Pool Care Costs
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chemistry

Low Free Chlorine / Sanitizer Issues

moderate severitycommonDIY: yes
Pro repair$0–$0LA-area, parts and labor
DIY cost$10–$50parts and supplies
Typical time0.5 hrfor a pro
Difficulty1 / 51 is easiest

What you'll notice

  • Cloudy water despite balanced pH/TA
  • odor from chloramines (not chlorine smell)
  • algae beginning to form

Likely causes

  • Insufficient chlorine dosing
  • high chlorine demand from debris or bather load
  • chlorine stabilizer (CYA) too high

How to keep it from coming back

  • Test chlorine 2x weekly
  • maintain 1.0-3.0 ppm
  • shock weekly
  • monitor CYA below 100 ppm

Ranges are estimates; see How We Estimate. Affects: chlorine systems.

Equipment involved

Maintenance that prevents it

Related costs

  • Chlorine Tablets (3-inch, continuous feeding): $150–$400
  • Salt (annual top-up): $100–$300
  • pH Adjustment (muriatic acid or soda ash): $30–$100
  • Alkalinity Adjustment (sodium bicarbonate): $20–$60
  • Algaecide (preventative or treatment): $30–$100
  • Salt Cell Replacement: $400–$1,200

See full ownership costs

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