Strange Salt Cell Issue

[diesel1218]

Hi I have a new pool pretty large believe 18-22000 Gallons somewhere there. Anyway pool was finished in May. From the start the pool service tech told me the pool wasn't producing chlorine. I have a TCELL340 originally, cleaned it, reset it and ran the super chlorine mode, finally was seeing some production for a little while. Then the cell started not displaying a reading, I reboot the system from the panel and then I was getting crazy super high salt reading before it went to a low salt reading. I called the contractor they have been out to check this thing multiple times, and they finally decided to replace it 4 weeks ago now with a newer model TCELL S340. Once they replaced it, it was picking up normal readings right away 2500-2900ppm. Three weeks in, it went back to no reading, and I did the same, reboot from the control panel and now I am back to low salt reading when the salt levels are fine.

Does anyone have an insight here and my thoughts are this is something other than the TCELL itself. Chances of two being bad that are new seem odd to me.

 

[Bperry]

Hi I have a new pool pretty large believe 18-22000 Gallons somewhere there. Anyway pool was finished in May. From the start the pool service tech told me the pool wasn't producing chlorine. I have a TCELL340 originally, cleaned it, reset it and ran the super chlorine mode, finally was seeing some production for a little while. Then the cell started not displaying a reading, I reboot the system from the panel and then I was getting crazy super high salt reading before it went to a low salt reading. I called the contractor they have been out to check this thing multiple times, and they finally decided to replace it 4 weeks ago now with a newer model TCELL S340. Once they replaced it, it was picking up normal readings right away 2500-2900ppm. Three weeks in, it went back to no reading, and I did the same, reboot from the control panel and now I am back to low salt reading when the salt levels are fine.

Does anyone have an insight here and my thoughts are this is something other than the TCELL itself. Chances of two being bad that are new seem odd to me.

Welcome! First things first, how are you testing the chlorine, CYA, and salt levels? (Other than the SWG reading)

Salt cells are better for maintaining an existing level of chlorine and not great at building up an initial chlorine bank. That’s why TFP generally recommends using liquid chlorine to bring the initial chlorine level up. The other bit of advice if you read through threads is that pool service techs and stores aren’t really known for accurate water testing and so TFP recommends doing your own water testing using one of two test kits, either the Taylor K2006C or the TF-Pro Salt (tftestkits.net). The second one is a better deal overall.

 

[Mdragger88]

You mentioned cleaning the cell- is there build up on it?
The first step to unraveling the mystery is to get results from one of the recommended test kits
Test Kits Compared
Fc
Cc
Ph
Ta
Ch
Cya
Salt

 

[diesel1218]

Welcome! First things first, how are you testing the chlorine, CYA, and salt levels? (Other than the SWG reading)

Salt cells are better for maintaining an existing level of chlorine and not great at building up an initial chlorine bank. That’s why TFP generally recommends using liquid chlorine to bring the initial chlorine level up. The other bit of advice if you read through threads is that pool service techs and stores aren’t really known for accurate water testing and so TFP recommends doing your own water testing using one of two test kits, either the Taylor K2006C or the TF-Pro Salt (tftestkits.net). The second one is a better deal overall.

So my pool service tech tests the water weekly and he is the only reason I noticed the new cell acting up. He said these should not even need to be cleaned for a year when they're new. He says my salt levels and chlorine are fine.

 

[ajw22]

Numbers matter.

What is the salinity and how are you measuring it?

Only accurate way is a salt test kit like - Salt

Aquarite systems will do strange things when salt is very high - over 4,000 ppm.

 

[ajw22]

Post pics of your pool equipment.

Do you have a pool heater running?

 

[Bperry]

So my pool service tech tests the water weekly and he is the only reason I noticed the new cell acting up. He said these should not even need to be cleaned for a year when they're new. He says my salt levels and chlorine are fine.

He seems to be wrong about things being fine, otherwise the salt cell wouldn’t be acting up. If he’s using paper strips you can be extra sure it’s not good. Get actual numbers from him along with getting your own trustworthy test kit.

 

[Bperry]

So my pool service tech tests the water weekly and he is the only reason I noticed the new cell acting up. He said these should not even need to be cleaned for a year when they're new. He says my salt levels and chlorine are fine.

You need stabilizer (CYA) in the water as well or the chlorine will deplete before the end of the day.

 

[diesel1218]

Do any of those water meters work well or do I seriously need one of these test kits mentioned here? I would have to assume he know what he is doing as he checks for calcium and others that my previous tech didn't.

 

[Newdude]

do I seriously need one of these test kits mentioned here

There's 2 price tiers. The TF100 VS K2006 and the TFpro VS K2006*C*.

