DIY Friendly Guide to Converting ANY Pool to Saltwater
Saltwater pool conversion" might sound like there is a lot involved. If you're wondering how you convert to salt, it
really doesn't involve any big procedures...
Buying a saltwater system for your pool is a big step!
It makes sense to do a little research before you buy, right?
If you want to convert from chlorine...
When it comes to saltwater pools vs chlorine pools, there are a lot of differences to consider, but we think salt pools
come out on top! Discount Salt Pools is here to help you with ...
The simple criteria for the best salt chlorine generator is that it should be able to provide plenty of chlorination
power for your pool, be a good value...
Salt Water pool systems have become so popular that they have begun to be the default choice for home
swimming pools. However, many people (even if they have a salt pool) don't get much deeper into what a
salt system really is beyond the fact that they just love it. Below are some facts about what a
saltwater chlorine generator cell really is, so that you can better take care of your own swimming pool
system.
The cell (or Electrolytic Cell) is the plumbing component of a saltwater pool system. It is basically a PVC
tube that holds a stack of titanium plates inside. Briefly, what happens is that as salt water passes
through the cell, the salt system sends a weak electric charge through the water between the titanium
plates, which converts salt into chlorine. Learn more about how salt pools work. In essence, your
salt system is a chlorine generator which (in terms of operation) you can treat in a similar way as you
would a chlorine tablet dispenser. However, you have to fill up a chlorine tablet dispenser as it gets
used, don't you? So then what gets used up on a chlorine generator?
How Long Does a Salt Cell Last? Does a Salt Cell Last Forever?
Unfortunately, a salt cell is not an unlimited and infinite supply of chlorine. The process of generating the
chlorine naturally wears down the titanium in the cell, slowly and over time. That means the salt cell
is a consumable part, at some point in the the future it gets used up. The good news is that generally
people see lifespan of at least 3-5 years with normal proper pool maintenance. For higher end models,
the lifespan gets even longer. We speak to many pool owners who have seen cell lifespans of 8-10+ years
because of a combination of the type of systems they picked out, their pool maintenance, use and
environment.
So is it Worth it Then?
Absolutely - replacing the salt cell is a fraction of the cost of the system and gets you years more
without buying chlorine . Just think of salt cell as a many, many, many hundreds of pounds
of chlorine, all wrapped up in a nice and neat little package. A lot of frustration comes from the fact
that when people put a salt pool system on their pool, they have absolutely no idea that the cell is
something that just naturally gets replaced. In that situation, it feels the same way as it would when
you're told that your refrigerator is shot when you hear that your salt cell has to be replaced after
you've had it for a few years and you've been enjoying its use. Salt cells don't last forever,
unfortunately, but what they provide is a huge benefit. Think about it this way, would you decide not to
use a gas-powered electrical generator just because the gas tank can run out? Even more importantly,
dollar for dollar, the amount of chlorine you get from just one salt system costs much less than using
chlorine tablets, granules, or liquid. PLUS, when it comes time to replace the cell, replacement salt
cells are much less expensive than a complete system, so in the long term there is really no comparison
in terms of savings - not to mention the other big benefits of salt systems, such as the vast amounts of
time it saves in maintenance and the much more pleasant water quality. Best of all, replacing a cell
takes about a minute, usually as quickly as you can unscrew some fittings.
What Are The Important Things to Know About Salt Cells?
Essentially, the amount of time that any one cell lasts is only determined by how it's used. However, the
sooner it's understood that the salt cell is consumable, the easier everything else becomes from there:
from picking out your salt system, to determining the way you run it, to the way that you maintain your
pool.
Choosing a salt system: The larger the salt system, the more chlorine it can create
in its lifetime. In other words, a more powerful salt system has to work less hard to create the
same amount of chlorine on a daily basis, so it will wear out more slowly and last longer. The
experienced pool owner knows to pick a unit with higher chlorine output and/or a higher gallon
rating. Furthermore, based on the quality of cell, manufacturers rate their cells for expected
lifespan. Salt systems with longer ratings will, naturally, last longer than equivalent systems
with shorter ratings.
