If you are new to the idea of a saltwater pool, you probably have questions about how to add salt to your pool. How do you find the right combination to sanitise it effectively, and is salt enough? The benefits of salt chlorination are quite extensive, and it is easier when you know how and why the salt keeps your pool water sparkling and clean.
If you would rather save yourself time and effort, you could always let 1 Pool Care handle it for you. Otherwise, here are a few simple steps to help you find the right equipment, choose a suitable salt product, and learn how much salt to add to pool water to balance the salinity levels perfectly.
Why Add Salt to Your Pool?
A salt chlorinator generates the chlorine by the process of electrolysis through the salt cell.
This adds chlorine to your pool water slowly and safely, and it uses a measured concentration of salt that sanitises the pool water effectively.
A salt chlorinator provides several advantages over store-bought chlorine and bromine:
- there is no need to store chlorine or bromine until your pool needs it. Thus eliminating the fire risk or corrosion by liquid chemicals.
- you can save money by using salt (note: ordinary table salt has additives that are not suitable for pool use)
- it can be easier to control the chlorine level of your pool precisely by generating chlorine as needed as stored liquid chlorine will degrade quickly in warm weather
Knowing how to add salt to your pool can save money and avoid many hassles. Saltwater systems cannot work with an above-ground pool made of metals that could corrode, but it works in almost every other setting. Why not switch your pool maintenance tasks to saltwater chlorination and enjoy the pool more?and keep it looking its best.
How to Add Salt to Your Pool: Seven Steps
Below, we run through a general guide for how to add salt to your pool. However, each pool has slightly different balance requirements, so feel free to ask us questions about your specific pool care needs. Call us at 0456 75 75 75 if you need some professional assistance.
Do you want a safe and attractive pool for you and your family to enjoy? Follow these seven easy saltwater pool maintenance steps from 1 Pool Care to get the most out of your salt chlorinator.
Step 1: Select the Right Chlorinator
A suitable chlorinator should be able to handle your pool’s capacity. Choose a chlorinator with a capacity of at least 1.5 times that of your pool to be on the safe side. For example, if your pool is 40,000 litres, you need a chlorinator of 60,000 and 80,000 litres.
Step 2: Buy the Right Swimming Pool Salt
A salt chlorinator requires specific grades, and table salt is typically a bad idea. In Australia, manufacturers usually fortify table salt with iodine and other additives, but a pool needs a salt with a purity of at least 99% (sources recommend 99.8% to 99.9%). Be sure to buy salt specifically designed for salt chlorinators and read the label carefully.
Step 3: Learn How to Measure Salt Levels in Your Pool
The easiest way to measure the salt level is using a saltwater pool test strip, although this might not be the most accurate. Your pool professional will use test equipment that involves an electronic salt test, that provides a closer measurement to ensure over or underdosing is less likely to occur. Collect a sample from the calmest area of the pool (away from pool returns or skimmers) and collect water from 50 cm below the surface. It is best to do this by holding the container upside-down and pushing it to the desired depth before scooping up the sample. Remember, accuracy is key when measuring the correct salt level for your pool.
Step 4: Calculate How Much Salt to Add to Your Pool
A calculator might help for this step as you need to use the volume of the pool to work out the salt requirement. A simple rule is to add four kilograms of salt for every thousand litres of water. A 40,000-litre pool would require 160 kg of salt.
If your pool already has some salt in it, you will not have to purchase much, so check your salt level calculations beforehand. When you have figured out the levels and bought what you need, you can move on to how to add salt to your pool correctly.
Step 5: Turn off the Salt Chlorinator
When you are ready to begin, you will need to turn off the salt chlorinator before adding salt to pool water. Don’t turn it on again until the salt reaches the proper concentration; if the salt chlorinator is running before dissolving the salt, the pool will have uneven salt concentration. Low salt levels also prevent the chlorinator from doing its job, and high levels affect the taste of the water and can turn the salt cell off as a protection measure.
Step 6: Add Salt to the Pool
It is always best to add the salt gradually at the shallow end of the pool. It takes about twenty-four hours to dissolve sufficiently, so leaving the pump on during this process helps. Test the salt level of the water periodically until it reaches 3500 ppm or the required level as set out in your manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 7: Run the Salt Chlorinator
The salt chlorinator will use electrolysis to convert the salt into chlorine gas, steadily and safely providing the right chlorine level to sanitise your pool. Your chlorinator might even have a sensor to monitor salt and chlorine levels. Otherwise, check the levels with test strips or kits. Never rely on the chlorinator alone to provide the required salt level for your pool, in case the cell or chlorinator is faulty.
Keep Your Pool Clear With 1 Pool Care
That is all you need to know about how to add salt to your pool. 1 Pool Care’s testing services and pool maintenance services include repair and installation in the Perth area. We also repair and service spas, pool cleaning robots, pool lights, and other pool products.
Call us at 0456 75 75 75 today for more on how to add salt to your pool and keep it looking its best.
