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...
If you’ve already installed your salt water system or you’re about to switch over, you might
be
wanting to know how to maintain it so that you keep the swimming pool looking great all
year
long.
Luckily, there isn’t nearly as much work involved, unlike chlorine
systems!
Just a few minor things to keep in mind over the life of your pool. The three most
important things
to know about maintaining your saltwater pool will be:
One of the biggest differences between a chlorine pool and a salt pool is that a salt pool
eliminates
the need to buy and add chlorine tablets, algaecide and shock. Most people have heard how these
chemicals
make
it so expensive to maintain a pool, as well as how much of a hassle it becomes.
However, with salt pools, none of that is needed!
A saltwater system will work every day automatically with your pool equipment to consistently
generate a pure form of chlorine, so that there’s no need to buy tons of sanitation chemicals or
do
extensive
maintenance to maintain their levels.
So what kind of maintenance is required?
Instead, when you first install the pool, you’ll be adding in the appropriate amount of salt
needed
for your pool (for more on that, check
this out).
Compared to the constant maintenance of chlorine pools, all you really have to do with salt
pools
is
just periodically keeping up with your more supplementary water chemistry, such as checking your
PH,
Alkalinity,
salt levels, and seasonal cleaning- more on that later.
Keeping an eye on your PH, Alkalinity and salt levels is relatively simple- these levels
change
relatively slowly and don’t cost much to adjust. All you’ll need to do is just make sure they
are within
the
parameters that guarantee a clean and sanitized pool.
You don’t have to obsessively check or worry too much about your salt system, it will let you
know
when its components need to be checked out. Many of the popular models have warning lights or
displays
that
will
tell you when your salt levels will need to be adjusted or when the salt cell needs to be
cleaned.
As mentioned before, when you first set up your salt water system, you will need to
determine the
right amount of salt for your pool size.
You’ll need to double check your manual for what your salt level needs to be, because
you
will need
to make sure the salt levels are always in range in order to keep your pool sanitized. The
salt
you
put in at
the beginning doesn’t get used up and doesn’t evaporate but will need to be replenished over the
season
as
you
get rain or if you drain water from the pool.
For example, if there is a large storm or heavy rain or you have a big pool party, it is
advised
that
you check your salt levels to make sure they are up to par. If not, you will just need to add
enough
salt to
level it out.
Since bags of salt are generally budget friendly and are usually just seasonally needed, you
aren’t
paying much over time, unlike buying chlorine and other chemicals. In fact, the average
saltwater pool
owner
spends about twenty dollars a year on salt, which means even more savings for you!
Basic Maintenance
Aside from the occasional additions of salt, the most you’ll ever have to maintain is just
making
sure the cell stays clean.
To clean the cell, you’ll need to premix a solution of one part Muriatic acid to four parts
water
and
let it soak in the cell for about ten to fifteen minutes. You can purchase Muriatic acid from
your
favorite
home
improvement store.
Once the cleaning solution has dissolved the mineral scaling that builds up over time in the
cell,
you’re good to go- and if the water chemistry is good, most people typically only have to do it
one or
two
times
a season! Some systems even have an included cleaning tool to simply the process even
further.
You can make sure the water chemistry is good by doing the things listed above: keeping an
eye on
the
chlorine level that your salt system is maintaining, as well as the PH and alkalinity levels
(like any
pool),
and the salinity level, which should only take a few moments to check, and if they need to be
altered,
it's
a
quick and cheap fix. Seasonally, like any pool, you may need to adjust things like your
stabilizer and
calcium
hardness, depending on your pool’s unique needs.
Some advice for those who haven’t yet installed their systems- make sure to set up your
system
that
will allow ease of access to your systems when maintenance is needed! You don’t want to set it
up in an
area
that will be a pain in the neck to get to — you will need to get to it sometimes, and for peace
of mind,
just
make sure to set it up somewhere you can check it with ease.
For more on that and other tips for DIY installation, this
article has all the information you’ll need. Generally, that is all the
maintenance
your
system will require, so you can continue to enjoy your pool all year long without much
hassle.
