How Does A Salt Chlorinator Work
Salt chlorinators convert salt into a self-regenerating supply of pure chlorine for soft and safe water. Haywards;chlorine generator systems;convert dissolved salt into the;perfect;amount of chlorine for your pool. Our systems create water that is silky-smooth and sanitized for a pleasant, healthful swimming experience for your family.
Heres how it works: You add pool-grade salt to your pool and wait until it dissolves. Power is applied to the chlorine generator to convert the dissolved salt into chlorine. Fresh, pure chlorine treated water is returned to the pool for complete sanitization and swimming comfort. Its as simple as that!
Haywards salt chlorination system is less work for pool owners, is easier on your familys budget, and is a more convenient sanitization method than traditional chemical chlorine sanitization. Click here to learn more about the benefits of salt chlorination.
Take Precautions For Your Pool Liner
If you have a vinyl liner, youll be happy to know you can use a salt chlorinator system in your pool without taking any extra precautions. The liner will be exposed to lower levels of chlorine, so it may even extend your liners lifespan.
However, many inground pools have galvanized walls behind the liner. If your liner springs a leakeven a small leakallowing salinized water to seep out against the steel wall, the wall will eventually corrode.
Similarly, above ground pools with a lot of metal parts can rust over time due to exposure to salt water. If you have a resin above ground pool, you can make the switch without this concern.
Salt Water Pool Quick Answers:
Salt water pools have become more popular among homeowners in recent years, and for good reason. A salt water pool is just as clean as a chlorinated pool, but with many other benefits no chlorine smell, healthier water, and fewer chemicals, to name a few. If youre a pool owner and are interested in salt water pool conversion, youve come to the right place.;
And heres the good news converting a chlorinated pool into a salt water pool is probably easier than you think, whether youre working with an above-ground swimming pool, an inground pool, or even a hot tub.
Lets explore everything you need to know about going salty, including the advantages of salt water pools, the type of pool systems youll need, how to convert a pool to saltwater, the cost, and pool maintenance requirements, and how to test and treat the water.
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Balance Your Pool Water
Once you know that the saltwater conversion will work with your existing chemicals, its time to adjust your pool water and get it as close to normal as possible. Balance things in this exact order: chlorine, alkalinity, pH, stabilizer, calcium hardness, and other metals. Test your water again, and continue balancing as needed.
It may take several days to fully adjust your pool, especially if it wasnt balanced earlier. This is because it takes time for pool water to circulate, and the entire pool should be as well-balanced as possible before you continue. Remember to rest different parts of your pool, not just the area closest to where you put the chemicals in.
Salt Water Pool Conversion In 5 Steps
After you have purchased your salt system it’s time to install it in your existing pool plumbing system. It should be installed at the end of your plumbing after the pump, filter and heater right before the return valve to your pool. This ensures that the freshly chlorinated water that has passed through the salt system and cell enters the pool directly. ;;
The ideal setup is to run your control panel and pool pump from the same power source and timer to ensure simultaneous operation. This keeps the entire system is in sync and ensures that the pump is running during chlorination. You can print off our salt water pool installation diagram for easy reference.;
If you decide on a system that requires a more complex installation you will be required to do some basic plumbing and electrical work. It’s recommended that you hire a plumber or pool professional to complete the conversion if you arent comfortable with either of these tasks. If you want to try on your own you can follow our step by step guide on how to complete a salt water pool conversion.
1. ;Establish Location for Installation
In most inground swimming pools you will be adding the salt system in your existing plumbing that is fitted for 1.5-2.5 inches diameter. It should be installed after the pump, filter and heater and within proximity of the power source and control panel.;
2. ;Plumbing, Flow Switch and Check Valve
3. ;Sacrificial Zinc Anode
4. ;Control Panel and Power Supply
5. ;Adding Salt;
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Saltwater Pool Conversion: Cost Steps Pros Cons
Pool Maintenance;|; Cost and Pricing
Are you envious of your neighbors who have saltwater pools but not sure how to switch from chlorine to a salt system?
We’re big fans of saltwater pools for several key reasons, like:
Salt pools are easier to maintain.;
They are gentler on the eyes and skin.;
They don’t give off a strong chlorine smell.;
But you might be wondering, “how much does a saltwater pool conversion cost, and what are the steps that I need to take to convert my pool?”;
As fiberglass pool manufacturers who service pools for customers in our area, we’ll walk you through the process of switching from a traditional chlorine pool to a saltwater pool and give you a rough estimate of the costs. By the end of this article, you should feel more confident about making the switch and understand the pros and cons of converting to a salt pool.;
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.
