How To Troubleshoot Problems With Your Salt Cell
The most common concern we get for salt system owners is that the the salt cell is not producing chlorine. However, very often this concern is only triggered because the pool turned green or the water test shows zero free chlorine. More often, if the salt system is fairly new we find that there’s nothing actually wrong with the system. The pump just isn’t being ran long enough or the chlorine output is too low, or the pool is not being shocked as needed. Oh yeah, salt pools still need to be shocked. However, if your salt system has a light on or flashing we have additional resources for you. While the examples to follow specifically showcase Hayward Salt Systems, the resources are applicable to other brands.
Below we will cover what to do if,
- “Check Salt” & “Inspect Cell” light is flashing or ON
- Just the “Inspect Cell” light is ON
- “High Salt” light is ON
- “No Flow” light is flashing
We’ll also cover some How-To’s you’ll need for the above processes, such as
- How to Reset Average Salt Levels
- Salt Reading from Independent Testing
- Verify salt level is 2700 – 3400ppm
- How to Calculate How Much Water Will Need to be Removed from a Pool withToo Much Salt
- A Salt Ratio Chart
How Do I Know If I Have Enough Salt In My Swimming Pool
How Do I Know If I Have Enough Salt in My Swimming Pool?
Whether you own an AutoPilot salt chlorine generator or another system, making sure that you have enough salt in your swimming pool water is an integral part of getting the most out of your unit. Maintaining the correct amount of salt helps produce a sufficient amount of chlorine, which will prevent bacteria and algae growth. On the other hand, too much salt can lead to an increased need for additional chemicals to balance your water chemistry, increasing the cost of maintaining your pool.
When it comes to measuring salt levels in your swimming pool, you have a number of methods from which to choose. Some methods are more accurate than others, though they are also more expensive. Some popular salt measurement methods include the following:
This entry was posted in on Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Winterize The Ecg Skimmer Filter And Plumbing
Following the addition of the enzymes, you should now unplug your chlorine generator and check the manufacturers instructions for how you should winterize it.
Sometimes you can just remove it and store it indoors, but some manufacturers require you to drain all the water, while others recommend leaving a mixture of water and non-toxic antifreeze inside it.
In any case, you should start by turning off all circuits to the pool equipment, including the pump. After this, unscrew the unions to disconnect the generator cell from the pool lines.
Its a good idea to clean out the salt cell of any scaly deposits. This can be done with a high-pressure hose or a wooden or plastic tool to gently scrape away the scale buildup.
You must do this with care not to damage the coating on the plates. If the scale build-up is proving too stubborn to shift, you can use a dilute solution of muriatic acid to soak in the cell. Once it is all clean and dry, you can store it indoors.
You should also screw a plate onto the skimmer opening and screw a plug into the return fitting in order to isolate the filtration system. This will prevent the internal components from becoming damaged from the buildup of ice.
You should also use a shop vac to blow out any remaining water in the pipes and heating system. Additional sanitizers, salt water pool chlorinators, or solar covers should also be drained and cleaned.
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How To Test Salt Water Pools
Swimming pool chlorine generators are used to create chlorine in your swimming pools so that you need not have to add salt manually. The machines automatically control chlorine at the level they are set. As machines test salt water pools, there is no need for you to buy or store chlorine-based chemicals.
Most of the chlorine generators work when the salt content is between 1500 to 6000 ppm . The salt taste threshold for humans is about 3500.
Automatic Pool Chlorine Generator
I used to add chemicals and chlorine manually to maintain the pH level in the pool. But recently, I installed a pool chlorine generator. The main function of the machine is to create chlorine in swimming pool directly.
The device automatically maintains the level of adequate chlorine in the water. Due to this, I could save a lot of money and space on the purchase and storage of chlorine-based product containers respectively.
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Manual Testing With A Liquid Reagent Kit
As mentioned before, salt test strips can provide inaccurate results. Still, if you want to have more accurate results, we recommend conducting a salt water test using a liquid reagent kit. This test is $5 higher than a salt test strip so if you have an extra budget, go for this test.To do this test, you will fill the kits vials with your pool water and add the reagents into the vial while following the kits instructions. After the water changed its color, compare the water sample’s color to the chart on the kit to know your pools salt concentration.
Prepare The Taylor Salinity Test Kit
The Taylor Test Kit comes is a cute blue box. It purchased it from an online store, and the delivery rather quick. As soon as I got the kit, I got down to business. I know that the ideal salt balance in the pool water should be anything between 3000 ppm to 3500 ppm.
The box contains a small jar, where the testing will take place, a small bottle of Chromate Indicator, and a little container of Silver Nitrate reagent. Make sure you are out of the house when doing this test. If the chemicals get in touch with your clothes, the stains will never come off.
