How To Convert Into Saltwater System
You wont need to alter any device such as filter, pump, or heater in your current setup. All that you’ll need to do is to get and install a saltwater chlorine generator in the appropriate location and add some sodium chloride .
If you prefer a more complex SWCG system that needs lots of plumbing and electrical work, it is advisable to hire a specialist to install it for you.
The one I use, the Hayward AQR15 AquaRite Salt Chlorination System for in-ground pools, is very easy to install and use. Nearly anyone can follow directions and use it successfully.
The appropriate location to install the SWCG is always near the power source and after pool filters, pumps, and heaters to ensure that water that passes through it is clean and will not cause damage. Here is a step-by-step do-it-yourself guide for converting to salt.
Salt Water Pool Maintenance Checklist
We’ve put together a salt water pool maintenance checklist specifically for salt water pool owners. As you continue reading keep in mind that not all pools, generators and water quality are the same which will present unique maintenance challenges. We’ve also put together a detailed hot tub maintenance checklist with helpful tips and advice specifically for salt water hot tubs.
Daily
Saltwater Pools: The Superior Option
Though it might seem like a big adjustment at first, saltwater pools require far less upkeep. There is less chlorine in the pool, which makes it easier on your skin, eyes, and swimsuits. There are also fewer chemicals involved in the upkeep of the saltwater pool, you just have to make sure there is enough salt in the pool for your generator to work.
Whether you need maintenance or want to completely renovate your pool, Shoreline can help you. Our employee training is continuous, and we are always learning new and improved ways to take care of your pool. We build custom pools based on the project scope and our clients needs to create a truly unique experience just in your backyard. Our award-winning pools use only the best products and we have created strong relationships with highly qualified partners to work with our crews to give our clients the best experience possible. Dial to connect with our team today!
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Salt Water Chlorinators Vs Chlorine Pools Explained
Is there really a big difference in saltwater pools and chlorinated pools? Well, the answers might surprise you. In a nutshell, satwater pools are easily the best investment you can make for your home pool. A saltwater pool isn’t just dumping sacks of salt into your pool, it’s much more than that. We’ll go over the advantages of saltwater pools from traditional chlorinated pools, and why you should really consider converting your pool to one.
Stabilizer Or Cyanuric Acid
Ideal Stabilizer or CYA: 30 – 80 ppm
The stabilizer level is very important to the over salt water pool maintenance, and is often overlooked by owners and professionals. A proper cyanuric acid level will prevent chlorine from being lost due to the sun’s UV rays. An outdoor pool without stabilizer could lose up to 95% of it’s produced chlorine on a sunny day leaving your pool unsanitary and potentially unsafe to swim in.
A salt water pool requires slightly higher levels of stabilizer than a regular pool and should be kept in the range of 70 – 80 ppm. If you have an indoor salt water pool that doesn’t get a lot of sunlight you can keep levels in the 5 – 30 ppm range. Stabilizer and chlorine work interchangeably and when one rises, the other should also.
- Lower Stabilizer levels by diluting your pool water either by draining and adding fresh water or correct over time.
- Raise Stabilizer levels by adding cyanuric acid and following the manufacturers instructions.
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Saltwater Systems Vs Traditional Chlorinated Pools
If you dont know much about saltwater filters and pools, the facts may surprise you. First, they arent anywhere close to being as salty as seawater. They have only about one-tenth the salinity. Second, they arent chlorine-free. Instead, the system uses a process called electrolysis to create chlorine, which disinfects the water.
Are Saltwater Pools Easier To Maintain
For pool owners or purchasers, one of the biggest questions is whether to get a saltwater pool or a traditional pool. They both come with certain pros and cons, but the question many people ask is: are saltwater pools easier to maintain? If you find yourself asking this question, and you are planning on making your pool purchase decision based on the answer, below is some information to keep in mind when making your investment.
When most people think about saltwater pools, a bunch of different benefits typically come to mind. Lower chlorine levels, water that is gentler on the skin, and water that can even be good for the skin. What is less well known is how much maintenance is required to keep and own a saltwater pool.
Saltwater Pools Have Less Maintenance
Saltwater pools generally require less maintenance than a traditional chlorine pool. While some of the basic cleaning duties are the same, such as skimming debris off the top of the water, applying a vacuum to the bottom, and cleaning the sides at the water line, the maintenance of the water is rather simple, simply add the required salt at the prescribed times.
Drawbacks of Saltwater Pools
While the maintenance requirements are definitely less with a saltwater pool than a traditional pool, there are some other things to keep in mind. Saltwater pools are generally more expensive to install than traditional pools.
