Pool Maintenance Tip – Understanding Pool Chlorine, from your Houston Pool Service provider

Combined Chlorine (chloramines)

Combined chlorine occurs when free available chlorine combines with ammonia or other nitrogen containing contaminants present in the pool water. Combined chlorine (or chloramine) is not an effective sanitizer for pool water applications. Combined chlorine can contribute to cloudy water, chlorine odor and eye irritation. They only way to test for combined chlorine is to test for total chlorine and free chlorine, then subtract free chlorine from total chlorine to determine the combined chlorine level.

Total Chlorine – Free Chlorine = Combined Chlorine

Removal of combined chlorine is achieved through a process known as “breakpoint”. To achieve breakpoint by chlorination, 10ppm of free chlorine must be added for every 1ppm of chloramine. This is an “all or nothing” process. The entire amount of the specific type of chlorine chosen must be added in order to reach “breakpoint”.

Please contact our pool service department for more information.

For our latest pool chemical and service tips, please subscribe to our blog or find us on Facebook.

The Pool Man Inc., is a Houston Pool Builder serving the Tomball, Cypress, Magnolia and Houston areas since 1981. We are a BBB (Better Business Bureau) accredited member, receiving the BBB Awards for Excellence for 2013 – Winner of Distinction