG) always worked fine. This year it has not made any chlorine, even though all of the lights are on as if it is working. According to pool store readings, I've balanced the water and added enough salt. The water temp is 80 degrees. They've had me add "shock" regularly for the past three weeks because of low chlorine readings.

Do I need a new SWG cell ($700)? I saw that they only last 5 yrs on average, but my pool is open only 3 months/year, so I thought I'd get much longer out of it. Help, please--I am so confused and no one I talk to (even at store) seems to know what to tell me.

Here are most recent numbers:

Free Chlorine: .11 ppm
Total Chlorine: .11 ppm
Combined Chlorine: 0 ppm
pH: 7.4
Harness: 187 ppm
Alkalinity: 78 ppm
Cyanuric Acid: 37 ppm
Copper: .9 ppm
Iron: .1 ppm
Borate: .1 ppm
Salt: 4310 ppm

Thank you for any insight you can provide, especially about whether to buy new cell when I don't even know how to determine if that is the problem. Cindy in PA

[Watermom]

I'm going to let somebody else help you with your SWG questions but just wanted to make a couple of suggestions for you.

In the meantime, you need to be adding chlorine by hand or you are going to have a second problem ---- a swamp! What are the ingredients in the shock they have had you add? You can just use plain, unscented bleach for your chlorine which is what many of us do. If you will give your volume, someone here can make a suggestion as to amounts.

Secondly, I can tell from your numbers that your readings are from a pool store. It is better (and readings are more reliable) if you test yourself. Get a Taylor K-2006 or 2006C from the link in my signature below. It will pay for itself in no time and makes pool care so much easier.

Welcome to the Pool Forum, by the way!

[ccrimmin]

Thank you, Watermom. Even though it took a problem to find this forum, I am extremely grateful. The BBB system is intriguing, especially now that my pool store isn't helping to solve my problem other than to tell me to buy expensive chemicals each week. This cannot continue--time for a drastic change. I'll follow your advice. Cindy

[CarlD]

I'm guessing your cell is gone. I'm new to SWCGs myself so I hope PoolSean will see this.

Meanwhile, the B-B-B system is really nothing but common sense, paring away all the gobble-de-gook pool stores, pool chem companies and pool service guys feed you.
It comes down to:
1) You need and use chlorine to keep your pool sanitary. Generally bleach or Liquid Chlorine (same thing, only stronger) is the best source of chlorine.
2) pH--keep your acid/base levels in the proper range. Usually Borax (yes, Borax) or Washing Soda (same as pool store pH Up!) to raise, muriatic acid or dry acid to lower pH
3) Stabilizer: This determines the ideal levels of chlorine. Stabilizer is sold in pool stores. Just the simple Cyanuric or IsoCyanuric acid, nothing else.
4) T/A or total alkalinity. This helps keep your pH stable. You raise this with baking soda.

For this you need a proper test kit--the best $50-$70 you can invest in your pool. That's the Taylor kit Watermom mentioned. Leslie's Chlorine FAS-DPD Service Test Kit is the same thing as the Taylor, rebadged by Leslies and now exorbitantly expensive at $86. It used to be about $70. but they seem to have jumped the price this season--a lot.

If your pool is clear, you'll want to maintain FC between 3 and 6 ppm. If it needs to be shocked or you have algae, you'll need to maintain it at 15ppm until the algae is dead..that's given your CYA reading of between 30 and 50 (37 is not a realistic number--the tests aren't that precise).

If and when you replace your salt cell, you'll probably need to increase your CYA to the 60-80 range normally recommended for SWCGs, and maintain your FC at 5% or more of the CYA level (CYA=60 means FC of 3 or more. CYA of 80 means FC of 4 or more). But, until then, the Best Guess table here rules.

B-B-B is easy. It stands for Bleach, Borax and Baking Soda. Of course, we also suggest Muriatic Acid and CYA-stabilizer, but B-B-B is easy to remember, and easy to use.
Best of all, IT WORKS! (because it is logical and rational).

[ccrimmin]

Thank you, Carl. Finally gave up on my pool store and called Leslie's to see if they can test my SWG cell. They say they can, so we'll see if it's working and go from there. I am definitely going to learn how to test my own water, whether or not we move to BBB this season. I'll keep you updated. Cindy