Why Does My Pool Smell Like Chlorine?

Quick answer: A strong chlorine smell is usually chloramines, which form when chlorine reacts with sweat, oils, and other waste. It means the pool needs more free chlorine, so test and shock it.

Common causes

• Low free chlorine and high combined chlorine
• Sunscreen, sweat, and other organics
• pH outside the range of about 7.2 to 7.8

What to do

• Test free chlorine and combined chlorine
• Shock the pool as the product label directs
• Keep pH between about 7.2 and 7.6
• Ask swimmers to rinse off before getting in
• Run the pump and clean the filter

When to call a pro

If the smell returns right after shocking and your chemistry is balanced, have a pro check circulation and filtration.