How to Fix Over Chlorinating/Brominating a Pop-Up Pool

1. Check your dial setting
If using a chlorinator or salt generator there is a dial that can be turned down. If greatly over chlorinated, turn the device off until the level comes down to your desired number (between 1 and 3 ppm typically). To help find the correct setting that will maintain that level, adjust only one setting per day testing the water after 24 hours to see the effect. Once you find the correct setting do not alter it. When abnormal conditions arise (pool party or lots of rain) that’s the time to shock the water.

2. Cut back on amount of chlorine/bromine being used If using a chlorinator or floater, the setting may not be enough to regulate the output properly. You may need to resort to filling the unit partially full. Since often these units wet all the chlorine at once, it is difficult to regulate exactly. The more chlorine or bromine that is wetted, the greater the output. If hand feeding pucks in the skimmer or using liquid, cut back on the amount added or the frequency.

3. Make sure your water is properly balanced Water balance is critical to proper sanitization. While it does not typically result in over chlorination, it could take a pool with plenty of chlorine and make it ineffective if the pH is higher or lower than 7.2-7.8.

4. Evaluate the pool usage. If the pool is not being used very often, then the need for chlorine or bromine is lessened. If this is a temporary situation such as during the spring when temps are cooler then cut back on the amount of chemical you are dispensing and your pump run time until your normal usage pattern returns.

5. Consider shortening your pump run time. Very few pools are used enough to require a 24 hour circulation and yet many pools run their pump that long. Any inline feeding device is dispensing chlorine or bromine every minute the circulation is running. To cut back on how much is dispensed; you should consider adding a timer to your pool and cutting the circulation time (see calculating pump run time).

6. Check the expiration date on your test strips or kit. Most test strips and testing reagents last only 12 to 18 months. After that date, they may not register readings properly. In addition if you are putting wet hands into the test strip container, you could be contaminating the strips which will shorten their life even further.

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