FAQs
Questions? We’ve got you covered.
Pool Troubleshooting
Maintaining the proper pH range is important to the overall health of the pool or hot tub. Along with pH, the alkalinity, hardness, cyanuric acid, total dissolved solids temperature and determine if the water is corrosive or has scaling tendencies.
In addition, there is a direct relationship between pH and the effectiveness of chlorine. In pools and hot tubs, chlorine exists in an active state (hypochlorous acid) and an inactive state (hypochlorite anion). At a lower pH, more of the chlorine is active and results in faster killing of contaminants, but leads to chlorine loss due to UV. As the pH increases, more of the chlorine becomes inactive. For instance, at a pH of 7.0, about 75% of the chlorine is active, 25% is inactive. At a pH of 8.0, the numbers flip to about 22% and 78% respectively.
At a low pH, your "kill rate" is higher, but you'll use more chlorine. At a higher pH, your chlorine consumption will decrease, but it will take longer to react with contaminants, especially when there is a spike in bather load.
This is a common inquiry that has a simple answer. It depends. Both models are NSF approved to feed 2.5lbs of chlorine a day which is generally much more than is required for a backyard 20,000 gallon pool.
Every pool has unique features which make it impossible to determine the exact chlorine demand. Indoor or outdoor? Temperature? Hours of operation? Bather load? Water balance conditions? Conditioner level? Hours of sunlight? Refill frequency? Strength of sodium hypochlorite?
Should you run into a situation where a single Liquidator will not maintain the proper chlorine residual, multiple Liquidators can be installed in parallel.
Not only is it OK, sodium hypochlorite is absolutely the best shock method for pools using a salt chlorine generator. Fast-acting, safe and economical. Calcium hypo shocks are slow dissolving and leave a byproduct of calcium which can lead to scaling of the generator's cell. Dichlor shocks are 50% cyanuric acid by weight which can lead to draining due to over conditioned water. The byproduct of sodium hypochlorite, liquid pool chlorine, is a small amount of salt. With any luck, it will be just enough so you don't have to add makeup salt due to splash out.
