FAQs

Commercial and Industrial

Are spare parts readily available?

Yes. AIS chlorinators are designed and manufactured in Australian ensuring quick and easy replacement of parts. Click here to view the full spare parts manual.

Can a customer install a commercial unit themselves without affecting the warranty?

Yes. AIS provides detailed installation and maintenance information with every system. Chlorinators are generally supplied wet-tested, fully calibrated and ready to plug-and-play.

A licensed plumber or respected pool consultant/builder will be required to position the system, glue the inlet and outlet pipes and a licensed electrician required to connect it to a power source.

Providing AIS’ installation and maintenance instructions are followed, your AIS warranty will remain in place.

Can AIS chlorinators can be retro-fitted?

Yes. All AIS chlorinators can be fitted new or retro fitted to existing facilities.

How do I clean my AIS electrolytic cell and are there any tips for additional longevity?

All commercial chlorinators have an inbuilt acid wash facility. Refer to AIS’ product manual for full instructions.  Cells can be cleaned in a combination of HCL (Pool acid) and water.  Please follow the instructions contained within the manual.

AIS’ range of Reverse Polarity (RP) chlorinators, greatly extends the period between cell cleans -by changing the polarity, the cell effectively cleans itself. Given the right water conditions the cell may only require twice yearly cleaning (depending on water chemistry). High calcium hardness, high pH and low TDS can increase cleaning frequency. AIS recommends keeping hardness/pH/TDS within acceptable recommended ranges.

How do I maintain my AIS chlorinator and how long will it last?

AIS’ range of commercial chlorinators has been designed and manufactured in Australia with all chlorinators offering exceptional performance and longevity. All AIS commercial systems are covered by an extensive warranty programs.

Although AIS’ range of commercial chlorinators automatically disinfect large bodies of water and require reduced operator input and ongoing maintenance, some regular maintenance is recommended in order to ensure ultimate efficiency.

Please refer to AIS’ product specification sheets for maintenance tips and recommendations however the following information may assist.

• Maintain proper water chemistry
• Regularly inspect condition of electrolytic cell/s
• Perform acid wash every six months or on first signs of calcium scale

How does an AIS chlorinator and the process of electrolysis work?

AIS’ range of commercial chlorinators automatically disinfect large bodies of water of almost any composition. The benefits include:

• A stop to the endless cycle of traditional chemical dosing;
• An end to the risk, hassle and expense of buying, transporting, storing and manually dosing chlorine[i];
• An end to the dependence on commercial chlorine suppliers;
• A complete, automatic process which requires minimal operator attendance and often delivers significant savings on operation and maintenance costs.

In a process known as electrolysis, pool water passes through electrolytic cells which convert the salts and minerals present in the water into chlorine. The chlorine is then distributed directly into the water body keeping it clear and germ and bacteria free.  For more information about AIS’ technology including AIS’ Genuine Anodes ™ and the process of electrolysis click here.

[i] Typically Sodium Hypochlorite or Calcium Hypochlorite

How often are maintenance checks required for commercial units?

AIS recommends a visual inspection of the chlorinator’s LCD screen every few days to check for warning or service messages. Alternatively certain commercial units can be connected to a centralised alarm system (if available on location) for immediate notification.

I have a unique commercial/industrial water disinfection requirement. Are custom designed systems available?

Yes, the AIS team can design a water disinfection system to suit your requirements.  Contact AIS to discuss your needs and to receive case studies illustrating AIS’ unique and innovative solutions for commercial/industrial projects.

In the case of commercial aquatic facilities, will I ever need to manually add chlorine to the pool/s?

AIS chlorinators automatically disinfect water of almost any composition generally meaning the end to manual chlorine dosing [i]. From time to time however it may be necessary to add some additional chlorine due to heavy rainfall or weather events, excessive bather numbers or when there is lots of organic matter or contamination in the pool.

Should you need additional chlorine for your pool, in the case of salt water pools AIS recommends only using liquid chlorine. Granular chlorine is not recommended as it can leave calcium behind which in turn can create cloudiness in the pool as well as increase ongoing maintenance requirements.

[i] Typically Sodium Hypochlorite or Calcium Hypochlorite

What is the lifespan on AIS’ cooling fans?

Depending on the model/build the expected lifespan of a cooling fan is between five – 10 years with fans covered by a three year, full replacement warranty.