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Computing How Much Water We Need To Take Out
Once we have your pools total water volume and the actual salt reading then we can go ahead with calculating how much water well need to take out to effectively reduce the salt levels to their recommended levels. As an example, lets just say that you have 4,500 PPM of salt currently in your pool and you have a 40,000 L pool.
*Note: If your pools salt water concentration is just a couple of hundred PPM higher than the recommended levels, then its okay to leave it, but for values 500PPM or more from the recommended levels then partially draining is the way to go.
Step One: Divide your current reading by the recommended salt water concentration. For this example, the recommended level is 2,500 to 3,500 so lets just get the high end of the recommended level, 3,500.
4,500 PPM / 3,500 PPM = 1.29
We want this number as close to 1 as possible, so we take the value above 1, in this case .29 and we multiply it with our pools volume.
.29 x 40,000L = 11,600L
This means that in order to reduce the PPM of our water down to its recommended level, we have to drain out 11,600L of water and replace it with fresh water.
What Is A Saltwater Swimming Pool
A saltwater swimming pool uses a chlorine generator for sanitization. Swimming pool chlorine generators create chlorine in the pool water directly, removing the need for users to manually add chlorine-based chemicals to the swimming pool. Free available chlorine is continuously produced at a level which is automatically controlled. This has the benefit of removing the need for storage and transport of chlorine-based chemicals. However, as with any equipment, the chlorine generator must be maintained regularly to prevent fouling.
Most chlorine generators require a salt content of 1,5004,500 parts per million as sodium chloride in the swimming pool.
There are two types of saltwater systems: in-line and off-line.
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Salt Water Testing With Electronic Meters
This testing is the most accurate and fastest method to use. And along with its superior performance among the testing methods, this is also the most expensive. A handheld electronic meter will cost around $50 – $100+. If you have the luxury to spend on this, then we would recommend getting one. This pen-style meter works by dipping the meter tip into the pool then as easy as that, the electronic meter will display your pools current salt levels. Aside from pen-style meters, there is another type of electronic meter wherein you will put a small sample of water into a reservoir then, after pressing the test button, the analog needle will swing to measure the salt levels of your pool. This type of electronic meter is not recommended since they need to test multiple times per day and are more expensive than the pen types.
A Swimming Pool Chemical Calculator
Adjust sliders to calculate pool salt.
For proper chlorine production in a salt water pool, it is extremely important that the salt parts per million to be kept as close to the system recommendations as possible. Operating a chlorine generator outside the recommended salt PPM can result in poor chlorine production or even damage to the chlorine generator itself in some cases.
When adding salt, open the bag on the corner and walk around the pool while pouring the salt in evenly. It can take up to 24 hours after adding salt to dissolve completely and circulate through the entire pool.
RESULTS SHOWN HERE
More About A Salt Water Pool
A salt water pool is a more convenient and healthy way to chlorinate the pool water. The chlorine is produced on site in a closed loop with the salt directly in the pool, eliminating the need to purchase and transport chlorine. The salt water pool generator provides a more automatic granular method of controlling the chlorine dosing. With the salt water pool generator, chlorine is constantly being produced. Making it easier to adjust the chlorine level on a daily basis as opposed to dumping large amounts of chlorine every few days spiking the chlorine levels. The salt water is said to have some health benefits like softer skin and better feeling water. Salt water pool generators also reduce eye and skin irritation.
LOW SALT EFFECTS:
HIGH SALT EFFECTS:
Tips About A Salt Water Pool
Salt Water Pool Maintenance
WHEN TO ADD SALT TO POOL:
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Testing Ph Total Alkalinity And Calcium Hardness
As in any other pool, the Big Three water balance factors should be checked regularly in pools with salt chlorine generators. When pH is too high, chlorine’s sanitizing ability is lessened and scale tends to form on pool surfaces and equipment. When pH is too low the water tends to be corrosive, pitting the concrete and dissolving the metal it touches. A pH outside of the acceptable range is also potentially irritating to bathers.
Manufacturers say their salt chlorine generators produce chlorine that is closer to pH neutrali.e., 7 on the pH scale of 0 to 14than most other forms , so this chlorine has less overall effect on pool pH. However, a byproduct of the salt to chlorine reaction is sodium hydroxide . The production of sodium hydroxide will push the pH higher, requiring more frequent addition of acid in salt pools. The consequences of improper pH are the same, regardless of the method of sanitation. We recommend testing pH daily in pools with salt chlorine generators. Easy color-matching tests are available for this purpose, and a pH meter or colorimeter may be used.
| Chlorine Product | |
|---|---|
| sodium hypochlorite | 1113 |
Using Salt Testing Strips For Manual Testing
Sometimes it is not good to rely only on the equipment. Machines can be wrong at times. So you could use manual methods to check the salt levels in your pool. The strips are placed in your pool for 20 seconds, and change in color is compared to the chart given with strips. If the strip is Aquacheck strip, then the testing strip is placed for 10 minutes in a container filled with pool water, and the color change is noted.
