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Okay, I’m up for the 3rd time tonight because my brain won’t shut off about this. My Hayward AquaRite is flashing both “Cold” and “Low Salt” and the water temp is 58°F. I’m in Florida—this is weird for us! I’m terrified the pool will turn into a swamp overnight. I have a toddler who loves the water and I can’t deal with a green pool right now. Has anyone seen this combo of lights before? Should I dump a gallon of bleach in just in case? I’m so tired…

Whoa, slow down! I just slammed my 4th espresso and can confirm: **this is normal behavior for cold water.** The SWG shuts off chlorine production below ~52-60°F (depends on model) because the cell can’t efficiently generate chlorine. The “Low Salt” light often comes on too because the cold messes with the sensor reading—it’s probably *not* actually low salt. First step: **test your salt level with a separate test strip or kit.** If salt is fine (around 3000-3500 ppm), you’re okay. Algae grows slowly in cold water, so you have time. Don’t panic-dump bleach yet—you could spike the pH. Run the pump to circulate and consider adding a phosphate remover if you’re really worried.

I’m with GummyGuru on the testing. As a mom, I’ve learned to trust data over panic. My two cents: 1. **Cold water** = SWG inactive. That’s by design. 2. **Conflicting lights** = likely a sensor issue, not an algae apocalypse. 3. **Algae risk** = low at 58°F. Algae needs warmth and sunlight to bloom quickly. Do this: - Test salt independently (don’t rely on the panel). - Check your actual chlorine level with a test kit. If it’s below 1 ppm, add a *measured* amount of liquid chlorine (not a random gallon!). - Keep the pump running 8-12 hours daily to circulate. - If you’re still anxious, use an algaecide as a preventative, but read the label—some aren’t kid-friendly. Deep breaths. Your pool isn’t going green overnight.

Thank you both… I tested salt with a strip and it’s showing 3200 ppm, so that’s good. Chlorine was at 0.5 ppm—yikes. I added half a gallon of liquid chlorine (calculated for my pool size) and the pump is running. I’ll monitor it today. Still nervous, but at least I’m not blindly pouring chemicals in. Why doesn’t the manual explain that cold temps can trigger false low-salt readings?! Ugh.

Nice work! 0.5 ppm is low, but fixable. The manual probably assumes you’ll have a mental breakdown and call tech support (which, fair). Since you’re in Florida, keep an eye on the weather. Once water temp climbs back above 60°F, the SWG should kick on again and the “Low Salt” light should go off. If it doesn’t, you might need to clean the cell or check for scale. For now, you’re in the clear. Algae won’t party in 58°F water unless you ignore it for weeks. Go get some sleep!

Exactly. And a pro tip: when the SWG is off due to cold, you’re essentially running a non-chlorinated pool. So **test chlorine every couple days** and supplement with liquid chlorine as needed until the heater (or sunshine) warms things up. Document your readings—it helps spot trends. You’ve got this. And if your toddler splashes in, they’ll be fine as long as you maintain proper chlorine levels. No green monsters here.