How to Troubleshoot a Chlorinator

Troubleshoot your automatic chlorinator to preserve water clarity and health.

Swimming pools depend on a steady sanitizer level in order to keep their water clear and safe for swimmers. Chlorinators automatically feed chlorine sanitizer into a pool's system. Swimming pool chlorinators consist of a plastic tube, a lid with an O-ring and a filter screen. The chlorinator connects directly to the plumbing of the pool system. Chlorinators take in water from a pool system, feed chlorine into it and send it back into the pool. Chlorine tablets residing inside the chlorinator's main tube leave chlorine residue which can damage the O-ring or filter screen inside the chlorinator.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Tongs
• Chlorinator screen
• Water hose
• Lid O-ring

Instructions

1. Cut off water flow moving to the chlorinator. Ensure the pool pump and filter are not receiving power and unscrew the lid of the chlorinator.

2. Take out any chlorine tablets residing in the interior of the chlorinator with gloves or tongs. Reach down into the tube of the chlorinator and pull up on the small round screen at its bottom until it leaves the tube.

3. Examine the screen for cracks or other damage. Place a new screen down into the tube if damage exists or clean the old screen with water and place it into the center of the tube.

4. Unfasten the O-ring seated under the lid of the chlorinator. Check its length for cracks or flatness. Place a new O-ring inside the lid if damage exists or clean the old O-ring with water before placing it into the lid.

5. Place the chlorinator lid onto the chlorinator and twist it until it rests loosely on the rest of the chlorinator. Run the pump to direct water flow into the tube. Allow the pump to run until water exits the chlorinator from under the lid. Screw the lid on completely. Preparing the chlorinator in this way purges air or other vapors out of the chlorinator tube, preventing vapor lock.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the lid O-ring and chlorinator screen every few weeks for damage and replace them if needed to keep the chlorinator working correctly.

References

• Pool Center: Chlorine Feeders