What to Expect
By this point I’m sure you’re aware of what is expected when you own a salt water pool, but
the
best
part about these systems is how easy they are to maintain. The main thing you should expect to
do with
the
salt
system is to adjust its output setting so that it maintains the right level of free chlorine for
your
pool
(1-3
ppm). Every pool needs different amounts of sanitation, so when you first set your salt system
up, let
it
run
for a couple days with your normal pump schedule; measure your resulting free chlorine level,
and then
adjust
the salt system up or down as needed. Once you make a few adjustments, usually within the first
week,
you’ll
have it tailored to meet your pool’s needs. With seasonal changes, you’ll likely need to make
small,
infrequent
adjustments as you get warmer/cooler temperatures, more/less pool use, rain storms, etc… You’ll
see that
getting
predictable, consistent pool sanitation from a salt system makes a world of difference and gets
rid of
so
many
typical pool headaches.
More and more people are switching over to salt water systems to save money and because of
the
pool
experience it provides. Saltwater systems drastically cut down the amount of maintenance you’d
expect
from
other
non-saltwater systems, as well as cut down the price of the money you’d be spending on chemicals
for
basic
upkeep of chlorine pools, as well as helping to lessen the amount of those chemicals added in
the
water.
Another thing that makes salt water systems the preferred choice of pool owners is that
they help
eliminate irritating chemical byproducts that are found in most regular chlorine pools, which is
especially
great for people who have allergies or sensitive skin.
No more itchy skin, red eyes, bleached bathing suits or that pungent chlorine smell! Just
clean
and
safe water to enjoy! Plus, people who had to avoid being in the pool due to their allergies or
skin
sensitivities now can finally enjoy how refreshing swimming in a pool can be.
Additionally, what you should NOT expect is for the water to taste salty or like the ocean!
Our
salt
water pools have a low ppm (parts per million) of salt, meaning most people are unable to taste
any
saltiness.
So, if you haven’t already, you can expect to take about less than an hour to install your
system,
and then every season, just do a quick cell cleaning to make sure your system is in tip-top
shape. Set a
calendar reminder to help you to remember to regularly check those most critical water balance
levels:
free
chlorine, PH and salt levels.
If you’re ready to take the plunge, give us a call. We’ll take care of you and answer
any
questions
you might have.
Converting your pool to salt just means adding a chlorine generator! Use our intelligent
product
recommendation system to see what the best choices for you might be. See
more now
►
Solaxx MET20A SafeDip 6-in-1 Digital Water Chemistry Test Kit. Convenient chemical testing for: pH, chlorine, salinity, TDS, ORP (chlorine demand), and temperature.
Don't want to wait for this item? Here are some good alternatives:
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.
Hello to all of you at Discount Salt Pool. I just recently got my system installed and running and am going to Love It ! Thank you !
My question is, I went to my pool people to get my stabilizer and they insisted very strongly that I also get Fresh & Clear (to add 1 bag per week, along with liquid Pool Perfect also (1 cap per week) are these necessary and or did I just get gipped into buying some chemicals.
Any info would be greatly appreciated
Sincerely
Diane Watters
Diane, looking up that product "Fresh & Clear" appears to just be pool chlorine. Your salt chlorine generator is designed to make buying chlorine & shock unnecessary! "Pool Perfect" is an amalgam of chemicals which can possibly be helpful depending on what your pool actually needs.
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 CommentDiane L Watters
Hello to all of you at Discount Salt Pool. I just recently got my system installed and running and am going to Love It ! Thank you ! My question is, I went to my pool people to get my stabilizer and they insisted very strongly that I also get Fresh & Clear (to add 1 bag per week, along with liquid Pool Perfect also (1 cap per week) are these necessary and or did I just get gipped into buying some chemicals. Any info would be greatly appreciated Sincerely Diane Watters
DSP Staff
Diane, looking up that product "Fresh & Clear" appears to just be pool chlorine. Your salt chlorine generator is designed to make buying chlorine & shock unnecessary! "Pool Perfect" is an amalgam of chemicals which can possibly be helpful depending on what your pool actually needs.