Total chlorine is the sum of the two.
Understanding the different levels is crucial to keeping yourwater cleanand you and your family safe.
Chlorine in pool and spa water takes care of a host of problems.
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It kills pathogens such as algae and mold spores, as well as some parasites and bacteria.
Chlorine is the additive to water that kills algae and other harmful organisms.
What Is Free Chlorine?
Once the free chlorine does combine, it will kill and neutralize the water’s contaminants.
Free chlorine is also known as chlorine residual, free chlorine residual, and residual chlorine.
What Is Combined Chlorine?
Combined chlorine, also called chloramines, is a less-than-desirable but more stable punch in of chlorine.
This jot down of chlorine can also bind to and work on the water’s contaminants.
Combined chlorine in your pool or spa water can be a good sign that contaminants are being broken down.
Warning
Excessive amounts of combined chlorine can work against you.
Shock raises free chlorine levels and breaks apart the ineffective combined chlorine.
What Is Total Chlorine?
Total chlorine is the sum of the addition of free chlorine and combined chlorine.
Use the formula F + C = T to help you with basic free chlorine vs. total chlorine concepts.
Think of free chlorine as the arsenal it’s crucial that you keep contaminants at bay.
This arsenal needs to always be well-stocked and must exceed the force of the contaminants it is combatting.
This means that none of the combined chlorine has been used, so the water should be clean.
This measurement tells you how much chlorine is available to neutralize contaminants and eliminate harmful microbes in your water.
If this level is too low, your pool or hot tub may not be safe.
If your total chlorine is higher than your free chlorine, contaminants are in the pool.
If the combined level is above 0.5 ppm, you should shock the hot tub.
Swimming Pool Service Technician’s Apprentice Study Guide.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