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Monthly Task For Salt Water Pool Maintenance
There are 4 things to check for monthly tasks: salinity, alkalinity, stabilizer, and calcium.
The salinity of your pool needs to be between 2700 and 4500 ppm. Check with your owners manual to ensure that there may be slight variations depending on your pool model. If your generator does not have on ,you can use a salt meter.
As far as alkalinity is concerned, the most appropriate levels are 80 and 120 ppm. Reamarking, that you can use baking soda to raise it or muriatic acid to lower it.
Cyanuric acid, or CYA, is considered the ideal stabilizer for saltwater pools and should be between 70 and 80 ppm. On the other hand, calcium hardness should be between 200 and 400 ppm of calcium to prevent scaling and corrosion.
Is A Saltwater Pool Less Expensive To Maintain
Absolutely! The primary reason for this is that salt is far cheaper than traditional chlorine, and the chlorinator will do the heavy lifting for you, automatically! So you don’t need to buy chlorine. You don’t even need to have chlorine and other chemicals “just in case” someone forgot to dose the pool and has caused the pool to turn green.
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Saltwater Pools Provide Healthier Swimming Conditions
It is healthier because saltwater pools prevent oxygen depletion and reduce bacteria. This makes saltwater pools safer for swimmers due to their high purity. This prevents them from causing skin irritations and other breathing problems often caused by chlorine.
Another benefit of saltwater pools compared to chlorine ones is salts killing effects on algae in saltwater chemistry. Salt does not add extra chemicals like chlorine into the water. Because of this, salt makes swimming healthier for you and the planet.
Final Thoughts On Are Saltwater Pools Hard To Maintain
Whether you have an above-ground pool or an in-ground one, you can certainly make use of a saltwater system as an alternative method to the traditional chlorine.
One of the concerns that most people have is how salty the water will become. You will be pleased to know that it is not overly salty at all. In fact, salt pools tend to be kinder on your eyes and skin than a chlorine one.
The usual fading of swimwear that occurs with chlorine pools becomes a thing of the past. The one thing that stops most people from transitioning to a salt pool is the higher upfront cost that is involved.
In the long run, you would undoubtedly recoup the investment.
The Pool Care Handbook and Video Course
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A Smart Guide To Maintaining Your Salt Water Pool
In this guide you’re going to learn everything you wanted to know about maintaining your salt water pool.
Here are some of the things we’re going to cover:
- Benefits of having a salt water pool
- Daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly tasks
- How to test your salt water
- How to winterize your salt chlorinator
- And answers to some commonly asked salt pool system questions
Let’s dive in, shall we?
What Kind Of Salt To Use In A Saltwater Pool
The main thing to look out for in the salt you use in your pool is purity. Make sure to use salt that is at least 90-95 percent sodium chloride, and stay away from food-grade iodized salt. You can use solar evaporated or machine evaporated sea salt, but the purest form of sodium chloride comes from mined salt. It is purer is because bacteria and microorganisms found in the ocean will not mix with the salt.
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Salt Water Pool Maintenance
Salt water pool maintenance is actually quite simple with the technology available in todays chlorine generators and testing equipment. You’ll spend less money and time monitoring the chemistry of your pool and spend a lot more time enjoying all the benefits. You should never have to purchase, transport or add harsh chlorine to the water and since salt water is a lot more stable by nature, it will require less chemicals than a regular pool.
At the start of the season it’s important to ensure that you get your salt water pool started on the right track. If you are just getting it up and running for the season we have an excellent step by step guide that will help you with opening your salt water pool in the spring. As the pool season progresses there will be some simple weekly and monthly maintenance that can be done by a handy pool owner. It’s important to always follow the manufacturers instructions for your specific chlorine generator cell because the requirements can vary slightly.
Keep Dirt & Debris Out
Getting rid of dirt and debris is essential when it comes to saltwater pool maintenance. Salt water pool owners will want to skim the pools surface to ensure it stays clean.
You can use a mechanical cleaner or pool vacuum attachment. To do this, you should connect the vacuum right to the skimmer box for sucking dirt away. Or you can purchase a pressure cleaner or robot cleaner to get the job done.
Its important that you clean your pool two to three times each week. A pool that doesnt have a cover might require more clean-ups or take longer to clean. The reason is, its more prone to catching leaves and other debris. Additionally, you will want to clean up the lining of your backyard pool monthly and adhere to the right maintenance tips to help close the pool during the cold months.
Additionally, algae will make the pool have a dirty green color. It is best to use a special algae brush to get rid of it from the pools bottom and sides. You can also use an algaecide to prevent new algae growth.
