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Hey everyone! As a yoga instructor, I'm all about balance and listening to your body—and apparently, your pool equipment too! 😊 My Intex SWG also sometimes acts up around that temperature range. Before assuming your thermometer is wrong, have you checked if the sensor on the SWG unit itself is clean? Sometimes debris or calcium buildup can give false readings. Also, is your thermometer digital or analog? Analog ones can be less accurate. Try comparing with another thermometer if you have one!

Night shift worker here, so I'm up at weird hours dealing with my above-ground pool too. I had this EXACT issue last season! My Intex SWG would flash 'cold' at like 61–62°F even though my floating thermometer said 65°F. Turns out, the SWG's internal sensor is often less accurate than a separate thermometer—especially on budget models. I ended up buying a cheap digital pool thermometer from Amazon (like $15) to double-check. In my case, the SWG was off by about 3 degrees. Maybe yours is similar? Also, ambient air temp at night can affect the reading if the unit is in a shady spot.

Weekend warrior chiming in! I've battled this with my Intex SWG for two summers. Here's my take: those units are notoriously finicky near the 60°F threshold. The 'cold' light might come on a few degrees above the manual's stated shutdown temp due to sensor calibration drift. I wouldn't panic about the thermometer being wrong—it's probably the SWG. Quick fix? Try warming the water slightly with a solar cover during the day to get it consistently above 65°F, and see if the light goes off. If it does, you know it's just the SWG being overly cautious. Also, check your manual; some models have a tolerance of +/- 2°F.

Enthusiastic health nut alert! 🏊‍♂️ Just like our bodies need precise nutrients, our pools need precise readings! I researched this heavily when my Intex SWG did the same. First, ensure your thermometer is calibrated (some digital ones can be reset). Second, the SWG sensor can be affected by water flow—make sure your pump is running adequately when it checks temp. Third, consider that 62°F water might *feel* colder to the sensor if it's near a cooler surface (like a vinyl pool wall at night). My holistic advice: test with a second thermometer, clean the SWG cell, and if the issue persists, contact Intex—they might send a replacement if it's under warranty. Staying proactive with pool health is key!

Great points, everyone! Jack, your night shift perspective on ambient temp is spot-on—I hadn't thought about that. PoolPal, the solar cover idea is brilliant for a gentle fix. To add a zen thought: sometimes equipment, like us, needs a little 'adjustment period.' If the SWG is consistently reading higher than your thermometer, it might just be its normal variance. As long as your water is balanced and the SWG produces chlorine when it should, I wouldn't stress too much. But if it's shutting down prematurely and affecting sanitation, that's worth investigating further. Maybe keep a log of temps and SWG behavior for a few days?

Logging is a smart move, Ivy. I did that and it helped me see the pattern—my SWG was always 2–3 degrees off below 70°F. Called Intex, and they said it's common due to sensor placement in the unit. They suggested relocating the thermometer closer to the SWG intake for a more comparable reading. Also, for the OP: are you in a cooler part of California? Coastal areas like SF might have bigger temp swings that confuse the sensor. If you're desperate, you can try gently warming the SWG unit with a towel (not covering vents!) to see if it's an ambient issue, but be careful not to overheat it.