Do you chlorinate a salt water pool? (2023)

Does salt water pools need chlorine?

A saltwater pool is an alternative to a traditional chlorine pool. Although you don't add chlorine tablets to a saltwater pool, it does still contain chlorine. It just has a smaller amount that's generated through the filter system. A saltwater pool contains 10 times less salt than the ocean.

Lucky for you and your taste buds, that's not what a saltwater pool is. A saltwater pool uses a salt chlorine generator. This means that instead of adding chlorine to the pool water, you add salt, and the generator converts it to chlorine.

A salt pool changes salt from the salt cell into chlorine instead of having to add chlorine directly into the water. It is okay to shock your saltwater pool and it is important to do so.

Besides normal, ideal water balance, all you need for a saltwater pool is a chlorine generator and enough pool salt to raise the level to the salt system manufacturer's recommendation.

Here's how it works: You add pool-grade salt to your pool and wait until it dissolves. Power is applied to the chlorine generator to convert the dissolved salt into chlorine. Fresh, pure chlorine treated water is returned to the pool for complete sanitization and swimming comfort. It's as simple as that!

Shock your pool once a week with Salinity Surge Shock. Pool shock works as an added defense against bacteria and contaminants. With Oxidizing shock, you can use your pool after just 15 minutes! Shock your swimming pool on the same day each week for the highest benefits and keep your pool in tip-top shape!

Like we said, your salt water generator produces chlorine. And that means you need to test and balance your free chlorine levels to keep your water sanitized. Your free chlorine levels should be between 1 and 3 parts per million, with 3 parts per million being ideal.

Disadvantages of Saltwater Pools

More complex than traditional pools, they often require experienced technicians even for minor problems. Salt can cause damage to some materials, so you may have to avoid using specific types of heaters, fixtures, underwater lighting, liners, and even some types of masonry work.

That's why it's best to use either dichlor shock or non-chlorine shock for regular saltwater pool maintenance and cal-hypo shock for algae issues. Even saltwater pools need to be shocked every week or two (and more often if there's been heavy rain or high usage).

After swimming in salt water, it's good to take a shower, to get the salt off. For your skin and hair a fresh water shower is a good thing.

Do you have to put chemicals in a saltwater pool?

Simply add salt and your pool's salt chlorinator will do all the work of making chlorine. While all pools require chemicals to maintain clean, clear water, salt water pools are more stable than traditional chlorinated pools, so they require fewer chemicals.

When you are ready to begin, you will need to turn off the salt chlorinator before adding salt to pool water. Don't turn it on again until the salt reaches the proper concentration; if the salt chlorinator is running before dissolving the salt, the pool will have uneven salt concentration.

There's One Culprit. The good thing here is that if your saltwater pool is green, you don't have to diagnose the problem—at least, not initially. Green water has one culprit, and that's algae. Algae can be introduced into any pool, no matter what sanitizer it uses.

On average, you should run your pool pump around 6-8 hours per day during winter and 10-12 hours per day during summer. Note that you need to run your pool pump longer during summer because algae grow more in warm temperatures.

Pool resurfacing or replastering should be done every 10 years. This is based on the surface lifespans of cement and pool plaster material. But constant use, chemical exposure, and climate changes can damage the pool plaster.

Every week, you should test your salt water pool's pH and free chlorine. There are test strips or test kits you can buy for this. Normal free chlorine level is 1 to 3 ppm, while pH should be at 7.2 to 7.6. Adjust your generator if your chlorine level is off.

Saltwater pools still do need algaecide products because the saltwater systems convert salt into chlorine which means you basically have the same pool water as any other chlorine pool.

There is no set timeframe of when you need to add salt to your pool. Because salt does not dissipate from your water, the only time you would add salt to your pool is when you add fresh water or after heavy rain that dilutes salinity levels.

It Should Not Be Done Together

Hence, you should first shock the pool and wait for the chlorine levels to fall below 5 PPM.

The CLOROX pool and spa shock is a solution that has been designed specifically for saltwater pools. This particular product is notable for having a chlorine-free formula, which is perfect if you would like to avoid adding more chlorine to your pool.

Can you put too much shock in a saltwater pool?

Can you put too much shock in a pool? SKIMMER NOTES: It's unlikely but it could happen. It would take a lot of shock to really make the water unsafe for swimming. The best way to make sure you're safe to swim is to test your pool water and make sure free chlorine levels are between 1-4ppm for healthy swimming.

For Salt Water Pool Owners: Use Sodium Dichlor Shock.

Dichlor shock will help raise your chlorine without causing scale buildup on your saltwater generator. But it will also raise your cyanuric acid (CYA) levels. So if you're already dealing with high CYA levels, opt for liquid chlorine.

In general, it's recommended that you wait up to 24 hours to get into a pool after it's been shocked, depending on the size of the pool, Alan said.

Reasons it could be low:

Not enough salt in the water for your Chlorinator to produce chlorine (salt should sit around 5000 PPM. Salt cell needs cleaning. Check our chlorinator cleaning guide for more information. Salt cell needs replacing.

Salt water offers a pleasant healthful swimming experience with fewer chloramines produced, eliminating the harsh chemical odor. Salt cells convert salt into active chlorine for a lower cost as compared to the traditional form of liquid or solid chlorine.

