How To Add Salt To Your Pool

Posted by Robert J. on 12/9/2019 to Common Questions

The process of setting up your saltwater chlorine generator is already very easy, and one time you've done that, you lot're already completed the "hardest" role! The simplest step of setting upwards your new salt water organisation comes next- adding the salt.

Whether you're in the process of installing or converting your puddle, or you haven't yet purchased a saltwater chlorine generator, or maybe you're just looking into what supplies you'll need to buy, you lot probably already know that you demand to buy the bodily salt to put in the pool. Only how much? And what kind?

We've put together an easy guide to tell you lot what you lot need to know about how much you'll need, how to put it in your pool correctly and exactly what kind you'll need for your pool, as well every bit some tips and tricks to help y'all along the way.

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Decide your Optimum Salinity Level

Depending on the manufacturer, common salt pool systems tin can piece of work in common salt levels from 3000 to 5000 parts per meg (ppm).

The first step y'all'll desire to have is checking your salt chlorinator's owners manual . In that location are a bunch of popular brands on the market, and many of them vary in the optimal salinity range that is recommended.

If you haven't yet bought yours, check it out before you buy so you can become a caput-start in knowing how much you lot'll demand to purchase and to determine which arrangement is best for your pool's size.

Salt pool systems all work on dissimilar salt levels from 3000 to 5000 ppm, or parts per million, depending on the manufacturer. Since the majority of chlorinators operate between 3000 and 4000 ppm, in this case we'll utilize the target level of 3500 ppm which will apply to virtually people.

Check for Any Existing Common salt Levels

The next step is to figure out how much salt might already be in the pool. If you lot have a new pool, you likely don't have a significant salt level nowadays , just sometimes it can be possible that the pool naturally acquires effectually 500 ppm over time.

If the pool has been around awhile, it'south certainly possible salt has been added to the water in the by , and then either manner information technology'south always a good idea to cheque just in case and then that yous don't accidentally end up making your salinity level as well high.

You'll want to buy some salt water examination strips then y'all tin test the current salinity of your pool's water. Also, nearly pool stores offer costless water testing services, so if yous want to save coin and also get a more than accurate result, you tin can ever choose this option as well. You lot can also go fast & authentic digital testers for your pool as well.

Determine Pool Size & Quantity of Salt Needed

The next stride is figuring out how many gallons of water are in your pool. If you're not sure, you can employ the following formulas to calculate an judge, depending on the shape of your pool. (length, width, and depth are measured in feet)

For this example, our goal salinity is 3500 ppm and the pool has zero existing salinity. In that instance, You'll need to add together 30 lb of salt for every 1000 gallons of water.

Therefore, if you have a 20,000 gallon puddle and want to make up one's mind how much salt you'll need to buy, you would utilize the formula "30/ane,000 x 20,000", which equals 600. Meaning, the pool would require approximately 600 lb of salt.

bags of salt to convert swimming pool to a saltwater chlorine generator

Then, you lot've installed your saltwater system or you're in the procedure of buying all your materials for your installation, and now it's fourth dimension to purchase the most of import attribute- the salt itself!

You can find pool common salt and water softener salt at whatsoever large-box, home comeback or puddle store , but if y'all're looking to save even more money , apparently regular water softener salt is less expensive.

It's virtually the exact same thing, and ranges from effectually $5-$seven for a 40 lb bag- which is the typical size you'll find at about stores! Using our previous example, we would need to buy about 15 bags of salt for the 20,000 gallon pool.

A few extra tips:

Always utilise non-iodized salt that is at least 99.8% pure sodium chloride (NaCl)
Avoid any salt with anti-caking agents
Do non become annihilation that has whatever "special formula" additives (ex: "anti-rust"), as they can cause staining in your pool.

Adding the Salt

If yous've already installed your Salt Water Chlorine Generator, make sure y'all have your controls set to "OFF" until all of the common salt has dissolved. Merely pour salt into the body of the pool- never pour the salt into the skimmer . Also, if you spread the common salt out equally you lot become across the shallow cease, it will assistance make it easier to dissolve

This is because it can be hard to calculate the verbal size of your puddle when at that place are slopes to the bottom and sides or other unique shapes and features. If too much salt is added and the levels go as well loftier, you'll take to drain some of the water and dilute the pool with fresh h2o in order to balance out the levels.

And so instead, add almost of what you calculated for salt instead, merely in example there was a margin of error in your puddle size measurements. Permit the salt dissolve then retest your salt level before adding the last of your table salt.