I have 750 Gal spa with a T-cell-3 for SWG. The T-cell-3 is about 5-1/2 years in use
The SPA is in use all year so there is no closing for the winter (We are in FL)
Normally during the winter I keep the setting to 3% and during summer months I raise it to 6-7%. These settings have maintained my chlorine levels well.
I noticed that my chlorine levels had been dropping so I tried upping the percentages without any change so I suspected the cell was at the end of life. I pulled the cell and had it tested and it came back good so we started to search for another issue. My local Pinch-a-penny came back with a Phosphate reading of 2500 and it may may be higher as 2500 was the max of the scale on the test they ran. I also noticed on the diagnostic screens that the voltage and amperage readings were "normal" but the cell shut down after a few minutes of operation and the diagnostics then said "Percentage met"
They gave me a phosphate remover to use running the filter 24 hours, clean the cartridge and run for another 24 hrs before retesting.
Now here is the kicker, my wife all of a sudden (before adding the phosphate remover) broke out in a rash all over her body and went to see a dermatologist who asked her if she was involved in any gardening lately. I believe the Dr thinks she had a reaction to strong chemicals, maybe phosphates. She was in the spa 2 days before we discovered the high phosphate reading so I am putting 2+2 together.
I called Hayward about the cell still not generating chlorine today and they immediately asked me if I knew the phosphate levels. I told them it was measured 2 days ago at 2500 They told me to keep reapplying the phosphate remover and it may take 10-12 days before the levels come down.
We do not have a clue what drove the phosphates up so high. The spa is in a mesh cage (lanai) and according to my landscaper they have not applied anything lately to the shrubbery around the lanai but did fertilize the lawns and also applied a fungicide.
Does this make sense????
The SPA is in use all year so there is no closing for the winter (We are in FL)
Normally during the winter I keep the setting to 3% and during summer months I raise it to 6-7%. These settings have maintained my chlorine levels well.
I noticed that my chlorine levels had been dropping so I tried upping the percentages without any change so I suspected the cell was at the end of life. I pulled the cell and had it tested and it came back good so we started to search for another issue. My local Pinch-a-penny came back with a Phosphate reading of 2500 and it may may be higher as 2500 was the max of the scale on the test they ran. I also noticed on the diagnostic screens that the voltage and amperage readings were "normal" but the cell shut down after a few minutes of operation and the diagnostics then said "Percentage met"
They gave me a phosphate remover to use running the filter 24 hours, clean the cartridge and run for another 24 hrs before retesting.
Now here is the kicker, my wife all of a sudden (before adding the phosphate remover) broke out in a rash all over her body and went to see a dermatologist who asked her if she was involved in any gardening lately. I believe the Dr thinks she had a reaction to strong chemicals, maybe phosphates. She was in the spa 2 days before we discovered the high phosphate reading so I am putting 2+2 together.
I called Hayward about the cell still not generating chlorine today and they immediately asked me if I knew the phosphate levels. I told them it was measured 2 days ago at 2500 They told me to keep reapplying the phosphate remover and it may take 10-12 days before the levels come down.
We do not have a clue what drove the phosphates up so high. The spa is in a mesh cage (lanai) and according to my landscaper they have not applied anything lately to the shrubbery around the lanai but did fertilize the lawns and also applied a fungicide.
Does this make sense????