Free Chlorine Vs Total Chlorine Spa. Free and total chlorine difference. February 07, 2008, 05:35:51 pm ».
Combined is the chlorine that has mixed with organic matter that has mostly been used up; February 07, 2008, 05:35:51 pm ». You need to know the safe level of chlorine in pool water to avoid the health risk.
Some testing kits will only test for total chlorine because ideally, you shouldn’t have any combined chlorine.
Some testing kits will only test for total chlorine because ideally, you shouldn’t have any combined chlorine. When ammonia or organic nitrogen is also present, chloramines known as monochloramine, dichloramine, and trichloramine will quickly form. It can take the form of low total and free chlorine residuals or high combined chlorine (chloramines). But it’s when you have algae or some other problems going on that the total chlorine levels are useless without knowledge of the free chlorine.