Intellichem recommends no higher than 35 CYA or it voids warranty??

[mxfan]

Hello,
We just finished our in ground pool about 3 weeks ago and our pool builder hired a company to do the chemical startup. The chemical startup company told me that the warranty on the Intellichem system would be void if the CYA level goes over 35?
According to the Pool School Recommended levels, the CYA should be 70-80 in our SWG pool. We haven't added the salt yet and the start up company is using pucks (without CYA) in our skimmer for chlorine.
Will the SWG make enough chlorine to keep the CYA 35 or less?
Our pool is not covered and will get a ton of sun in the Summer.
Current readings:
FC 2
CC 0
PH 7.6
TA 20
CH 120
Start up company says they will slowly get the CH and TA levels up over the next month or two? Shouldn't the levels be brought up asap?
Thanks!

 

[mas985]

That may be because of the ORP sensor. High CYA levels can interfere with the ORP sensor readings. Unfortunately that usually means higher FC usage and a shorter cell life.

 

[splashpad]

... the start up company is using pucks (without CYA) in our skimmer for chlorine ...

Are the tablets/pucks dissolving slowly or quickly?

 

[mxfan]

Are the tablets/pucks dissolving slowly or quickly?

They put in one puck and it lasts about 7 days or so

 

[splashpad]

They put in one puck and it lasts about 7 days or so

That is likely stabilized (aka contains CYA).... Any chance they can show you the packaging/wrapper?
A single puck isn't detrimental, but continued use, of course, leads to excessive CYA

 

[splashpad]

Will the SWG make enough chlorine to keep the CYA 35 or less?

To answer this question, the SWCG will have to be run longer (shortens longevity, due to more operating hours) to make up for FC loss (UV degradation, weather, swimmers, etc) due to the lower CYA.
You might have to "bump" (overnight would be most effective) FC levels (liquid chlorine/plain household bleach) if they can't be maintained above 3 by the SWCG alone. You can check the dose amount with PoolMath

 

[cfherrman]

If those are your readings with a Taylor or tf test kit I would be concerned with not balencing the pool immediately

 

[splashpad]

@mxfan (bold mine)

IntelliChem Water Chemistry Controller
Optimum Pool Water Chemistry Conditions for Salt Water Pools
(using the IntelliChlor® Salt Chlorine Generator (SCG)
In accordance with the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP)
standards, it is recommended that the pool water chemistry conditions (see page
21) be maintained on an on going basis to help protect pool users, pool related
equipment and surfaces in and around the pool. These values are important to
maintaining the pool equipment in proper operating condition and preventing corrosion,
liming or other problems. The IntelliChlor (SCG) is warranted to operate properly only
if these conditions are met. For more information, refer to your local agency having
jurisdiction, NSPI (National Spa and Pool Institute), the CDC (Centers for Disease
Control), or the WHO (World Health Organization). Recommended pool water chemistry is
given below:
Free Chlorine: 2.0 - 4.0 ppm. Above 4.0 ppm may cause corrosion of metal components
Combined Chlorine (Chloramines): None (super chlorinate to remove all chloramines)
pH: 7.2 - 7.8 (USE MURIATIC ACID to lower pH and Soda Ash to raise pH.)
Cyanuric Acid: 30 - 50 ppm
Total Alkalinity: 80 - 120 ppm
Calcium Hardness: 200 - 400 ppm
TDS (includes salt): 3000 minium to 5700 to 6000 maximum ppm
Salt: 3000 - 4500 ppm (ideal 3400 ppm)
Metals (Copper, Iron, Manganese): None
Nitrates: None - Phosphates: Less than 125 ppb

 

[setsailsoon]

@mxfan (bold mine)

Trust but verify is a good policy for pool companies. In the case of pool stores don't even trust.

 

[mxfan]

@mxfan (bold mine)

Thanks for clarifying! The guy doing the chemical startup on the pool was who told me that 35 CYA was the max for warranty so I took his word for it. I should have looked it up

 

[splashpad]

Thanks for clarifying! The guy doing the chemical startup on the pool was who told me that 35 CYA was the max for warranty so I took his word for it. I should have looked it up

No worries, as cfherrman noted, do the PB & CSc allow you to adjust chemistry levels? If not, I would contact them about the skewed levels to get them corrected sooner rather than later! Especially since your pool is less than a month old!

