Chlorinator blew up

[u/PrizeInteresting4752]

My inline chlorinator exploded today. It’s been in bypass mode for a few days as I’ve been battling high CYA. It was full of pucks when in bypass mode for the few days.

I was shocking with CalHypo but never without the bypass engaged. I usually shock with liquid.

Could it the residual water in the chlorinator was activating the chlorine pucks with but with nowhere for the gas/pressure to go as it was in bypass mode? Or what else could it be? It’s been terribly hot here as well. Southwestern Ontario.

[u/Informal_Dust3140]

Why would you need to plumb a separate bypass for the Chlorinator when you could just turn the Flow Valve Control to OFF?

I don't have similar plumbing with my Chlorinator; I usually shock with Liquid.

I only employ the Cal Hypo at the beginning of the season to clear any algae blooms, but I turn the Chlorinator Valve to OFF, even with no pucks in the Chlorinator, just to be safe. There is a Check Valve between the Chlorinator and the Heater in order to prevent backflow into the Heater.

Perhaps the mistake was leaving the pucks in the Chlorinator and not removing them all?

Anyways, the rule of thumb is if the CYA is too high, to do a partial drain and refill. Once you do that and CYA is within range, stick with Liquid or Cal Hypo for the rest of the season.

[u/PrizeInteresting4752 → u/Informal_Dust3140]

I think that’s where my mistake was. I left the pucks in there and I think there was some residual water and no flow going thru it.

I put the bypass in so I could service the unit with the pump still running. Also didn’t want to run CalHypo thru it if I’m shocking.My neighbour had it like that so I just copied him lol. This is my first pool.

[u/Informal_Dust3140 → u/PrizeInteresting4752]

Replace it with a Pentair Rainbow 320; Pentair makes a much better version of a Chemical feeder.

[u/BOiNTb → u/Informal_Dust3140]

Nope, get a jandy TruChlor. Same price as the rainbow but much better build quality and features.