NJPools.club Community

Okay, I need to vent because this is driving me absolutely nuts. My pool water looks PERFECT—like, you could drink it (not that I would). Crystal clear, no algae, no cloudiness. But my local pool store keeps telling me my combined chlorine is at 0.8 ppm and I need to shock it. Every. Single. Time. I've shocked it twice this month already! Are they just trying to sell me more chemicals? Has anyone else in Michigan with a vinyl pool dealt with this? I feel like I'm being gaslit by a pool store.

PumpPro, I feel you. As someone who barely has time to check the pool between meetings, I've had similar frustrations. But here's the thing: clear water doesn't always mean balanced water. Combined chlorine (CC) above 0.5 ppm can indicate chloramines—basically, used-up chlorine that's still hanging around. It can cause that 'pool smell' and irritate eyes, even if the water looks clean. Have you tested the water yourself with a good test kit, or are you relying solely on their readings? Sometimes stores use test strips that can be inconsistent.

Thanks, SwimSage33. I use test strips at home, and yeah, they sometimes show CC around 0.5, but not always 0.8. The store uses a fancy digital tester. It just seems suspicious that they ALWAYS recommend shocking, even when everything else (pH, alkalinity) is spot on. I'm starting to wonder if their tester is 'calibrated' to sell shock. Maybe I need to invest in a better home test kit and trust my own eyes more? Ugh, the meditation isn't helping with this one.

Smart move. I switched to a Taylor test kit last year—more upfront cost, but it saves me trips to the store and doubt. In Michigan, with our weather swings and organic debris (leaves, pollen), CC can build up even without visible issues. But if you're maintaining proper free chlorine levels and the water is clear, a CC of 0.8 might not be an emergency. Could be the store is being overly cautious or, yeah, pushing sales. Try shocking only if you notice irritation or odor, and compare your test results with theirs. Time is money, and I'd rather not waste either on unnecessary chemicals.

That's really helpful advice. I'll look into a Taylor kit—anything to avoid feeling like I'm at the mercy of the pool store. It's just frustrating when the water looks so inviting but the numbers say otherwise. Maybe I'll try a non-chlorine shock alternative next time to see if it makes a difference. Thanks for keeping it real, SwimSage33. Time to go stare at my clear pool and question reality again.