We’ve all been there. You’re standing in front of your Stenner chlorine or acid feeder and are wondering: 

• Is this thing pumping any juice? 
• Do I have a suction leak somewhere?
• Does my chemistry issue lie elsewhere, like with the actual water balance? 

What do you do?

Years ago, you would have reached for the pH (Red) test reagent (or some red dye if you were lucky to have some), opened up the nut connectors to the Stenner Feeder tube, put in 10 drops of dye, and watched the red dye move (or not move) through the clear tubing. If you had an outdoor installation with black (UV resistant) tubing, you were sunk, and had to either temporarily replace a section of tubing to dye test or resorted to more technical troubleshooting – normally reserved for technicians, not pool owners.

For years, there has been a solution to this issue, but it has been definitely under-publicized, and definitely underused. The Stenner Flow indicator, AK600, is a simple, easy to install device that works great and really could be a part of every Stenner installation. It does not come with the package, and you have to request it to be installed, thus partially explaining the oversights and underuse.

How do you install?  You simply mount the black bracket to a surface nearby the feeder, snap the flow indicator into the bracket, then you connect tubing from the PRESSURE side of the feeder (normally furthest away from the wall) to the bottom of the indicator and finger tighten the connection. Then you connect the top of the indicator to the injection point. (Caution: depressurize the Stenner feeder before beginning installation, or you will spray chlorine or acid all over yourself). Installation instructions here.

How does it work? Simple. You turn on the feeder and observe. If the ball bounces briefly each time the roller completes a cycle and drops again…. you’re pumping fluids. If there is zero or little movement in the ball as the Stenner feeder roller is turning, then you have an issue. Check for a worn or ruptured tube, a clogged injector, empty chemical vats, or even invisible hairline cracks in the suction tubing. If there are air bubbles in the flow indicator, it normally means an empty vat, a leak in the suction line, or even a bad nut and ferrule connection on the suction side of the feeder (normally closest to the wall). Some even say that the flow indicator also serves as a secondary check valve, although none of the company documentation makes that claim.

Underused and under-appreciated? Perhaps. But we can change that? The CES team vows make it a priority to suggest the set up on every installation, but in case we miss it, you can request it as well. The technicians all carry the AK600s on their trucks, and will cheerfully install at your facility while there. Or you can have us install on your next PM service (service rates apply).

To make it even sweeter, please take advantage of a special 26% off promotion for a price of $17.95 each (MSRP $24.25). For online orders, click here and click on the AK600 part number and add to cart. Use promo code AM0924. 

Or contact your CES rep to add it to your next service call or order.

Thanks for your loyalty, and stay safe……