How Salt Chlorine Generators Work
Quite possibly, the best benefit of a salt-chlorine generator is that your pool and spa are chlorinated automatically, not manually.
The Science Behind The Technology
There are two components to a salt chlorinator: the control box and its salt cell, which is an electrolytic converter that installs on your systems return line, behind the pump, filter, and heater. As pool water passes through the salt cell, an extremely safe electrical charge, generated by the control box, automatically converts the dissolved salt into fresh, natural chlorine. The newly chlorinated water is then dispersed evenly throughout the pool by the return jets, preventing algae and killing bacteria. After the chlorine has done its work keeping your pool sanitized, it is then transformed back into salt and then the process happens all over again. The salt cycles between salt and chlorine forever.
Salt chlorinators require a low concentration of salt approximately a teaspoon of salt per gallon of water. The correct salt level is comparable to a human tear and imparts no or little taste. The actual amount of chlorination required to sanitize a pool properly varies due to the pool size, bather load, rainfall, temperature, and the pools cleanliness.
Chemicals Youll Need To Start Up Your Swimming Pool
Starting a pool up, either for the first time or for the season, is a big task. Between the cleaning and chemicals for a pool start-up, it is hard work for any pool owner.
Pools are seasonal in most areas of the world. Weather and climate sadly necessitate most being closed for certain periods of the year. This is bound to make start up difficult.
If you consider how much work goes into weekly pool maintenance and maintaining your pools chemical balance, it isnt surprising that a dormant pool requires quite a bit of work to be safe for use again.
Using the right chemicals when staring a pool up will get your water off to the right start. The rest of the season can go well, with only need maintenance work needed to keep your water in good health. However, if you get things wrong the entire start-up could drag out as you attempt to fix your pools water.
What chemicals you need for a pool start up is actually going to vary on a few things, like what water youre filling your pool with. However, testing your water should give you all the information to get things done right.
Weekly Salt Water Pool Maintenance
Your weekly salt water pool maintenance routine will depend on pool usage and environmental factors. In addition to spot cleaning with a skimmer net, vacuuming and emptying the pool pump basket the most common thing you’ll need to do is balance the water chemistry. A pool app designed for use on a smartphone is a great companion for pool owner’s that want to keep their pool chemistry in check all season long.
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Are There Salt Chlorinator Cons
Not all swimming pool structures are ideally suited for salt chlorination. Lets compare.
Concrete Pools
Unfortunately, salt chlorinators are not ideal for concrete swimming pools. Salt chlorinators can be up to five times more abrasive than traditional chlorine on concrete surfaces. Although salt chlorinators can still be used with concrete swimming pools, theyll require more frequent resurfacing which is a very costly repair.
Vinyl Liner Pools
The metal walls can rust. Vinyl liner pool owners often use salt chlorination, but because of the rust factor its not ideally suited to this type of pool structure.
Composite Fiberglass Pools
The boating industry led the way with fiberglass the most robust material for saltwater. The swimming pool industry followed suit but with significant refinements. The non-porous nature of composite fiberglass makes it ideal for swimming pools especially those with salt chlorine generation. Their polished surfaces make them soft to the touch, impenetrable to salt, and algae has a tough time adhering to surfaces.
The Ideal Combination
Salt chlorination has become the leader in pool and spa sanitization for five good reasons.
1. Salt is a low-cost solution for keeping swimming pool water sanitized.
2. Salt reduces the time spent maintaining a pools water.
3. Salt delivers silky-soft water.
4. Salt wont turn swimmers eyes red.
5. Salt wont bleach swimsuits and towels.
How A Saltwater Pool Works
While salt alone does have minor capabilities as a disinfectant, creating a saltwater pool isn’t as simple as dissolving salt in a swimming pool and leaving it at that. Instead, a salt chlorine generator machine converts sodium chloride, or ordinary salt, into chlorine.
So, a saltwater pool does have chlorine. In contrast to a traditional chlorinated pool, though, saltwater pools produce a pure form of chlorine that’s delivered in a controlled way to prevent irritating byproducts called chloramines.
Salt is added directly to the swimming pool water. The pool water is drawn into the generator, where it passes through the salt cell. In the cell, metal blades coated in ruthenium or iridium are charged by electricity
After electrolysis, the water that leaves the machine is now chlorinated water.
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Corrodes metal in the pool
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Mistake #3 Not Keeping Your Ph Levels In Check
Your pH will run on the high side in a salt water pool because your salt water generator naturally raises your pH as the system runs. High pH levels above 7.6 can lead to skin irritation and burning eyes and cause scaling on your pool equipment.
So be sure to test and balance your pH every week. You can add a pH decreaser to lower your pH levels or muriatic acid.
If you have a chronically high pH problem, make sure your other levels are balanced, like your CYA. And check the run times on your salt water generator.