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Whats The Right Level Of Salt For Your Pool
The optimal range for salt in your pool is 2,700-3,400 ppm , with 3,200 ppm being ideal.
Whats parts per million mean? Its just a scientific unit of measurement, but dont worry, you dont need to know the ins and outs of ppm. The only thing you need to do is test your pool water to get a reading of the current salt ppm levels.
How Do You Test Your Salt Levels
Its pretty simple. Your salt chlorine generator should give you a reading for how much salt is currently in your pool. However, if you dont have that reading, you can use a salt testing kit to get an accurate measurement. Once youve done that, youll know if youre above or below the ideal salt range that I mentioned above. If youre above it, youll need to replace your current pool water with new water. If youre below it, you add more salt.
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Add Winterizing And Anti
A scale and stain sequestrant specifically for saltwater pools should then be added to the water. Minerals tend to settle on the pool floor and walls during the off-season.
Pool closure kits will normally include these winterizing chemicals designed especially for saltwater pools to prevent the growth of algae. You can buy closing kits especially for saltwater pools, but all winter closing kits are safe to use in saltwater pools.
These kits should include some or all of the following: pool shock, algaecide, stain and scale preventer, a winter float with an oxidizer, and an oil-absorbing sponge.
Turn the swimming pool pump on to circulate these chemicals through the water for at least 8 hours. Winter algaecide is normally added last before covering the pool.
Doing this at the end will keep the algaecide more concentrated, so it should be added after the water level has been lowered and all equipment is disconnected. After adding the algaecide, you can disperse it by agitating the water using a pool brush.
You should check your water chemistry one final time before adding in the winterizing agents. If the chlorine levels in the pool are high, this can break down algaecide and cause damage to the winter cover.
Calculating How Much Salt To Add
Use the calculator below to figure out how much salt to add or water to replace in your pool. All you need to do is plug in your pool volume and your current salt levels and hit calculate. I already plugged in the ideal salt level of 3,200 ppm, but if you feel strongly that you want it to be lower or higher, you can adjust it as needed.
And its as simple as that!
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How To Lower Your Pools Salt Levels
Do you have a brand new salt water chlorinator and you went overboard with adding the salt? Or is the pool water tasting saltier than normal? Need to lower your pools salt levels? Youre at the right place! Today well share some practical tips on how to effectively lower your pools salt levels.
One of the reasons why salt water chlorinators are so convenient is that their fuel stays in the pool after it does its job. See, a salt water chlorinator takes the salt, breaks them down into its components which are sodium and chlorine, the chlorine goes and sanitises your pool water then re-binds with the sodium, reforming into salt and the cycle begins anew.
Salt doesnt evaporate or degrade over time and the only way to lower your salt levels is to take out the excess water and refill with new water to dilute whatever is left.
Use A Liquid Reagent Kit
Testing your pool using a liquid reagent kit from your local pool supplier is another easy and reliable way to test your pools salt level. Although they cost a little bit more than salt test strips, liquid reagent kits typically run between $15 and $20 testing your pool with a liquid reagent kit is a simple process that will help keep your collection clean.
To test your pool water with a liquid reagent kit, you fill the included vials with samples from your saltwater pool and then add the liquid reagent according to the manufacturers instructions. Once youve mixed the reagent with your pool water samples, the samples will change color.
At this point, you should refer back to the manufacturers instructions for guidance on how to interpret the test results, although this is a simple process that youll get better at with time. Most liquid reagent kits require you to compare your pool samples against an included color chart to determine their salinity.
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Use A Digital Water Tester
When you use a digital water tester to test the salt level in your pool, youll dip a test strip into your pool water, hold it there, and then insert it into a specified place on the digital water tester. After 15 to 20 seconds, the digital water tester will return several different measurements, including the salinity of your pool water.
While digital pool test strips may need to be interpreted differently depending on the manufacturer, they all generally work the same way and take all the exact measurements. In addition to salinity, a digital water tester should also measure for total hardness, which refers to the amount of calcium and other minerals in your water.
A good digital test strip kit should also measure the total chlorine in your water, as well as the amount of free chlorine available to keep your pool water clean. Your test kit should also give you a pH reading, which lets you know your waters acid to base ratio and a stabilizer task that measures your cyanuric acid levels.
