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Combined chlorine is when the chlorine molecule has attached itself to other molecules in water. In other words it has "combined" with something else in the water. Those could be iron, manganese, ammonia or other things depending on the source water. Free chlorine is the molecules that are "free" in the water to do the disinfection.

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What if your total chlorine is high and your free chlorine is low?

If your total chlorine is high and your free chlorine is low, it means that the chlorine in the water is mostly bound to contaminants and is not available to sanitize the pool effectively. This situation could result from the chlorine being overused or ineffective due to high levels of organic matter. To correct it, you may need to shock the pool to break down the combined chlorine and restore the free chlorine levels.


How is total residual oxidants related to total residual chlorine?

Total residual oxidants include all chlorine species present in water, which includes both free chlorine and combined chlorine. Total residual chlorine specifically refers to the amount of chlorine left in water after a certain contact time. In summary, total residual oxidants encompass total residual chlorine but also include other chlorine species.


What procedure is used to determine the level of combined chlorine in water?

The level of combined chlorine in water is typically determined using a test kit that measures the total chlorine and free chlorine levels. By subtracting the free chlorine level from the total chlorine level, the level of combined chlorine can be calculated. This measurement is important in determining the effectiveness of water treatment processes.


How do you get the ideal reading of chlorine in the pool?

When chlorine enters the water, it is in a form that is an active sanitizer and an oxidizer called "free chlorine". It will react with any number of contaminants in the water. When it reacts with ammonia compounds in the water, which come from bathers' perspiration and urine, it becomes "combined chlorine". In this form, chlorine is a much slower sanitizer. This form also causes chlorine odor and eye irritation. When using the 5-way strip, the difference between the free chlorine reading (pad 1) and the total chlorine reading (pad 2) is the combined chlorine reading.


What to do if total chlorine level is at 3 and free chlorine level is at 10?

If your total chlorine level is higher than your free chlorine level, it is likely due to the presence of combined chlorine (chloramines). This can cause issues with water sanitation and clarity. To address this, you may need to shock your pool with a superchlorination treatment to break down the chloramines and bring the free chlorine level back into balance. Be sure to follow manufacturer instructions and test the water again after treatment.

Related Questions

What if your total chlorine is high and your free chlorine is low?

If your total chlorine is high and your free chlorine is low, it means that the chlorine in the water is mostly bound to contaminants and is not available to sanitize the pool effectively. This situation could result from the chlorine being overused or ineffective due to high levels of organic matter. To correct it, you may need to shock the pool to break down the combined chlorine and restore the free chlorine levels.


How do you calculate chloramines?

Chloramines can be calculated by the formula: Chloramines = Total Chlorine - Free Chlorine. Total chlorine is the sum of free chlorine and combined chlorine (chloramines). By subtracting the free chlorine level from the total chlorine level, you can determine the amount of chloramines present in the water.


How do you get high free chlorine to match total chlorine?

Total Chlorine = Free Chlorine + Combined Chlorineor, put another wayTotal Chlorine - Free Chlorine = Combined ChlorineFree Chlorine is the chlorine that is doing its job.Combined Chlorine is the chlorine that has combined with contaminants such as nitrogen. It is ineffective as a sanitizer and it is noxious.Total Chlorine is the total of these two levels.To eliminate the Combined Chlorine (making all the chlorine in the pool Free Chlorine) you must shock the pool to remove the contaminants. You must reach "Breakpoint Chlorination", which is the addition of chlorine to your pool equivalent to the Combined Chlorine level times 10.example:Total Chlorine = 1.5ppmFree Chlorine = 1.0ppmSo, the Combined Chlorine (the difference between the two tests) is .5ppmBreakpoint chlorination, in this example would be .5ppm X 10 = 5ppm. So, in this example, you would add enough chlorine to your pool to raise the chlorine level up by 5 parts per million.


What do you do when your total chlorine is high and your free chlorine is low?