 

[dw886]

@mxfan (bold mine)

It looks like this excerpt is for the IntelliChlor. I know the IntelliChem manual also says something, but I think it's because excessive CYA screws with ORP readings, which are required to figure out the IntelliChlor dosing...

I have an IntelliChem, and a covered pool. I've found that ORP doesn't work well at all in my scenario, and I'm anal about keeping all of my numbers very closely in-line with what Pentair's recommendations are...while keeping them on the TFP side of the recommended range...

 

[splashpad]

It looks like this excerpt is for the IntelliChlor.

Nope it's from the manual for the IntelliChem

 

[ajw22]

Thanks for clarifying! The guy doing the chemical startup on the pool was who told me that 35 CYA was the max for warranty so I took his word for it. I should have looked it up

You should have asked "the guy" how you can measure CYA 35? Fact is you cannot. Taylor CYA tests can only measure CYA to nearest 10 and you always round up. CYA test tube scale is logarithmic and you cannot eyeball values between the lines.

 

[mxfan]

No worries, as cfherrman noted, do the PB & CSc allow you to adjust chemistry levels? If not, I would contact them about the skewed levels to get them corrected sooner rather than later! Especially since your pool is less than a month old!

They haven't said I can't adjust the levels, I was just giving them the benefit of the doubt (while also checking the levels on my own to verify). Our PB paid the 1st months dues to the pool service and I need to decide whether to keep them on board or do it myself (with TFP's help of course)
I'm leaning towards doing it myself since I had a pool a few years back and did it myself with TFP's help.

 

[setsailsoon]

They haven't said I can't adjust the levels, I was just giving them the benefit of the doubt (while also checking the levels on my own to verify). Our PB paid the 1st months dues to the pool service and I need to decide whether to keep them on board or do it myself (with TFP's help of course)
I'm leaning towards doing it myself since I had a pool a few years back and did it myself with TFP's help.

MX,

You're asking all the right questions and clearly will be able to take care of the pool yourself. I'd strongly encourage you to give it a try. You've literally got an armada of experts to help you on this site if you need any help at all. TFP is geared to make ordinary pool owners capable of taking care of their pool and making sure you know what's in it. If needed there are experts here on everything from water chemistry, to electronics, pumps, pluming, coatings... I could go on an on. Some are sort of nutty professor types too. But none are conflicted. They only want to help you. It's what they do!

Good luck with your pool!

Chris

 

[splashpad]

They haven't said I can't adjust the levels, I was just giving them the benefit of the doubt (while also checking the levels on my own to verify). Our PB paid the 1st months dues to the pool service and I need to decide whether to keep them on board or do it myself (with TFP's help of course)
I'm leaning towards doing it myself since I had a pool a few years back and did it myself with TFP's help.

Since you've already taken care of a pool... you're ready to get started! (I applaud the fact you are being proactive & testing yourself)

I'm curious what other posters may suggest, if it were me:

• I would contact Pentair (CS hotline in manual) and ask them what levels are recommended for a new pool & their equipment warranty...
• then contact the CSc (you indicate their first month is paid for) and inquire why they have not balanced the water PER the Pentair manual specs?
• and alert the PB of the unbalanced water situation and the CSc not following the Pentair manual water chemistry specs

But I also like accountability and things done right

 

[splashpad]

@mxfan curious for updates

 

[mxfan]

@mxfan curious for updates

I decided to focus on getting the pool balanced myself, so I upped the CH and TA levels over the weekend and am temporarily using pucks to help keep the FC level in the 3-5 range since the CYA level is not measurable (under 20) at this point. I figured the pucks will also slowly add in CYA to get it into the 35 range.
I've been adding in MA to keep the PH levels in the 7.6 range for the last few days and this morning the PH level held overnight so things are looking better and I feel better about having the pool balanced while the new plaster is curing.

 

[Flying Tivo]

What are the latest test results?