For the cheaper bracket, the TF100 is the hands down winner with 2.7X the supplies. A literal no brainer.

For the pricier bracket, the K2006C was 'commercial'. It has less FC/CYA tests that you'll do more often and more CH/TA tests that you won't. So you'll likely be replacing half of it early and throwing out the expired other half. Then the TFpro includes a $48 stirring device that you really really want. Adding it to any of the other kits bumps their price. The difference in cost at that point between the TF100 + smart stir and the TFpro goes to the nicer TFpro case for a couple bucks.

I've had both and while the TF100 was entirely functional, having the bottles lined up in order is SUPER nice to not have to fish around because they aren't organized in the TF100 case. For the small price difference of the TF100 + smartstir, you'll appreciate it time and time again.

Also, either TF kit is available with a SLAM option, which is great for newbs and/or those with swamps who will both be testing more often and might blow through the normal supplies for FC/CYA.

Also also, either TF kit is available in a salt version which bundles the $30 salt test kit for $20 more. What's not to love ?

 

[diesel1218]

View attachment 545533
There's 2 price tiers. The TF100 VS K2006 and the TFpro VS K2006*C*.

For the cheaper bracket, the TF100 is the hands down winner with 2.7X the supplies. A literal no brainer.

For the pricier bracket, the K2006C was 'commercial'. It has less FC/CYA tests that you'll do more often and more CH/TA tests that you won't. So you'll likely be replacing half of it early and throwing out the expired other half. Then the TFpro includes a $48 stirring device that you really really want. Adding it to any of the other kits bumps their price. The difference in cost at that point between the TF100 + smart stir and the TFpro goes to the nicer TFpro case for a couple bucks.

I've had both and while the TF100 was entirely functional, having the bottles lined up in order is SUPER nice to not have to fish around because they aren't organized in the TF100 case. For the small price difference of the TF100 + smartstir, you'll appreciate it time and time again.

Also, either TF kit is available with a SLAM option, which is great for newbs and/or those with swamps who will both be testing more often and might blow through the normal supplies for FC/CYA.

Also also, either TF kit is available in a salt version which bundles the $30 salt test kit for $20 more. What's not to love ?

I appreciate it and dont doubt these kits are needed, but I feel my service tech should be using them instead of myself purchasing. Isn't that what I pay a tech for, to keep my pool healthy?

 

[Newdude]

Isn't that what I pay a tech for, to keep my pool healthy?

The sun consumes FC from the pool daily and needs to be monitored/replaced as such. A weekly service amounts to dump and pray that it'll still be ok next week.

The SWG sure helps, but if something is amiss mid week, it won't perform any miracles.

With frequent testing you'll become one with your pools needs and how it responds across the season, but again, the only way to get that knowledge is frequent testing.

Most people using a service are on their Nth service company, when the method is the root of the problem, not the service person. To be fair to the service people, many would love to come several times a week, but nobody will pay them for that. So it's not like most of them are actively trying to screw up, but they are severely handicapped from the start.

Thousands upon thousands of folks have come here in your exact shoes and those who take control of their pool never look back.

We will hold you hand every step of the way, because we were all there at one point and never forgot how bad it sucked.

 

[diesel1218]

The sun consumes FC from the pool daily and needs to be monitored/replaced as such. A weekly service amounts to dump and pray that it'll still be ok next week.

The SWG sure helps, but if something is amiss mid week, it won't perform any miracles.

With frequent testing you'll become one with your pools needs and how it responds across the season, but again, the only way to get that knowledge is frequent testing.

Most people using a service are on their Nth service company, when the method is the root of the problem, not the service person. To be fair to the service people, many would love to come several times a week, but nobody will pay them for that. So it's not like most of them are actively trying to screw up, but they are severely handicapped from the start.

Thousands upon thousands of folks have come here in your exact shoes and those who take control of their pool never look back.

We will hold you hand every step of the way, because we were all there at one point and never forgot how bad it sucked.

appreciate it, I am going to run some water to a local shop here and also see if they stock any of the test kits. I will report back some reading as soon as I have them.

 

[Newdude]

appreciate it

We are here to help.

I am going to run some water to a local shop here and also see if they stock any of the test kits.

The Taylor kits may be sold at the chain stores. Make sure to only get the k2006 or k2006C. Youll have to add tests to the others, and then they're more expensive. There is no guarantee how long they have been sitting on the shelf and the supplies expire so it can matter sometimes.

The TF100 and TFpro (and salt versions) are only available at tftestkits.net and guaranteed fresh. You can see the details of them all below before you buy if you're a #s person. The TF kits were sized to how we do things as explained above, with Taylor supplies, but the key is the Taylor supplies. If we're all using the same kit, it's like we're standing beside you when you test.