Total Chlorine = Free Chlorine + Combined Chlorineor, put another wayTotal Chlorine - Free Chlorine = Combined ChlorineFree Chlorine is the chlorine that is doing its job.Combined Chlorine is the chlorine that has combined with contaminants such as nitrogen. It is ineffective as a sanitizer and it is noxious.Total Chlorine is the total of these two levels.To eliminate the Combined Chlorine (making all the chlorine in the pool Free Chlorine) you must shock the pool to remove the contaminants. You must reach "Breakpoint Chlorination", which is the addition of chlorine to your pool equivalent to the Combined Chlorine level times 10.example:Total Chlorine = 1.5ppmFree Chlorine = 1.0ppmSo, the Combined Chlorine (the difference between the two tests) is .5ppmBreakpoint chlorination, in this example would be .5ppm X 10 = 5ppm. So, in this example, you would add enough chlorine to your pool to raise the chlorine level up by 5 parts per million.


What is total residual chlorine?

Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) is the total of free available residual chlorine and combined (bound) residual chlorine. The amount of measurable chlorine remaining after treating water with chlorine i.e. amount of chlorine left in water after the chlorine demand has been satisfied


What do you need to do if your free chlorine level is higher than your total chlorine level?

Get a new test kit or new test reagents. Total Chlorine is the measure of free and combined chlorine, therefore the free chlorine cannot be higher than the Total Chlorine. You can't put 10 gallons of water in a 5 gallon bucket.


How is total residual oxidants related to total residual chlorine?

Total residual oxidants include all chlorine species present in water, which includes both free chlorine and combined chlorine. Total residual chlorine specifically refers to the amount of chlorine left in water after a certain contact time. In summary, total residual oxidants encompass total residual chlorine but also include other chlorine species.


What is free chlorine in a pool?

Free Chlorine is the Chlorine which is free to do its work in the pool, as opposed to Combined Chlorine which is chlorine that has combined with contaminants and is tied up and ineffective as a sanitizer in the pool. Sometimes you will see it abbreviated as FAC, which stands for Free Available Chlorine.


What procedure is used to determine the level of combined chlorine in water?

The level of combined chlorine in water is typically determined using a test kit that measures the total chlorine and free chlorine levels. By subtracting the free chlorine level from the total chlorine level, the level of combined chlorine can be calculated. This measurement is important in determining the effectiveness of water treatment processes.


How do you get the ideal reading of chlorine in the pool?

When chlorine enters the water, it is in a form that is an active sanitizer and an oxidizer called "free chlorine". It will react with any number of contaminants in the water. When it reacts with ammonia compounds in the water, which come from bathers' perspiration and urine, it becomes "combined chlorine". In this form, chlorine is a much slower sanitizer. This form also causes chlorine odor and eye irritation. When using the 5-way strip, the difference between the free chlorine reading (pad 1) and the total chlorine reading (pad 2) is the combined chlorine reading.


Can you swim in pool hat has a normal chlorine level but the free chlorine level is high?

There is 3 measurements of chlorine in a pool or spa. Total chlorine, combined chlorine, and free available chlorine. Free available chlorine is the good chlorine that is active in the pool killings germs and algae. Combined chlorine is chlorine is basically chlorine that was once active but has killed germs or bacteria and is now inactive in the pool. Total chlorine is free available and combined chlorine added together. If your combined chlorine is higher than free available chlorine then the water needs to be shocked to eliminate the combined chlorine. But be careful here. If you don't reach what's called break point you will only add to the combined chlorine. There are products on the market which will only remove combined chlorine without effecting your free available chlorine if you are unsure about reaching breakpoint. Hope this helps.


What to do if total chlorine level is at 3 and free chlorine level is at 10?

If your total chlorine level is higher than your free chlorine level, it is likely due to the presence of combined chlorine (chloramines). This can cause issues with water sanitation and clarity. To address this, you may need to shock your pool with a superchlorination treatment to break down the chloramines and bring the free chlorine level back into balance. Be sure to follow manufacturer instructions and test the water again after treatment.