It is also important that your friends and loved ones shower before they enter the pool. Remember also to wash the pool toys regularly. This will prevent the growth of mildew and help you have a cleaner pool.
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How Can I Convert My Pool Water To Saltwater
According to Homeadvisor, it may set you back between $12000 and $67000 to build a saltwater pool. Fortunately, if you already have a chlorine pool you will not have to spend as much.
So, why does it cost so much? Well, you can actually get it done for an average of $3000.
This is based on the following expenses:
- A salt water system at up to $1800.
- Installation and salt at up to $1200.
The installation can be carried out by a DIY-savvy person, although we must warn you that it is not as easy as the chlorine system.
The cost of the system will depend on the size of your pool and whether it is an in-ground or above-ground pool.
The installation process includes fitting the generator and the cell. These are then tested to ensure that they are functioning as expected.
The right amount of salt will need to be added based on the state of the water that you are starting with. To establish this, you will need to make use of the test strips.
Question: My Saltwater Chlorinator Keeps On Flashing The No Flow Or Low Flow Warning But The Pump Is Turned On And The Water Seems To Be Flowing Properly
Answer: There are a couple of reasons why your chlorinator might be showing a low flow warning. The first can be dirty filters which reduce the flow of water to your salt cell. Do a backwash if you have a sand filter or give your filter cartridges a good rinse to see if that fixes the problem. If that doesnt fix the flow warning, the next thing you can do is to check the cells themselves. Calcium buildup inside of your salt cells can also to a low flow reading and cleaning them should take care of the low flow reading.
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What Is A Saltwater Pool
First, lets make sure everyone understands what a saltwater pool is and how it works.
If youre thinking about buying a swimming pool, youll need this information, so stick with us. If you already understand the basics, then skip ahead to the next section.
A saltwater pool uses a salt-chlorine generator, which converts salt into chlorine. For the machine to function, youll need to add salt to it. This is different from a traditional chlorine pool, which requires you to add chemicals.
Contrary to what some people believe, a saltwater pool doesnt taste or feel like the ocean. Instead, the water has a very silky feel and a mild taste. The salinity of saltwater in a pool is about one-tenth of what youll find in the ocean.
Its actually closer to what you would find in contact lens solution or a natural teardrop.
Saltwater pools have less chlorine in them, which makes it gentler on the skin and eyes. If you have children in the home or you plan to swim for long periods of time, this is a major advantage.
The chlorine levels are high enough to disinfect your pool, but theyre not so high that you need to worry about it damaging your hair or fading your swimwear.
Considering all of these advantages, you might wonder why everyone doesnt use saltwater. Is it a lot more expensive or harder to maintain? Keep reading as we explore the answers to these questions.
S To Keep Your Saltwater Pool Running Smoothly
The first step to maintaining your saltwater pool involves the proper circulation in your pool. If there isnt proper circulation in your pool, saltwater will manifest in concentration levels throughout your pool. Thankfully, you can use a saltwater concentration detector in various areas of the pool to confirm the levels remain consistent. If the numbers are significantly different, then you will need to change the angles of your jets to ensure good circulation.
Next, you will have to clean the pool weekly to remove any salt build-up or debris in your pool. So when owning a saltwater pool, you will need to invest in cleaning equipment built to withstand the saltwater compared to a regular chlorinated pool.
Dont forget to take care of your equipment! Making sure that the equipment doesnt splash water outside of the pool liner will be something to look out for because it can cause significant damage over time. Using a hose to sporadically add the saltwater back in the pool can also prevent any damage outside of the pool. Just like a chlorinated pool, be sure to check your filter, pool pump, and skimmer to make sure they are clean and working smoothly.
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Added Benefits That Are Too Convincing
A saltwater pool system requires no additional chemicals other than salt. Salt is especially helpful if you have young children who may swallow the water accidentally from the pool because salt acts as a natural sanitizer when combined with water.
Salt, saltwater, and salt-tolerant saltwater equipment can be found at your local pool supply store. A saltwater equipment system is easy to maintain, highly effective, and can save you money in maintenance costs over time. For more information on salt, water systems contact your neighborhood pool supply store.
Minimize Your Chlorine Demand
You wouldn’t be ok with trying to have your home’s HVAC unit try to compensate for windows and doors that were left open all the time, right? It’s the same with your pool’s sanitation. It is crucial to eliminate issues that can multiply the amount of chlorine it takes to keep clean water . The most high-impact levels to monitor are phosphates , nitrates , and stabilizer . When any of these three are at issue, it’s possible for a pool to require many times higher amounts of chlorine in order to maintain the extra 1-3ppm residual level of unused free chlorine that you need.
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