The Essential Salt Water Pool Maintenance Guide For Beginners

We understand that those who are new to salt pools may be a little confused about how to sanitize them. Don’t worry; we’ll show you how simple it is to maintain a salt pool vs. chlorine ones.

Most pool owners are familiar with conventional chlorination methods. However, using a saltwater chlorine generator is a much easier and more eco-friendly way to sanitize your pool compared to traditional chlorination methods. Explore how easy it is to upgrade to a saltwater sanctuary!

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The 4 Keys to Optimal Saltwater Pool Maintenance

Making the switch to saltwater chlorinators comes with a wealth of benefits. You will experience significant savings over time, a sparkling clear pool, easier maintenance, and more. However, saltwater pools aren’t entirely self-sufficient.

We’ve created this handy guide to saltwater pool maintenance, which shines a light on the four most important areas of care.

No one wants a smelly, green, algae-filled pool. That’s why sanitation should be a pool owner’s highest priority. If left unchecked, bacteria can overtake the water, which makes it unsafe to swim in and appalling to look at. 

How can you keep your salt pool from resembling a swamp? There’s not much to it, as your salt chlorinator does most of the work. It converts table salt into natural chlorine, which cleanses the water. You’ll just have to check and adjust your salt chlorinator on a routine basis.

As you might have guessed, it’s important to add salt to your saltwater pool. However, you won't have to add as much as you'd think. While several bags of salt are needed when you first install your saltwater chlorinator, you'll only have to supplement it with smaller amounts over time. Keep in mind that you may make adjustments seasonally or after significant storms or heavy pool usage.

Keep in mind that you may make adjustments seasonally or after significant storms or heavy pool usage.

Circulation keeps the pool water moving by way of a pump that delivers suction and pressure. Skimmers and the main drain collect outgoing water, which is sent to the pump. It’s then pushed through a filter that catches debris and cleanses the water before returning to the pool.

Most pool filtration systems should run between 8-10 hours per day, depending on size and weather. This process allows the pool water to “turn over” once or twice every 24 hours.

Additionally, you should monitor your pool water for an accumulation of debris or sediment and correct any problems that may arise. That’s because pool pumps work harder when there’s a collection of waste, which will shorten the pump’s lifespan. 

You can also add a pre-filter system to reduce how much saltwater pool maintenance is needed. Normal filters require extensive backwashing, cleaning cartridges, grids, and more. But pre-filter systems use cyclonic filtration, which cleans it out in a minute while only using approximately four gallons of water.

Salt Pool Water Balance

Many homeowners struggle to understand their pool’s water chemistry, but it’s not as intimidating as one might believe. Your pool water has particular characteristics that make it “behave” in specific ways. 

You’ll want to balance those traits, so your pool doesn’t become dirty or unsafe. Let’s break down the characteristics of a properly balanced saltwater pool.

Understanding Free Chlorine And Chlorine Demand

Salt pools, like most outdoor equipment, need regular care. Thankfully, these saltwater pool maintenance tasks are relatively easy and not very time-consuming. Here are four basic chores you can add to your calendar to help keep your salt pool looking as good as new.

1. Check the skimmer basket and pump for debris

If left unattended, a build-up of leaves, bugs, and dirt can eventually clog the pool’s filtration system. Therefore, we recommend using a pool skimming net to capture any visual debris and to empty the skimmer basket several times per week.

Additionally, robotic pool cleaners lessen the workload, so you do not always have to check manually. 

2. Clean and replace the salt cell as needed

At Discount Salt Pools, we recommend cleaning your salt cell once or twice per season. Additionally, you’ll need to replace it about every five years, depending on the brand and usage.

So, how do you clean a salt cell? It’s simple! Just follow these steps:

3. Routinely clean the pool and pool deck

4. Keep a water-testing schedule