Remember, its your system running that produces higher pH levels. So you shouldnt need to run your system for more than 10 hours a day. For more information on how long your run your filter system, .
Do I Need To Shock A Saltwater Pool
Unlike conventional pools, salt water pools utilize a special cell to convert dissolved salt into chlorine. This process is known as electrolysis and avoids oxidation, producing harmful byproducts such as chloramines. The resulting chlorine solution is less harmful to swimmers than ordinary chlorine, but it can still cause skin and eye irritation. Heres a quick guide to saltwater pool chemicals.
When calculating the amount of salt and cyanuric acid needed for your saltwater pool, you must first know the size of your pool. Youll need this information when youre sizing equipment and adjusting the levels of other chemicals. It can also be helpful if your pool is shaped differently from a standard rectangular one, as the chemical levels in sections may differ. Either way, you should add enough salt to reach the 3200 ppm mark.
A salt water pool also requires fewer chemicals to maintain the proper balance. While its important to know the proper ratio of salt to water in a saltwater pool, its important to remember that each chemical has its role in supporting the overall pools health. Some people may be tempted to skip the chemical balance altogether and opt for a traditional pool, but maintaining the chemical balance is just as crucial with saltwater pools.
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Maintaining A Salt Water Pool
There is very little difference in the day to day maintenance between salt pools and chlorine-tablet pools. The biggest difference is that youre not opening a smelly chlorine bucket every week to fill the chemical feeder or floater. You still need to test and adjust your water balance and chlorine levels, you still need to use chlorine stabilizer, and may need other helper chemicals to maintain water quality.
There are some additional tasks that come with a salt water pool however. The energized plates of the salt cell attract calcium scale, which deposit upon the metal surfaces, reducing chlorine output, and eventually damaging the cell. Salt cells need to be cleaned regularly in a mild acid solution, to dissolve the scale. Advanced inground salt systems are self-cleaning, accomplished by reversing the polarity to the salt cell, and sloughing off the scale, which is carried away by the water.
In addition to testing your chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium and cyanuric acid levels regularly, salt water pools should be tested with salt test strips throughout the pool season. Salt does not evaporate, but is diluted by rain and fill water added to the pool, or when lowering the water level for winterization.
Converting Chlorinated Pools Into Saltwater Pools
Despite their many differences, chlorinated pools and saltwater pools actually have a lot in common. Namely, the actual pool itself . It is just thata poolregardless of whether it is saltwater or chlorine. Choosing a saltwater one over a chlorinated one doesnt mean you are limited to a certain size, depth or material. All you have to do is decide that you want a saltwater pool and then acquire the necessary equipment.
You can even convert an existing chlorinated pool into a saltwater pool, and it is a fairly easy conversion, says Crayton. All you really have to do is add a saltwater generator and you are set.
Is this DIY-able? For some, yes. But you will need to follow the manufacturers instructions closely. You also need to be very mindful of the fact that you are working with your homes exterior electrical system. This can be very dangerous, especially to inexperienced folks, so dont hesitate to call a pool professional for help with installation and set-up if you have any doubt about how to get your saltwater generator up and running safely.
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Check The Salt Cell Every Three Months
Most salt generators have automatic alerts that flash when the cells need to be changed, but even if they dont, you need to inspect them consistently.
You’ll be looking for buildup or debris that might have gotten past your filter.
If there’s anything in it, flush it thoroughly with a high-pressure hose.
You may even need to chip calcium buildup away with a plastic tool.
Ideal Salt Water Pool Chemistry
Here is a table highlighting the main salt water pool chemistry measurements you will soon become familiar with, the ideal range for each, and how to best raise or lower them as required.
| Measurement | ||
| Add baking soda to raise TA. Add muriatic acid to lower TA. | ||
| Calcium Hardness | 50 300 ppm | Check with pool company for advice as generally its not a concern for vinyl liner pools. |
| pH | 7.2 7.8 | You can raise or lower pH with Up and Down type products ie. pH Up, pH Down. Salt water pools tends to have a pH that drifts upwards more so than a regular chlorine pool. You can also raise pH with soda ash and baking soda. |
| Total Dissolved Solids | < 1,500 ppm | TDS increases as chlorine is added and organics dissolve. Decrease TDS by draining water and adding fresh water and by rinsing/backwashing pool filter regularly. |
Fun Fact: Baking soda that you buy in the store has a natural pH of 8. You can use regular baking soda to raise both the pH and alkalinity in your salt water pool. Heres a great page from Arm & Hammer that discusses how baking soda naturally helps salt water pools.
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Test & Balance Your Pool’s Chemical Levels
Once you know how many gallons of your pool holds it’s time to test your water. The amount of water in your pool will help determine how much of each chemical you’ll need to add after you’ve tested the water for it to be properly balanced.