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What’s A Salt Water Pool
A salt pool has a salt cell that creates its own chlorine by causing an electrical reaction between the salt and the electrode.
So, instead of manually adding chlorine to your pool once a week, your pool is creating its own naturally. The difference is, though, that it is higher quality than the chlorine you can buy and it doesnt cause the same reactions to the skin and eyes.
It also doesnt produce those nasty chloramines people tend to have trouble with.;
And you will never taste it because it doesnt even contain as much salt as human tears.
How To Convert Your Intex Pool To Saltwater And Avoid The Chlorine Shortage
The chlorine shortage is going to be a big problem for many Intex pool owners this summer. With so many people looking to fill their pools, its difficult to find enough of the essential chemical needed to keep swimming pools clean and usable.
The good news is there is an easy alternative to this convert your freshwater Intex pool from chlorine-based chemistry to a saltwater pool. Converting your pool to a saltwater pool is more eco-friendly and requires less maintenance.
The question now is, how to convert your Intex pool to saltwater pool?;
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Maintaining A Salt Water Pool System
Once you add salt to your pool, the salt generator recycles the salt as the sodium recombines to repeat the process. You may need to add salt due to backwashing or splashing, although you shouldnt have to add a large quantity after the initial addition.
Other than not buying chlorine for your pool, you still must maintain your pool the same way with the same pool chemistry. You will need to maintain the pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness and stabilizer, although with a salt water system it is likely that you will require fewer chemicals to keep your water balanced.
You use the same filtration system with a salt generator, there is no need to replace your current filter or equipment. You should keep your salt generator clean and descale regularly.
Why Do A Salt Water Pool Conversion
Chlorinated pool water can be hard on you because of chemicals called chloramines. These compounds are created when the chlorine in your pool water comes into contact with things like urine and sweat, and they can be harmful in two ways.
First, they arent effective at disinfecting the water like chlorine, so water cleaning is inhibited. Second, they cause irritation of the eyes, skin, and lungs. Strong chloramines can build up in the air surrounding a pool, especially indoor pools. When the air is thick with these chemicals, it can even cause coughing or trigger an asthma attack.
Frequent exposure to chlorine can even cause some people to develop an allergy or sensitivity to the chemical. And for those who are already sensitive to it, swimming in a chlorine pool can cause rashes, hives, and itchy skin beyond the simple dryness you may experience from chlorine exposure.
If you have respiratory problems, such as asthma or allergic rhinitis, you may find your symptoms exacerbated by frequently swimming in a chlorine pool. If your pool is causing you discomfort, a salt water pool conversion could be just the solution youre searching for.
On the less serious side, if youre a blonde, youve probably experienced your hair turning green in a pool sanitized with chlorine. Colored hair can look great, but this probably isnt exactly the look youre going for. So why does it happen? Science!
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Starting Your Salt System
Before you adjust any of your chemical levels, it is essential to first test your water. We offer different;pool water testing equipment;on our site that you can use. Maintain your water between the following values:
Salt: 2700 -3400 ppm
Cyanuric Acid :;;70-80 ppm
Total Alkalinity: 60-80 ppm
Calcium Hardness: 200-400 ppm
Water Chemistry For Saltwater Pools
Additionally, our blog article, Water Chemistry For Saltwater Pools, is available for pool owners to review. It is a chemical quick start-up guide for saltwater pools that guides you through adjusting your chemical levels.
How To Convert Your Pool To Saltwater
Thats all fine, youre probably thinking, but how do I convert my pool to saltwater? The good news is that salt water pool conversion is a fairly simple process and likely more affordable than you think.;
After youve tested your water, balanced its chemistry, installed your saltwater chlorinator, and connected it to your pool pump, you can begin adding salt. You should look for granulated, non-iodized salt with 99.8% NaCl or higher.
When you enter your current water chemistry into Pool Calculator, youll know how much salt to add. In most cases, youll be starting with zero salinity, but if your water contains a little bit of salt, our app will tell you exactly how much more you need. Check the user manual on your salt chlorinator for specific directions on how to add salt. Since the salinity of salt water pools is relatively low, you only need to add salt a few times per year.
After adding salt, power on your saltwater chlorinator and let it run for 12 to 24 hours until it dissolves completely. Test your pool water again to ensure your salt and chlorine levels are balanced. If the chemistry looks good, you can go ahead and jump in!
