Keeping Chlorine level up with a salt water generator when it’s cold out

Toad_stools

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Jun 17, 2020
150
Southern Ontario Canada.
Pool Size
15000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
This is my first year opening with my pool. We had it installed near the end of the swimming season last year, which in my climate swimming season is about late May to early Sept. The pool company opened our pool very early, around April 22. They added liquid chlorine to it and for a few days after the balance was spot on. It’s been really cold the last few week, so cold that I didn’t think it made sense to turn the heater on because it would cost a fortune to keep the water temp up. My understanding is that the salt water generators don’t produce chlorine until the water reaches about 65 or 70 degrees, and my pool has been about 50 to 55 since opening. The chlorine level is now very low, barely 1. So my question is? What do people do in these situations? Should I just heat the pool and generate? Buy chlorine and add it? Or leave it? I imagine leaving it would not be the best option. Advice? Thank you.
 
TS,

I use liquid chlorine when the water is too cold for the SWCG to work.. It should not take a lot, as nothing grows when the water is cold.

My pool never closes, but the water certainly gets cold enough to shut off the SWCG.. When this happens, I treat my pool just the same as in the summer, but instead of the SWCG making my chlorine, I just manually add a little each week.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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TS,

I use liquid chlorine when the water is too cold for the SWCG to work.. It should not take a lot, as nothing grows when the water is cold.

My pool never closes, but the water certainly gets cold enough to shut off the SWCG.. When this happens, I treat my pool just the same as in the summer, but instead of the SWCG making my chlorine, I just manually add a little each week.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Thanks. I’ll buy some then until the weather gets a bit warmer. But as you say in the cold stuff isn’t going to grow too much. Learning as I go here. Thank you for the reply.
 
Hey Toad !!
Learning as I go here
Well then, let's make sure you hit the ground running in a few weeks. Fill out your signature so everyone can skip 10 questions anytime you ask a question........ like this question :) what test kit did you find ? I've heard getting good ones up north is either rare, or crazy expensive.

Some more questions, but not related to your setup because you didn't need to maintain the pool very long last year.....

Did you spend all winter learning ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry ?
Got any questions about it ?
Do you understand the importance and the relationship of following the FC/CYA Levels ?
Did you download the poolmath app for easy additions ?
We're you able to find everything pool math said you'd need ?
 
Hey Toad !!

Well then, let's make sure you hit the ground running in a few weeks. Fill out your signature so everyone can skip 10 questions anytime you ask a question........ like this question :) what test kit did you find ? I've heard getting good ones up north is either rare, or crazy expensive.

Some more questions, but not related to your setup because you didn't need to maintain the pool very long last year.....

Did you spend all winter learning ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry ?
Got any questions about it ?
Do you understand the importance and the relationship of following the FC/CYA Levels ?
Did you download the poolmath app for easy additions ?
We're you able to find everything pool math said
thanks for the reminder! I will do that soon. Hey I ended up getting a Taylor 2006 which in Canada are distributed by Lowry and Associates. I ordered one direct from them because you can’t find them at any pool retailer here.
 
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My pool water was 55 degrees when I opened it a few weeks ago. I added a bit of liquid chlorine to bring the FC up and have been using my saltwater generator since with no issues. So based on that, I know my generator will produce at least down to 55 degrees.
 
My pool water was 55 degrees when I opened it a few weeks ago. I added a bit of liquid chlorine to bring the FC up and have been using my saltwater generator since with no issues. So based on that, I know my generator will produce at least down to 55 degrees.
Thanks for the response. I flipped on my heater for a bit the last week and have gotten the temp up to around 69 and the SWG is def working. In fact my FC was a tad too high the last few days. We’ve had a really cool late spring here. Starting to T me off 🙂
 
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