Chlorinator is making me crazy!

[NJPoolGal]

I cannot figure out why my chlorinator is not working, but my chlorine is 0 unless i add liquid. I’ve replaced the check valve, tried the hot water trick, confirmed water is running through all tubing, and when I open it I see water inside… yet the tabs aren’t dissolving. It’s the Hayward chlorinator and it’s only 2 years old. Water runs from the tubing into the Polaris super pump, which is the purple line in one of my pics (which I don’t even use but the pool guy uses when he comes for opening and closing) Any idea what I could be missing here??

Below results are from Taylor test kit - taken a day after I added liquid chlorine. Pool is 50k gallons gunite.

Free chlorine ppm 0.8

Combined chlorine 0.2 ppm

Ph 7.5

Alkalinity 120

Calcium hardness 310

CYA 70

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! There may be a problem with the tab feeder internally if it's not allowing dissolved chlorine to pass through the exit tube back to the pool plumbing. That's all I can think of. Perhaps someone else has an idea.

It may be a blessing in disguise at the moment though because your CYA is already high and your FC level much too low. Good thing your water is still clear - for now. I would prepare to use liquid chorine for the foreseeable future and not use tabs anymore this season until the CYA falls down to say 40 or so. If it gets much higher than it is now, you'll end-up with an algae problem and really have a struggle on your hands.

Probably not the exact answer you were looking for, but be careful about using tabs for now.

See our FC/CYA Levels to understand the relationship between the FC and CYA which is designed to prevent algae. Also bookmark our Pool Care Basics for lots of great info. If you have any questions let us know.

 

[1poolman1]

I cannot figure out why my chlorinator is not working, but my chlorine is 0 unless i add liquid. I’ve replaced the check valve, tried the hot water trick, confirmed water is running through all tubing, and when I open it I see water inside… yet the tabs aren’t dissolving. It’s the Hayward chlorinator and it’s only 2 years old. Water runs from the tubing into the Polaris super pump, which is the purple line in one of my pics (which I don’t even use but the pool guy uses when he comes for opening and closing) Any idea what I could be missing here??

Below results are from Taylor test kit - taken a day after I added liquid chlorine. Pool is 50k gallons gunite.

Free chlorine ppm 0.8

Combined chlorine 0.2 ppm

Ph 7.5

Alkalinity 120

Calcium hardness 310

CYA 70

I know several pool service guys in my area that would love to get your number so that when that chlorinator destroys the booster pump they can sell a new one.
Another problem, of course, is that being plumbed into the same line in the plumbing there is no pressure differential to allow water to flow through the "destroyer of equipment." The chlorinator may not even be filling with water.

 

[sktn77a]

Agree with the above posts. Has the chlorinator ever worked? If no/if new, and I'm following your plumbing correctly, do you have it connected backwards? The input/highest pressure tube is usually connected to the side with the dial setting and is also best connected immediately after the pump. The output/lowest pressure tube is best connected just before the return pipe goes underground and AFTER the Polaris takeoff.