Water chemistry
Total chlorine
Total chlorine is the sum of free chlorine and combined chlorine, as shown on a standard chlorine test.
Total chlorine alone does not tell you if your pool is protected. A pool can read a healthy total and still have almost no active chlorine, because most of it is already used up.
To get the useful number, subtract free chlorine from total chlorine. The result is combined chlorine. If the gap is wide, the water needs a reset. A drop test kit separates the two readings better than a strip. Ask your pool pro to show you both numbers on the first visit.
Related terms
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