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Are Saltwater Above Ground Pools Worth It
Saltwater pools are more expensive than traditional chlorine pools to set up, but the features they offer may make them worth it to you.
Saltwater pools are cleaner and safer to use than a traditional chlorine pool because you dont have to rely on strong chemicals to keep your pool clean.
Another benefit of using saltwater instead of chlorine is that theres no need for an automated chemical feeder. This means less maintenance for you as well as reduced energy consumption from your pump and filter system.
What Are The Disadvantages Of A Saltwater Pool
More Expensive to Get Started
While they have less maintenance, saltwater pools are more expensive to install upfront. So if you are not converting your current above-ground pool, expect to pay more upfront for a saltwater pool installation.;
Possible Corrosion
As you may already know, salt is corrosive. If left without proper maintenance, the pool and the equipment can become corroded. Items like the shaft seal can have a shorter lifespan than in a chlorine pool due to the corrosion from the salt.;
Excessive Buildup
Rising pH levels can cause calcium scaling to build up on your salt cell, the pool, and pool equipment. Checking the levels frequently can help avoid this buildup.;
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A Word Of Advice From An Experienced Pool Repair Man:
If a salt water pool has ten times as much salt as a traditional chlorine pool then this means that the rate of galvanic corrosion also increases ten times when you switch to salt water. Doesnt this sound like the kind of thing that someone should have mentioned to you when you asked about adding salt water to your pool? I sure think so, but even today you dont need to look very far to find a pool guy boasting all about how salt water pools are maintenance free or salt water is better than chlorine. Salt water is not better than chlorine. Salt water is chlorine.
Test & Balance Before You Convert
Before beginning the conversion process, youll need to test and balance your pool water. We recommend using standard test strips, which will provide you with an accurate read on your current water chemistry. This will let you gauge your pools pH, total alkalinity, free chlorine levels, cyanuric acid stability, calcium hardness, and salt.
The simplest and most seamless way to track and test your pools water chemistry is with Pool Calculator a handy app for desktop, Android, and iOS. Just enter the results of your test and well show you exactly how to balance your water before converting to a salt water pool. Adding chemicals and stabilizers to balance your water is a crucial first step before you proceed with the salt water conversion process.;
In most instances, a pool wont need to be drained in order to convert to salt water. However, if youre currently using a water sanitizer that contains polyhexamethylene biguanide, you may need to drain your pool and fill it with fresh water because it will impact your chlorine balance.
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How Much Does It Cost to Convert My Pool to Saltwater?
Most chlorine generators cost $700-$1,000. With installation, the total cost usually ranges from $1,200-$1,500. However, keep in mind that prices vary depending on the type of chlorine generator, the size of your pool and your location. Most chlorine generators last three to seven years, but they can last longer if well-maintained. The cost to convert to a salt chlorinator system is much lower than the cost of a full pool renovation.
Salt for the chlorine generator runs just $20 to $30 or so per year, saving hundreds of dollars annually over chlorine. For an average swimming season of four to six months, most people spend $250-$300 on chlorine tablets.
Converting to a saltwater pool may or may not save money in the long run. If you pay $1,200 for a chlorine generator and installation, and the generator lasts five years, it will likely pay for itself in saved chemical costs. If it lasts less than five years, thats not the case. Because its a gamble, the best reason to convert is to make your swimming experience more comfortable.
Saltwater Pool Pros
- Saltwater pools are softer on the skin.
- Theyre less likely to cause itching, burning or dry skin.
Above Ground Salt Water Pool Cost
The cost to install an above ground saltwater pool is $3,000 to $8,000 depending on the size of the pool and the labor costs. Converting an above ground pool to salt water costs $600 to $1,200, which includes the salt water chlorination system, salt, and professional labor.
- The yearly cost of additives for your salt water above-ground pool runs from $250 to $750 a year, depending on the size of the pool.
- An above-ground pool usually needs to be replaced every 7 15 years, costing another $3,000 $8,000.
- When you purchase an above-ground salt water pool kit, all kits include the pool frame, the liner, the salt system, and the pump and sand filter. Most kits will also contain a cleaning kit, a ladder, a cover, and a ground cloth.
Inground Pool Comparison
- The total cost to install an inground saltwater pool ranges from $27,000 to $60,000.
- Concrete typically need to be replastered every 8 to 12 years for $6,000 to $10,000.
- Vinyl pool liners usually need to be replaced every ten years, but saltwater can break these down faster if the pH levels are not monitored continuously. A new pool liner costs $3,000 or more to install or replace.
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