Test Kits Compared

 

[Mdragger88]

I appreciate it and dont doubt these kits are needed, but I feel my service tech should be using them instead of myself purchasing. Isn't that what I pay a tech for, to keep my pool healthy?

You’d think that - & he may be…
but does he come every day?
Every couple days?
Is he going to come at night & again before the sun comes up to do an
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to rule out algae if necessary? These things are why you should be able to test yourself.
You are the one who has the most vested interest in your pool & who will pay the price if things go awry.
Him saying everything is “fine” is relative. We need the actual numbers.
If you take a look at What Are My Ideal Pool Levels?
&
FC/CYA Levels
you will probably notice his (& most pool store’s) version of “fine” is different than what we recommend.
Testing once a week is good for his schedule but not really the best for properly maintaining your pool.
You are more than welcome to rely upon your pool service but obviously you’re having an issue and asked for our help. We need accurate reliable information to do that.

 

[Mdragger88]

A couple other notes*
*You also need the k1766 salt test so be sure to either get it separately or purchase a k2006 salt, tf100salt, tfpro salt.
* until you get your swcg figured out you’ll need to dose your pool manually (possibly daily) to keep fc above minimum for your cya & in target range or you’ll also be dealing with algae
FC/CYA Levels

 

[Bperry]

I appreciate it and dont doubt these kits are needed, but I feel my service tech should be using them instead of myself purchasing. Isn't that what I pay a tech for, to keep my pool healthy?

Once you spend some time reading though all the people who had the same impression (including me) you’ll find a bit of a reality check. There’s a stage in the process you’ll come to that can be described as “denial” and it’s right before you start asking yourself “how much money have I been spending with this guy and I still have the same problem…?” types of questions. “My pool guy can’t possibly be wrong, he’s a professional!”

Then “reality” sets in and you realize you can do a better job than the weekly pool service guy for way less money than you’re paying him, but you hate the idea of “spending so much time dealing with the pool” and so you try telling the pool guy some variation of —-he needs to use your test kit or that you’ll do the testing and he needs to just clean the skimmers.

Then as that doesn’t work out you eventually resign yourself to become like most of us doing all the pool care ourselves. Welcome to the future club!

 

[jark87]

Just to chime in, testing and maintaining your pool, especially with a salt cell, is SO easy. You’ll find that spending about 10 minutes each week is all it takes. And if you encounter a problem, this forum will help you through it. Soon you’ll “know” your pool and will understand what to watch for in the tests. My only repetitive tests are Free Chlorine and pH. The others don’t change that often, so I test them less frequently. I have to add about a pint of Muratic Acid once a week during the summer to keep pH down, about once a month during the winter. Brushing, emptying skimmer baskets and scooping leaves out of the water are the only other maintenance tasks I have. This is coming from someone who had never owned a pool prior to building the one we have now, so I was in your shoes.

Good luck! You’ve found the right resource!

 

[Newdude]

+1. Once you get over the learning curve in a couple weeks, you won't need to do much because you already did it. You'll make an occasional tweak here or there, but often be low key bummed that you weren't needed.

Many times I go out there and when the sparkles blind me, I walk away knowing I'm good that day. The sparkles may have been gone for 5 or 6 days by the time the service person comes, and they're already behind the 8 ball.

I went out to test this day, but when i clearly wasnt needed, i made a gif of the skimmer sucking up the sparkles instead, to amuse myself with my free time.



Here's everybody else's: How Clear is TFP Clear?

 

[Turbo1Ton]

I was just about to say the exact thing @jark87 said above. I spend less than 30 minutes a week, during the summer, attending to pool related chores. That time goes down significantly during the cooler months.

I am going to run some water to a local shop here

I would be leery of test results from a pool store. It's like letting the kid who sits next to you in class take the test for you. That is realistically the best analogy I have found for caring for your pool, is a classroom. We all need the same text book, in this case that is our test kits. And we all need to be responsible for our own work. Classmates are here to assist, but you have to have the desire to learn and do it yourself. I can have the smartest kid in class take the test for me, but ultimately he is not going to care what my score is. So he ends up with an A, and I get a C.

My wife gets to listen to her colleague talk about how their pool has algae and the pool guy can't seem to get it straightened out and her husband is ready to fill the thing in, and she just listens and nods her head and says "here is a website that can help with that". And they don't change anything.

I'm 4 years in to pool ownership and because I started out with the TFP methods, my pool has been swimmable every day of its life. Water temps may not have been good, but the chemistry was ready.

--Jeff