Intellichor not doing its job

water0125

Gold Supporter
Dec 8, 2015
54
Fort Worth, TX
Pool Size
10000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Hi Ya'll! I've noticed that my pool has been getting murky. I've added chlorine a few times, like I did during the winter, but I'm realizing that it should be working again, since temps are regularly above 50.

Wondering if my intellichlor has died. It still has lights. The sanitizer output should be high enough at 60%. We are maybe using the hot tub once every two weeks.

The salt light is saying that it's low, but my phone app says that the salt is at 3750.

The last time that I added salt was August 2024. I had a leak on my pool for the majority of last year, so I don't have a good read on how often I should normally be adding salt. ( I also took over pool maintenance last year during the leak, so I don't have experience with salt levels before the leak.)

I also have a notification on the Intellichem chemistry controller: ORP VOC Comm Err. I have a vague recollection that some sensor or something needs to be replaced periodically.

Could that be the issue, causing the salt to not register? Is there another issue?

No, I haven't acid washed the salt cell inside. The prior pool person in our house never cleaned it and, when the pool guy came out to show me stuff, it was completely clear, so I don't think that's it.

Thanks so much ya'll!!
 

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Hi Ya'll! I've noticed that my pool has been getting murky. I've added chlorine a few times, like I did during the winter, but I'm realizing that it should be working again, since temps are regularly above 50.

Wondering if my intellichlor has died. It still has lights. The sanitizer output should be high enough at 60%. We are maybe using the hot tub once every two weeks.

The salt light is saying that it's low, but my phone app says that the salt is at 3750.

The last time that I added salt was August 2024. I had a leak on my pool for the majority of last year, so I don't have a good read on how often I should normally be adding salt. ( I also took over pool maintenance last year during the leak, so I don't have experience with salt levels before the leak.)

I also have a notification on the Intellichem chemistry controller: ORP VOC Comm Err. I have a vague recollection that some sensor or something needs to be replaced periodically.

Could that be the issue, causing the salt to not register? Is there another issue?

No, I haven't acid washed the salt cell inside. The prior pool person in our house never cleaned it and, when the pool guy came out to show me stuff, it was completely clear, so I don't think that's it.

Thanks so much ya'll!!
A low salt light would be the place to start along with testing the real salt level with a Taylor salt test kit. The ORP error might be a good place to look as well if you are using ORP.
 
A low salt light would be the place to start along with testing the real salt level with a Taylor salt test kit. The ORP error might be a good place to look as well if you are using ORP.
I think the ORP error is due to the cell being offline with the LOW SALT.

Fix the low salt problem and get the CELL light green showing it is operating. Then see what other errors you have.
 
A low salt light would be the place to start along with testing the real salt level with a Taylor salt test kit. The ORP error might be a good place to look as well if you are using ORP.
I haven’t been using ORP, since I understood that CSI on poolmath was more reliable.

I done have a Taylor salt test kit. I’ll grab one at Leslie’s.
 
I think the ORP error is due to the cell being offline with the LOW SALT.

Fix the low salt problem and get the CELL light green showing it is operating. Then see what other errors you have.
My app has shown 3750 salt level since August so I wondered when it would deplete and need more.

When my pool was leaking, it seemed that I was adding a bag per week.
 
Oops -- didn't realize that my TFTPro salt has the Taylor salt test in there. LOL.

My salt is at 1600. Oof. That tracks with the salt test strips from Leslie's. I got between 1500 and 2000.

I'll definitely add salt! Any ideas on why the intellichlor system isn't reading my salt correctly??