Maintaining water chemistry and cleanliness: The harder a system has to work to
keep the pool clean, the quicker it will wear out, period. Some people incorrectly think a salt
system is a license to never bother with water chemistry again. The more the water is out of
balance, the less effective chlorine is at sanitizing the pool, and the more chlorine has to be
produced to keep things clean. The more dirt, plants , and debris are in the pool, the harder
the salt system has to run. The more the pool is used, the longer the salt system has to run.
The more impurities like phosphates, nitrates, ammonia, and metals are in the water, your pool
might require so much more chlorine that you can't add enough chlorine to keep up with the
demand.
Proper maintenance: The titanium plates in salt cells will slowly accumulate
calcium mineral scaling. This needs to be periodically cleaned, because scaling and debris
impede the ability of the salt cell to operate. Check your system's manual for exact
instructions, but cleaning basically involves taking 5-10 minutes to soak the cell in a weak
acid or vinegar solution that will dissolve the build-up. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly
think their cell is used up because the cell hasn't been thoroughly cleaned.
Preventing premature failure: Similar to maintaining a clean and balanced pool,
make sure you don't misuse your salt system. For example, don't leave it running all day long if
the pool doesn't need it. Don't operate your salt system if the salinity levels in the swimming
pool are outside of its stated salinity range, this cause a lot of unnecessary wear and tear.
Don't leave water in the cell if it stays outside during freezing temperatures, this can cause
preventable damage as well.
We carry titanium salt cells for all top saltwater chlorine generator brands. These
replacement cells will easily replace your existing salt cell in minutes. See more now
►
Aftermarket Replacement Salt Cell guaranteed to work with the Hayward® Aquarite® 40k gallon salt chlorine generator. Please note: this item is not manufactured, endorsed, or sold by Hayward. See below for more information.
CircuPool CORE15, Complete Salt Pool System with 8-Year Limited Warranty, for up to 15,000 gallon poolsReplacing An Existing Chlorine Generator? Add an Adapter Kit to eliminate re-plumbing.
I purchased a sj15 conversion kit, it was supposedly every thing needed to change over. In the instuctions it talks of a pool timer control, is that necessary i don't have one?
Second question it said control module should be at least 10' from pool wall, my whole set up is next to pool and not reasonably workable. Why can't it be with rest of pool equipment ?
Thank you in advance.
The SJ15 is the complete system. It specifies that you wire it to the same circuit as the pump. You can choose to use a timer or not, but a pool equipment timer makes pool care much easier! You'll want to follow all local codes for where you locate electrical equipment, you likely wouldn't want it too near where it can get wet from pool water .
At Discount Salt Pool, we're pool owners who want to help other pool owners enjoy the
simplicity and the savings of saltwater chlorine generators. Unlike the pool store
or pool
pros, we're not the last step of a long & overpriced distribution chain. We're
lifelong
swimming pool enthusiasts & experts with decades of experience in the industry
who want
to give other pool owners direct access to the best pool technology that's out
there- along
with unlimited access to our friendly customer support and online DIY resources.
Discount
Salt Pool is a BBB member with an A+ rating.
Did You Know?
DiscountSaltPool.com is America's largest specialty provider of saltwater swimming
pool
equipment. Since 1997, we've helped hundreds of thousands of people convert their
pool to
salt! Order online today, come visit our Texas headquarters, or call in for
personalized
help and recommendations.
Comments (0)
Add CommentDuane Fessenden
I purchased a sj15 conversion kit, it was supposedly every thing needed to change over. In the instuctions it talks of a pool timer control, is that necessary i don't have one? Second question it said control module should be at least 10' from pool wall, my whole set up is next to pool and not reasonably workable. Why can't it be with rest of pool equipment ? Thank you in advance.
Craig
The SJ15 is the complete system. It specifies that you wire it to the same circuit as the pump. You can choose to use a timer or not, but a pool equipment timer makes pool care much easier! You'll want to follow all local codes for where you locate electrical equipment, you likely wouldn't want it too near where it can get wet from pool water .