If you are tired of the harsh effects of chlorine on your skin, eyes, and hair, you might want to consider converting your pool to salt water. Salt water pools are becoming more popular because they offer many benefits, such as softer water, less maintenance, and lower chemical costs.
But how do you make a pool salt water? In this article, we will explain what a salt water pool is, how it works, and how you can convert your pool to salt water in eight easy steps.
What is a Salt Water Pool?
A salt water pool is not a pool filled with seawater. It is a pool that uses a salt chlorine generator to produce chlorine from salt. The salt chlorine generator consists of two main components: a controller and a cell. The controller is a device that regulates the amount of electricity that passes through the cell.
The cell is a chamber that contains metal plates called electrodes. When the pool water passes through the cell, the electricity causes a chemical reaction between the salt and the electrodes, producing chlorine gas. The chlorine gas then dissolves in the water and sanitizes the pool.
The advantage of a salt water pool is that it creates its own chlorine, so you don’t have to manually add chlorine to your pool. The chlorine produced by the salt chlorine generator is also higher quality than the chlorine you can buy, and it doesn’t cause the same reactions to the skin and eyes. It also doesn’t produce chloramines, which are byproducts of chlorine that cause the unpleasant “pool smell” and irritate the respiratory system.
A salt water pool still contains some chlorine, but at a much lower level than a traditional chlorine pool. The salt concentration in a salt water pool is also much lower than in seawater. In fact, it is about one-tenth of the salinity of seawater, and comparable to the salinity of human tears. You will not taste or smell the salt in your pool, but you will feel the water softer and silkier on your skin.
How to Convert Your Pool to Salt Water
Converting your pool to salt water is not very difficult or expensive. You don’t have to drain your pool or change any of your existing equipment. You just need to buy and install a salt-chlorine generator that is compatible with your pool size and type. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Balance your pool chemistry. Before you install your salt chlorine generator, you need to make sure that your pool water is balanced according to your installation manual specifications. You need to test and adjust the pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, stabilizer, and metal levels of your pool water. You can use test kits or strips to measure these parameters or take a sample of your pool water to a professional for analysis.
- Install your salt chlorine generator. Each salt chlorine generator is different and will come with its own set of instructions. You need to follow them carefully for the best results. Generally, you will need to mount the controller on a wall near your pool equipment pad, wire it for power according to the manual specifications, install the cell into the pool plumbing after the filter, and connect the cell to the controller.
- Add the salt. Once your unit is installed, you need to add the required amount of pool-grade salt to achieve the desired concentration. The amount of salt you need depends on the volume of water in your pool and the salinity level recommended by your manufacturer. Usually, it ranges from 2,500 to 4,000 parts per million (ppm). You can use a salt calculator or refer to your manual for guidance. To add the salt, pour it directly into your pool and use a brush or a jet stream to help dissolve it. It may take up to 24 hours for the salt to fully dissolve.
- Turn on your salt chlorine generator. After you have added the salt and waited for it to dissolve, you can turn on your salt chlorine generator and start enjoying your saltwater pool. You can adjust the output level of your unit according to your manual instructions or based on your test results. The higher the output level, the more chlorine your unit will produce.
- Maintain your saltwater pool. Once you have converted your pool to salt water, you still need to maintain it regularly to keep it clean and safe. You need to test your pool water at least once a week and adjust the pH, alkalinity, stabilizer, and salinity levels as needed. You also need to clean your filter, skimmer basket, pump basket, and cell periodically according to your manual instructions or manufacturer recommendations.
- Enjoy your saltwater pool! Congratulations! You have successfully converted your pool to salt water! Now you can enjoy all the benefits of having a luxurious and eco-friendly swimming experience in your own backyard!