How Do I Switch From Baquacil To A Salt System
Shock the Pool! Balance your pools water, and then use either liquid chlorine or non-chlorine shock. This will break apart the molecular bonds of the biguanides. Once you add the shock, check your pool water daily and add more chlorine to the pool if your test kit shows the level above zero. Keep adding chlorine until you are no longer getting a reading of baquacil in your water. During this time you will notice that your pool water may change different colors and you will have a residual of waste at the bottom of your pool. This is normal. Vacuum up the waste directly to waste, if you have a cartridge filter you will need to clean your cartridges after each cleaning.
This process may take a day or could take a week. The duration is determined by how much baquacil is in your pool and how much chlorine you are adding. Start with 2 gallons of bleach per 10,000 gallons, or if using non-chlorine shock, use 8 lbs per 10,000 gals. Run the filter 24/7 until the water clears, backwashing if needed.
Repeat the treatment if your pool water does not clear within a week. Usual time required is 3-5 days, but it can take longer or require additional chlorine if biguanide levels are high or if the pool water was in poor condition before treatment.
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Starting Up The Salt Chlorine Generator
It is very important to start off with good pool water. Your water chemistry should start off at the following values:
Salt: 3,000 3,500 PPMFree Chlorine: 1.0 3.0 PPMpH: 7.2 7.8Cyanuric Acid : 50 75 PPMTotal Alkalinity: 80 120 PPMCalcium Hardness: 150 400 PPM
At start up it is best to shock your pool from an outside source like a standard granular pool shock. Then, wait until the chlorine level has returned to between 1 to 3 PPM before turning on the salt system. Now its time to kick on your salt system. We suggest setting the system to 50% chlorine production and let the system run for 24 hours. After 24 hours test your pool water with a good test strip to see if your free chlorine is between 1-3 PPM. If your chlorine is too high or too low, dial your chlorine product up or down in 10% increments and retest your chlorine in 24 hours. Repeat this process until the proper chlorine level is reached. The nice thing is that once the salt system is dialed in it is pretty much a set-it-and-forget system, because it is always there producing natural chlorine for your pool at the desired amount to keep your pool crystal clear. Salt systems also have a superchlorinate feature which shocks your pool. So if you ever run into demanding water conditions then this feature comes in handy to shock your pool and get your pool water looking clear again.
Why Switch To A Saltwater Pool
Many of the negatives from chlorine pools, such as the “chlorine smell,” skin and eye irritation, and the constant maintenance of chlorine levels don’t even exist with salt pools. And while you will still check the chemicals regularly, you’ll typically make less frequent adjustments since you’ll see fewer peaks and valleys in chemical and pH levels. With of fewer spikes in chlorine, irritation of eyes and skin is less common, and the pool’s water is gentler on hair and clothing. Water in a saltwater system also tends to feel “softer” and more luxurious to swim in.
And even though they cost more upfront, saltwater pools save money in the long-term due to less maintenance and chemical use.
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How Salty Is A Salt Water Pool
Pool salt is a purified crystallized form of common sodium chloride.
The concentration of salt is 3000 to 7000 mg/l for a saltwater pool which is only about 10 to 15% of the salt found in seawater .
The concentration of salt in a pool is about equal to the salinity of the tears in your eyes so opening your eyes underwater will be perfectly comfortable.
Less Chemicals Around The House
Modern families are careful about the chemicals they keep around the house. This is especially true for families with curious children who tend to crawl under cabinets or knock things over. Pool chemicals are strong and dangerous to ingest. If youre looking to make your household safer and you prefer a natural approach, youre a prime candidate for a salt water pool.
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Salt Water Conversion Kit
The equipment you need in order to convert your chlorine pool into saltwater comes in a saltwater conversion kit. Also called the saltwater system, this kit will do all the natural chlorine conversion for you and pretty soon, you will have a perfect saltwater pool.
The saltwater system contains a control box and a salt cell. The control box is installed into a wall, whereas the salt cell is put in the existing plumbing surrounding the pool. Once everything is put in place, you can connect the system to electricity, and it will automatically begin to convert the natural salt in your water into chlorine.
