Autopilot Pool Pilot Professional PPP-6 - Section 10 - Reference; Basic Water Chemistry

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SECTION 10 - REFERENCE
10.1 Basic Water Chemistry
The Pool Pilot
®
is designed to produce chlorine on a daily basis. To monitor the system’s
efficiency, the water chemistry ranges and a schedule of periodic checks should be followed.
CAUTION - Failure to heed the following may result in equipment damage.
l Excessively high chlorine levels can cause premature cell depletion and corrosion damage to pool
fixtures and equipment.
l Always follow the instructions on the manufacturer's label whenever handling or using chemicals.
Chemical
Test
Schedule
Effect of Low / High Levels Corrective Actions
Free
Chlorine
Check
Local
Codes
Low free chlorine: Not enough residual chlorine to
safely sanitize pool water.
Low free chlorine: Check for combined chlorine level
and shock as necessary. Increase chlorine output to
maintain a 1-3 ppm (mg/L) residual. Check stabilizer
level and add as necessary.
High free chlorine: Corrosive to metallic fixtures in
pool water. Can bleach swimwear and hair or
cause premature chlorinator cell depletion.
High free chlorine: Decrease chlorine output. Let
chlorine dissipate normally until 1-3 ppm (mg/L) is
achieved. In extreme cases, pool water can be diluted
with fresh water or a chlorine neutralizer added.
(Diluting will reduce salt and CYA. Check and adjust as
needed.)
pH
Check
Local
Codes
Low pH: (acidic) Equipment corrosion, eye/skin
irritation, plaster etching, rapid chlorine
consumption .
Low pH: Add sodium carbonate or soda ash.
High pH: (basic) Scale formation, cloudy water,
eye/skin irritation, poor chlorine effectiveness.
High pH: Add muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate.
Total
Alkalinity
Monthly
Low TA: Eye irritation, pH "bounce", stained/etched
plaster and metal corrosion.
Low TA: Add sodium bicarbonate.
High TA: Constant acid demand, difficulty in
maintaining pH, and contributes to scale formation
or cloudy water conditions.
High TA: Add muriatic acid often or sodium bisulfate
more frequently until the TA is within an acceptable
range.
Calcium
Hardness
Monthly
Low CH: Etching the plaster, equipment corrosion. Low CH: Add calcium chloride flakes.
High CH: Scale formation, cloudy water. Rapid cell
scale buildup may exceed the system's self-
cleaning capability and require manual cleaning.
High CH: Partially drain and refill pool with fresh water
to dilute. (Diluting will reduce salt and CYA. Check and
adjust as needed.)
Cyanuric
Acid (CYA
or
Stabilizer)
Monthly
Low CYA: Chlorine depletion by UV rays (sun).
Low CYA: Add Cyanuric acid (1 lb.(0.45 kg) per 5,000
gallons (18,930 liters) increases CYA 25 ppm (mg/L).
High CYA: Requires more chlorine to maintain
proper sanitizer levels. Note: CYA not needed for
indoor pools or bromine pools. Check local health
codes for commercial pool guidelines.
High CYA: Partially drain and refill pool with fresh
water to dilute. (Diluting will reduce salt. Check and
adjust as needed.)
Saturation
Index
Monthly
+ 0.3: Water is scale forming. Calcium carbonate is
falling out of solution. This rapid buildup of scale
may exceed the system's self-cleaning capability
and require manual cleaning of the cell.
Balance the pool/spa water as close to an equilibrium
of 0 as possible. See "Using the Saturation Index" on
page 39.
- 0.3: Water is corrosive and may take from other
material it comes in contact with to form a natural
balance. These materials can be metallic fixtures,
swimwear, etc. Results can include cloudy water,
eye/skin irritation, and poor chlorine effectiveness.
Balance the water as close to an equilibrium of 0 as
possible. See "Using the Saturation Index" on page 39.
Salt Monthly
Low Salt: Below 2,500 ppm (mg/L) can cause
premature cell failure & reduce chlorine production
Low Salt: Add salt according to digital display on Pool
Pilot
®
unit or salt chart.
High Salt: Above 6,000 ppm (mg/L) can cause
corrosion of metallic fixtures and will taste salty.
Note: The Pool Pilot
®
can safely operate with salt
levels up to 35,000 ppm (mg/L).
High Salt: If undesirably high, partially drain and refill
the pool with fresh water. (Diluting will reduce CYA.
Check and adjust as needed.)