If your chlorinator has stopped producing enough chlorine, don't panic. In most cases, the problem can be traced back to one of a few common causes.

1. The salt level is too low

Salt chlorinators rely on the correct salt concentration to produce chlorine. If the salt level falls below the manufacturer's recommended range, chlorine production will decrease or stop altogether.

2. The chlorinator output is set too low

Sometimes the chlorinator is working perfectly, but the output has simply been set too low for the current conditions. During summer, periods of heavy pool use, or after heavy rain, you may need to increase the output to keep up with the higher chlorine demand.

3. The chlorinator cell is dirty

Over time, calcium can build up on the chlorinator cell, reducing its ability to produce chlorine. If the cell is covered in white calcium deposits, it may need to be cleaned.

4. The chlorinator cell has reached the end of its life

Chlorinator cells don't last forever. Most have a lifespan of 5 to 10 years, depending on water chemistry, operating hours and maintenance. As the cell wears out, chlorine production gradually decreases until replacement is required.

5. Your pump isn't running long enough

A chlorinator only produces chlorine while the pool pump is operating. If your filtration system isn't running for enough hours each day, your pool simply may not be receiving enough chlorine.

6. Your pool is using chlorine faster than it's being produced

Even if your chlorinator is working correctly, chlorine can be consumed very quickly during:

• Hot weather.

• Heavy pool use.

• After storms or heavy rain.

• When leaves, dirt and other organic debris enter the pool.

• During the early stages of an algae bloom.

In these situations, the chlorinator may struggle to keep up, and you may need to temporarily increase the output or manually add liquid chlorine.

7. There's a fault with the chlorinator

If you've checked the salt level, cleaned the cell, adjusted the output and your pool still isn't holding chlorine, the controller or chlorinator cell may have developed a fault. Some systems will display warning messages such as "Low Salt", "No Flow", or "Cell Fault", which can help identify the problem.