Saltwater pools are a lot easier to maintain compared to chlorine pools. Once the ideal water salt level is met, saltwater pools don't need much maintenance. You simply need to keep an eye on the water pH and alkalinity and add salt whenever it's needed, as well as monitor the salt chlorine generator for buildup.

The answer really depends on the use conditions and how often you do maintenance on your pool. The safe answer is that they usually last for about five to seven years.

During hot weather or frequent use, you may need to shock more frequently. Low chlorine levels often cause green or hazy water, so if your water looks a little cloudy and you haven't shocked in a while, adding shock is the first step. It is always best to shock the pool in the evening, when the sun if off the water.

Liquid chlorine and granular shock have the same active chemical that sanitizes your pool, what changes is the strength and the way you use it. Liquid chlorine is less costly, unstabilized and comes in liquid form. Granular shock is stabilized and comes in a solid form that dissolves in your pool.

Myth #2 – I don't like salty tasting water

The salt taste in saltwater pools is actually imperceptible. The human taste buds have a threshold of 3,500 PPM for salt. This means that in a well-maintained saltwater pool with 2,500 to 3,000 PPM, you won't taste any saltiness in the water.

What to do after swimming in saltwater?

Elevated levels of ABRs on the skin lasted for six hours post-swim, according to the study To reduce the risk of skin infections, it's best to shower shortly after you've been in the ocean. Much like with showering post-workout, a shower after the ocean washes away bacterium.

Swimming in salt water can dehydrate you quickly, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids if you participate in any aquatic activities. The strong briny taste comes from dehydration, so it's important to prevent that by drinking lots of liquids before and after your swim.

Another option is to take a sample of the water to a nearby pool store they can test it for you. When adding salt to the pool, make sure to turn off the salt chlorine generator, but leave the pool pump on to circulate and distribute the salt evenly throughout the pool.

Salt doesn't evaporate or break down, and the salt that a SCG uses to generate chlorine doesn't get used up. So you only ever need to add more salt to a pool when it gets lowered due to dilution of the pool water – typically after large amounts of rain or after partially draining & refilling.

With a properly sized filter and salt chlorinator, run times of 7 – 8 hours will generally be necessary. The defining factor governing filtration times in a salt pool is usually determined by the size of the filter/ioniser and the need to make sufficient chlorine. ie.

Over-salting will not harm your chlorine generator, but it will lead to salty tasting water. If levels exceed 6500 ppm the chlorinator is programmed to protect itself by alerting the user that there are high salinity levels in the pool. To reduce the salt level, drain some water and refill the pool with fresh water.

Will baking soda clear a green pool? No. Baking soda will only raise your alkalinity and pH levels and this will not kill algae. Chlorine is what kills algae.

Disadvantages of Saltwater Pools

More complex than traditional pools, they often require experienced technicians even for minor problems. Salt can cause damage to some materials, so you may have to avoid using specific types of heaters, fixtures, underwater lighting, liners, and even some types of masonry work.

Shocking your pool is the process of adding an extra boost of chlorine to help raise your free chlorine levels. Regularly shocking your pool also helps destroy additional contaminants, algae, and bacteria. If your salt water generator has a “BOOST” mode, it can disperse extra chlorine from your system.

Is a salt water pool hard to maintain?

Saltwater pools are a lot easier to maintain compared to chlorine pools. Once the ideal water salt level is met, saltwater pools don't need much maintenance. You simply need to keep an eye on the water pH and alkalinity and add salt whenever it's needed, as well as monitor the salt chlorine generator for buildup.

For Salt Water Pool Owners: Use Sodium Dichlor Shock.

Dichlor shock will help raise your chlorine without causing scale buildup on your saltwater generator. But it will also raise your cyanuric acid (CYA) levels. So if you're already dealing with high CYA levels, opt for liquid chlorine.

To maintain a salt water pool you'll need to keep your filter, pump, and skimmer clean and in good operating condition. With salt water pools, you must inspect the salt chlorinator cell and replace it when needed. Test regularly for proper water chemistry to maintain clean, clear pool water.

Swimming is already a great way to relax, but swimming in saltwater is known to promote the body's natural relaxation process even more effectively. Exposure to salt water can also soothe sore muscles and relieve pain and stiffness from arthritis.

Shock your pool once a week with Salinity Surge Shock. Pool shock works as an added defense against bacteria and contaminants. With Oxidizing shock, you can use your pool after just 15 minutes! Shock your swimming pool on the same day each week for the highest benefits and keep your pool in tip-top shape!

Always Superchlorinate with the filter on, and do so weekly during the swimming season to clear a pool of any excessive contaminants. You should always do it with the filter pump turned on, not off.

Saltwater pools require “free” chlorine to kill harmful bacteria that could make swimmers sick. On average, your saltwater pool should have a free chlorine reading of 1.0 to 3.0 ppm. If the level drops below 1.0 ppm, the water is not safe to swim in until chlorine is added.

Salt pools may be diluted in the event of heavy rains, requiring additional salt to the pool water. Storms can also add environmental debris, requiring additional chlorination.

The ideal salt level for a pool is around 3,200 PPM. If you're starting with no salt (0 PPM) and you have a 10,000-gallon pool, you'll need to add 267 pounds of salt. That's six to seven 40-pound pool-grade bags of salt.

The reason why saltwater pools usually have elevated pH levels is because the generation of chlorine with the electrolysis process tends to create byproducts that have a very high pH. Since chlorine is added directly to chlorinated pools, pH levels are easier to manage.