What is the lifespan on AIS’ electrolytic cells?

The expected electrolytic cell life is between five to eight years (depending on the model/build) with all cells covered by a three year, full replacement warranty.

Who can I contact with questions or issues about my AIS chlorinator?

Your first point of contact should be the company which you purchased your chlorinator from.  All AIS distributors and retailers are well qualified to assist with your enquiry.

If they are unable to assist, please contact our service department at service@aiswater.com.au and include model and serial number, a detailed description of the issue, preferably accompanied by relevant photos.

Will my AIS Chlorinator be affected by unstable voltage, power black outs or ‘brown outs’? (ie: need to be reset, fail etc)?

As soon as power is restored your AIS system will ‘remember’ its program before the power cut occurred and resume regular operation. All of AIS’ commercial units are equipped with Surge Protection Devices and Voltage Monitoring Relays which help to withstand unstable voltage supply including lightning strikes.

Residential

Are spare parts readily available?

Yes. AIS chlorinators are designed and manufactured in Australian ensuring quick and easy replacement of parts. Click here to view the full spare parts manual.

Can AIS chlorinators can be retro-fitted to existing pools?

AIS chlorinators can be fitted to new pools or retro-fitted to existing pools generally with only minor plumbing and electrical modifications. AIS recommends the use of a pool professional when installing your AIS System.

How do I install my AIS Chlorinator?

AIS recommends using a licensed plumber or a respected pool consultant to install your AIS system.

How do I maintain my AIS chlorinator and how long will it last?

Although AIS’ range of residential chlorinators automatically disinfect your pool or spa water, some regular maintenance is recommended in order to ensure ultimate efficiency.

Please refer to your product specification sheets for maintenance tips and recommendations but as a general rule, follow these handy hints:

• Visual inspection: Every few days check your chlorine generator to ensure it is operating,
• Regular water chemistry testing:  Monitor your water chemistry at least once a week to ensure a sparkling clear, clean pool and the opportunity to instigate immediate action in case of any issues. Remember to check your pool water as soon as practicable after heavy rain.
• Regular cleaning of chlorinator cell electrodes:  Depending on the water composition of your pool or spa water it’s important to clean the calcium build up from your chlorinator.  Your water chemistry will determine the level of calcium build up and cleaning frequency.  To clean your electrodes rinse the cell in a combination of HCL (pool acid available at your pool shop) and water.  Ensure safety instructions are followed including always adding water first, then the acid.  For detailed instructions please consult the relevant AIS product manual (insert hyperlink to manual here)
• Please refer to your product manual to see the expected lifespan of your AIS Chlorinator and chlorinator cell electrodes. Rest assured that all AIS chlorinators are covered by a warranty program.

How does an AIS chlorinator and the process of electrolysis work?

AIS’ range of residential chlorinators automatically disinfect fresh, mineral or salt water pool or spa water putting an end to the risks, hassle and expense of manually chlorine[i] dosing.

In a process known as electrolysis, pool water passes through electrolytic cells which convert the salts and minerals already present in the water into chlorine. The chlorine is then distributed directly into the water keeping your pool sparkling clear and bacteria free.

The end result is less pool maintenance time and more swimming time for you and your family!

[i] Typically Sodium Hypochlorite or Calcium Hypochlorite

For more information about AIS’ technology including AIS’ Genuine Anodes ™ and the process of electrolysis click here.

How long should I run my home pool filter for?

AIS recommends a minimum of:

• Eight hours during Summer
• Six hours during Autumn and Spring
• Four hours during Winter

How much salt do I need in my pool to ensure efficient AIS chlorinator operation?

AIS has a chlorinator to suit any pool or spa and to suit different water salinity levels. Please refer to your AIS’ product specification sheet to ensure that you have the right salt water composition to ensure efficient operation of your AIS chlorinator.

As a general guide only, AIS salt or mineral water chlorinators are suited to TDS (Total Dissolved Solid) levels of between 2,500ppm – 5,000ppm.  For a standard, salt water family sized pool this is the equivalent of around six-eight bags of salt per year.

Fresh water chlorinators can operate from as low as 1,200ppm. For a standard, fresh water family sized pool this is the equivalent of around 6 – 8 bags of salt per year.

What about evaporation? Do I lose salt when my pool water evaporates?