Note that there are different sizes of saltwater systems for the amount of water in a pool. It is recommended that you either get the size that perfectly matches your pools water capacity or the one which has a bigger capacity. While getting a saltwater system designed for a smaller pool will work fine initially, it will not be durable enough to last you more than a year. Therefore, it is vital to make an informed decision when choosing your saltwater system.
Another thing to consider is the cost of the systems replacement cells. All saltwater systems need a cell replacement every 3-5 years which is why you need to make sure you can afford them.
Repairs On A Salt Water Pool
Most chlorine pools have a lot of metal components. Salt corrosion is the enemy of metal. Over time, you may notice that your metal components begin to rust. When possible, metal components can be replaced with other materials that are better equipped to handle salt exposure. If you choose to keep your metal components, they may need to be replaced periodically.
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Decide How To Convert To A Saltwater Tub Chlorine Vs Bromine
There are two ways to get a saltwater hot tub chlorine generators and bromine generators. Chlorinators are more popular as they are at least half the price of brominators . There are also saltwater systems that can produce both chlorine or bromine depending on the type of salt you use .
| Chlorinator |
Note: Only bromine generators should be usedin wooden hot tubs because chlorine has a bad effect on wood.
Verdict:
I cant give a simple answer to which is better, bromine or chlorine? This age-old dilemma also applies to saltwater systems. hoose what is more suitable for you based on the characteristics.
Chlorinator is my personal choice for saltwater hot tubs since it has significant advantages: the cost and the availability of the device and the cost of salt.
Tip: If you are still hesitant, buy a salt system in which you can use both salts and try it by yourself you can use theControlOMatic SmarterSpa.
Saltwater Pool Conversion Steps
Converting your traditional chlorine pool to a salt system is not as difficult as you may think.
You won’t even have to drain your pool and refill it with fresh water.
Because saltwater pools also use chlorine , the transition can take place in four relatively simple steps:
If you’d like to work with a professional to install a new saltwater pool, or to convert your existing pool to use a salt water system, get in touch with a River Pools builder near you today:
Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a saltwater swimming pool. Let’s go over how much that might cost.
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What Are The Benefits Of A Salt Water Pool
Are salt water pools better than traditional chlorine pools? The answer certainly depends on who you ask. But in many respects, salt water pools are undeniably superior to their heavily-chlorinated counterparts.
As we mentioned, many people convert to saltwater because it calls for fewer chemicals and less chlorine, which eliminates the chlorine smell of normal pools and makes the water gentler on your body. Also, with reduced chlorine levels, swimmers dont have to worry about green-tinted hair and irritated skin.
But thats not all many people notice clearer skin after swimming in a salt water pool, as you might after swimming in the ocean. On top of that, youll have easier pool upkeep and lower maintenance costs.
How To Convert Chlorine Pool To Salt Water
Converting chlorine water into salt water is a lot simpler than one might think. But first, you need to understand the chlorination process.
The natural salt molecules in water have the potential to be converted to chlorine when they react to the electrode. These electrodes meet them in the natural chlorine generator that is a basic necessity of a saltwater pool.
A chlorine generator uses electricity to turn the natural salts into chlorine so that it keeps your pool clean without you having to add in extra amounts from the store. However, it is crucial to measure the salt levels in the water and make sure they are up to the level at which the generator starts working. If not, you will inevitably have to add some store-bought salt in the water manually. Once the salt levels are enough to get the generator started, you can begin to enjoy your new, softer, more luxurious pool water. Overall, a saltwater pool requires fewer chemicals and balancing, which makes it easier to maintain.
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S To Converting Your Pool To Saltwater
Once you have converted to a saltwater swimming pool, continue maintenance as usual. This will help to assure clean, clear water and extend the life of your pool equipment.
Check Your Existing Pool Water
Most pool cleaners are compatible with chlorine, so you wont need to drain them or change your water before you convert.
However, some common antibacterial products are not compatible with chlorine. In particular, polyhexamethylene biguanide does not work with chlorine cleaners. If youre currently using this, your only options before converting are switching your pool water or burning it out with excess chlorine. The second option is more affordable, but it takes several days.
