We’ve been helping pool owners keep their water clean and safe for a long time. There are a few simple steps that can help you avoid some of the most common mistakes that can happen with pool monitoring systems.
1. Forgetting to clean and calibrate your sensors
Even though it may not seem glamorous, it is important that users regularly clean and calibrate their sensors. If they do, we can detect when they should be doing so and prevent issues that could be caused by improper calibration.
Ideally, your pool sensors should be regularly checked once a month.
2. Leaving sensors out during the winter
If you live in a place where it snows, make sure to keep your sensors away from the pool. As long as the temperature drops below freezing, the liquid components of the sensor will freeze.
When a sensor's reference solution gets frozen, it forms bubbles inside the sensor body. If these bubbles are still present after several minutes, it has been frozen.
If your sensor is slow to respond after reaching a freezing temperature, try warming it up. This will help it function properly once it gets back to the normal temperature range.
3. Mistaking an ORP measurement for a direct chlorine (ppm) measurement
Measuring oxidation reduction potential (ORP) is a commonly used method to check the level of chlorine in a swimming pool. It is a safety test that can be performed to ensure that the chlorine in your pool is as effective as possible. Direct chlorine measurements are done in parts per million (ppm). Many pool owners and operators are unaware that the recommended level is 1.0 to 3.0 ppm. The chlorine's sanitization activity is measured by measuring the ability to remove contaminants from the pool. The minimum recommended concentration for a pool is 650mV.
If the probe is not returning the correct readings, then it might be time to test it out using the ORP of a calibrated solution.
4. Forgetting about cyanuric acid
Cyanuric acid is a substance that forms bonds with chlorine, which prevents it from dissipating in the pool. This benefit is very beneficial for pool maintenance as it allows chlorine to be used on a daily basis.
Since cyanuric acid is not consumed by the body of water, it can build up over time. When added to a pool, cyanuric acid can increase its chlorine content significantly.
When cyanuric acid levels are high in a pool, it can cause a drop in oxidation reducing potential (ORP). This issue can be solved by performing a calibration test on your ORP sensor.
Getting your pool monitoring system working properly will help keep it running efficiently and safely. There are a few simple mistakes that can cause it to malfunction.
This post was originally published on Sensorex
If you have any other questions about pool and spa products please do let us know - we are here to help!