Here’s what you’ll need to test for and their ideal range:
Your water needs to be completely balanced with all the ideal levels before turning the salt chlorinator on. Read more on testing your water here. An existing pool converting to chlorine will have a salt presence already. you’ll want to know your starting salt level after all the rest of your chemicals are balanced so you know how much salt to add in the next step.
If pool maintenance seems confusing or just isn’t your thing, now is also a good time to add E-Z Pool to your backyard living style. The combination of these two products takes out the need for adding a bunch of different chemicals to your pool to balance out your levels.
What Chemicals Should Be Kept On Hand
As a minimum, the average pool should keep the following chemicals on hand. Even if you use a salt chlorinator, you will need these other pool chemicals from time to time:
- Chlorine tablets and pool shock
- Pool pH Up and/or pH Down
- Test strips or test kit
Every pool will also need chemicals to raise calcium, Cyanuric Acid or alkalinity levels, usually once per year. Clarifiers, enzymes, algaecides can be an important part of the overall routine, and are especially handy when youre in a pinch!
Theres a lot to learn when it comes to pool chemicals! You may not need them all, but its important to understand what they do, so that when you do need them, you know which chemical to use!
Safe swimming!
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The Downsides Of Saltwater Pools
While upkeep is inexpensive, startup costs can be rather pricey. Saltwater pools have an initial cost of $800 to $1,000 for the chlorine generator alone. Salt cells need to be replaced every 3 to 8 years and each cell costs $300 to $600.
Starting up a saltwater pool requires many hundreds of pounds of salt to get the water to its correct levels. Bulk salt, too, requires a lot of storage space, so you’ll need a shed and a cart to move it around.
Salt cells must be cleaned frequently , using either a cell cleaning stand or a bucket. Cells are cleaned in muriatic acid, a hazardous chemical.
Saltwater does not work with all types of pools or pool equipment. Salt will corrode vinyl pools that have metal wall panels. It will also corrode some handrails and ladder bolts.
In cold climates, the chlorine generator may not be able to produce enough chlorine to winterize the pool. So, you may still need to resort to traditional chlorine additives during the winter.
What Are Salt Water Pools
A Saltwater pool is a pool that uses a machine called a salt-chlorine generator to convert the salt added to the pool to chlorine for the proper functioning of swimming pool water. Its called a saltwater pool because you add salt to the water at a level high enough to allow the machine to function, making the water feel silkier. The salt in saltwater pools is about 1/10th of the salinity level of ocean water. The amount of salt is about 3000 to 4000 ppm, and the taste is very mild and enjoyable.
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What Are Saltwater Pools
A saltwater pool is a perfect alternative when it comes to the pool system. A saltwater pool still contains chlorine, but it is more on the smaller scale, and it is being generated through a filter system. You might have thought that a saltwater pool can be like the ocean, but it is not.
A saltwater pool has ten times less salt compared to the ocean, and it only has 3,000 parts per million of saline. On the other hand, the ocean has 35,000 ppm.
What Is The Water Chemistry Like With A Salt Pool
The ideal water chemistry levels that youâre trying to maintain in your swimming pool actuallydonât change . You check for thesame things in a saltwater pool, using the same testing methods that you used to . Of course, the BIG difference with a salt pool is that itputs an end to your #1 water chemistry headache, your chlorine level. Youâll see thatFree Chlorine level is consistently in range, without you having to buy, store,add, and micromanage that level.
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Mistake #9 Forgetting To Inspect Your Salt Cell
Things like calcium can build up over time on a salt cell. Therefore, youll want to inspect and clean your salt cell every 3 months and at the beginning and end of the pool season.
Open and inspect your salt water cell to check for scale build-up and deposits. If there are deposits, use a high-pressure hose to flush them off.
You can also use a diluted solution of muriatic acid to get rid of more challenging deposits. Be sure to follow any cleaning directions that came with your salt water generator.
Now, if you want more help taking care of your salt water system throughout the season, grab our FREE Pool Care Cheat Sheet. Also here are some more common mistakes that pool owners make in case youre interested in learning more.
Happy swimming!
What Chemicals Are In Salt Water Pools
In recent times, saltwater pools have gained popularity, and most homeowners are showing interest in installing a saltwater pool in their homes. A Saltwater pool is not chlorine-free, but the chlorine is generated in the pool itself by using some special chemicals. The chlorine generated in the pool helps kill bacteria, algae, and other viruses that might be harmful to your family. If you are a homeowner looking to have a saltwater pool in your house, read this article to know more about the chemicals used for any saltwater pools.
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Cyanuric Acid Or Stabilizer
Most chlorine products you add to the water will be stabilized chlorine. However, if you start with fresh water, you might want to add some cyanuric acid as a stabilizer base so that the chlorine doesnt get burned off by the suns UV rays so quickly. This chemical will protect your chlorine from the sun.