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How To Convert Your Pool Into A Salt Water Pool
One of the questions that we get a lot from our blog readers here at Mr Pool Man is how to convert their existing traditionally chlorinated pool to a salt water pool. Is it as simple as attaching a saltwater chlorinator to the system or does it entail something more? Well, were here to answer those questions and more with our guide to converting your traditional pool into a salt water pool!
Before we dive in, here’s our resident pool guru, Tom, with an overview of our favorite saltwater chlorinator, the Water TechniX Atomic Salt Water Chlorinator. Its also the chlorinator that well use as the basis for our conversion guide.
How Salt Water Pools Are Easier On Your Hair Skin And Eyes
If you have a chlorinated pool, chances are high that your kids have picked up a few pairs of swimming googles over the years. Opening your eyes underwater in a chlorinated pool is painful after all, youre allowing chemicals to come into contact with some of the most sensitive tissue in your body. Salt water is saline, and saline is the main ingredient in eyedrops and contact solution. Salt water pools are a lot gentler on your eyes, skin, and hair because theyre naturally biocompatible.
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Salt Water Pool Maintenance
Salt water pool maintenance costs about $45 per month if you do it yourself, and $80 to $150 per month if you pay a cleaning service. You can save on this cost if you close the pool for a few months every winter for around $300. Your salt water pool will need to be cleaned regularly from debris that falls or blows into it, dust that settles in the water, and salt buildupsalt solids can collect on the bottom of the pool.
Depending on the price you pay, weekly services can include:
- Water testing and balancing
The Cost Of Conversion
Your pool is already built for a chlorine system. All the existing equipment wont be compatible with a salt water pool. New equipment needs to be installed for your salt water pool to work. Many homeowners find that the cost of conversion isnt as much as they had anticipated. In the long run, most homeowners find that its cheaper to maintain their salt water pools. They think of it the same way theyd think of installing solar panels its an investment in the future that will, sooner or later, become less expensive than their previous system.
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Pros And Cons Of Converting To A Saltwater Pool
Pool owners have many positive and negative aspects they should consider before they convert their pools to salt systems. While swimming in salt water is considered more enjoyable than swimming in traditionally chlorinated pools, the costs of initial installation and keeping up repairs can be off-putting to some homeowners. Here are some of the pros and cons of converting to a saline pool system.
MaintenanceMaintaining your saline pool is easier than maintaining a chlorinated pool. Because your salt system converts the salt to the needed chlorine, you are not having to constantly add more chlorine to your pool. This makes maintenance much easier. You still have to check your pools water for the appropriate chemical levels, but you do not have to be constantly pouring in buckets of chemicals to keep your pool safe.
Softer WaterAlthough saltwater pools do still contain chlorine, their water is much milder than in traditional systems. They are also not nearly as salty as you might imagine, having a salt content that is more like that in human tears than ocean water. This makes for a much more pleasant experience with swimming because opening your eyes underwater will not sting or burn the way it would if you opened your eyes in a conventional pool system.
Decide Which Device You Use To Convert Drop
There are two types of saltwater system constructions Drop-in and In-line. Here, Ill give you an overview of each design and its pros and cons.
- Drop-in saltwater generators you only need to submerge the cell into the hot tub water to make it work.
Construction is very simple and consists of 2 main parts:
Control panel a control unit for adjusting the intensity and amount of chlorine or bromine extraction, a timer, and other functions depending on the model.
Electrolytic cell produces chlorine/bromine, consists of a plastic case containing electrodes. They are usually made of Titanium .
Some models are equipped with a cell holder, which is very convenient and used to place the cell in
Pros: price, easy installation
| Show price |
Verdict:
The drop-insaltwater systems are the best choice for hot tubs, as in-line ones are designed mostly for pools with a large volume of water, require professional installation, and are up to several times more expensive. But, you can still use them if you dont want extra cables in your spa.
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Benefits Of Salt Water Systems
Because this is a cycle that does not end you do not need to continue to add chlorine each week. Once you get your pool balanced with the proper amount of salt and set your generator to the proper level it will continue to run and produce chlorine. It is also a very pH neutral process, unlike tabs chlorine so you will not have to make pH adjustments as often. Having salt in the water also make the water much softer, so instead of getting out and feeling dried out, your skin will tend to feel softer.