No. Natural water evaporation is between 2-5cm per week depending on weather conditions (wind and heat).

Salt and stabilisers (such as cyanuric acid) do not evaporate.

What is the difference in running costs between fresh, salt, mineral water or chlorine pools?

There are a number of factors that you must consider to determine the answer to this question including the location of the pool, if it is an indoor or outdoor pool, bather load (number of people swimming in the pool and how regularly) and weather impacts.

Generally speaking, fresh, mineral and salt water pools are less expensive to run than traditional  chlorine pools – in some cases up to 50% cheaper.

Apart from the electricity required to operate the pool filter, other costs to consider may include the purchase or salts or minerals to ensure the pool water has enough salt content for the chlorinator to operate efficiently. This is measured as kilowatts per kilogram of chlorine produced.

In locations where high rainfall is experienced (ie the pool regularly overflows), additional chemicals may be required in order to maintain a healthy water balance. This depends on the size and location of the pool and the severity of rainfall events.

Ask a trusted pool professional or contact AIS to discuss the best pool choice for your home and help determine your running costs.

Who can I contact with questions or issues about my pool/spa or AIS chlorinator?

Your first point of contact should be the company where you purchased your AIS chlorinator from. All AIS distributors and approved retailers are well qualified to assist with your enquiry.

If they are unable to assist for any reason, please contact our service department at service@aiswater.com.au  and include a detailed description of the issue, preferably accompanied by relevant photos.  We are only too happy to help.

Why is my pool cloudy/green?

AIS chlorinators automatically adjust to your pool’s water composition to deliver the correct dosage of chlorine to your pool.  In the case of a cloudy or green pool additional factors may be impacting on chlorine levels. The most likely cause of a cloudy/green pool is low chlorine levels. Low chlorine levels can be caused by:

• Insufficient salt in the pool – preventing the chlorinator from generating enough chlorine.
• Insufficient chlorinator running time – AIS recommends running your filtration system for at least eight hours during Summer; six hours during Autumn and Spring and four hours during Winter (in Australia).
• Chemical or pH imbalance – a chlorine stabiliser (such as cyanuric acid*) should be used in conjunction with any chlorinator. Talk to your professional pool care consultant to find out more.
• Chlorinator cell needs cleaning – the chlorinator cell must be regularly cleaned to prevent calcium build up. Follow AIS’ instructions regarding how to clean your cell.
• Black spot algae bloom – black spot often grows in areas of poor water circulation such as corners and steps. Black spot algae consumes chlorine quickly and a dosage of acid or chlorine may be required to rectify the issue.  Talk to your professional pool care consultant to find out more.
• Breakdown or malfunction of chlorinator – regularly check your chlorinator to ensure it is working.

NB: it may be necessary to shock dose your pool using liquid chlorine to solve the problem of cloudy or green pools. Talk to your professional pool care consultant about the right approach for your pool.

*Stabiliser, or cyanuric acid, is a compound which protects the chlorine from the negative effects of UV and heat. It ensures that pool water remains clean and clear and also reduces the amount of chlorine needed to maintain disinfection.

According to AIS’ research results, pools without stabiliser can lose about 90% of their total chlorine residual in less than three hours on a sunny day. Under the same conditions however pools treated with 25 to 50 milligrams of cyanuric acid per litre of pool water only lose only 10% to 15% total chlorine.

Ideally, stabiliser should be maintained at a level of about 50 ppm with the recommended limits being 30-50 ppm.

Will I ever need to manually add chlorine to my pool?

AIS chlorinators automatically disinfect your pool or spa water generally meaning an end to manual chlorine dosing [i], however from time to time it may be necessary to add some additional chlorine to your pool.  This may be due to heavy rainfall events, excessive bather numbers or weather events – for instance after a storm when there is lots of organic matter (e.g. leaves) in the pool.

Should you need additional chlorine for your pool, AIS recommends the use of liquid chlorine.

Granular chlorine is not recommended as it can leave calcium behind which in turn can create cloudiness in the pool as well as increase ongoing maintenance requirements. For safety reasons, in the case of using granular chlorine, ALWAYS dissolve the chlorine first in a bucket reserved only for chlorine use  (i.e one never used for other chemicals) and ALWAYS put the water in the bucket first, followed by the chlorine.
[i] Typically Sodium Hypochlorite or Calcium Hypochlorite