how I do I changed my pool from chlorine to salt water?
I have a chlorine pool and I have not put chlorine in for a few months. Summer is nearly here and I am considering changing my pool over to salt water. How do I do it and do I need to use as many different chemicals as I do for the chlorine pool ie chlorine, algaecide, soda ash etc
Well for starters a salt pool is in reality a chlorine pool. It uses an electrochemical process to change salt into chlorine ( chlorine is actually a form of salt). It does it’s job at oxidizing an organic and then reverts back to normal salt. The entire process then repeats.
You’ll use the same chemicals to balance your water, nothing changes there. You will use less though and you do away with using pucks or chlorine shock entirely unless there’s an issue the salt generator can’t handle.
You will be dosing up the pool with salt. How much depends on your pool volume. Most generators out there work with a salinity of between 2500- 3200 ppm. On average, with a sand filter ( you’re backwashing..removing salt and water) you can expect to top up your salinity about twice a season. Two bags of salt total on average.
One thing you need to be watchful on is your stabilizer levels. Since you’ll no longer be using pucks, stabilizer won’t be added weekly ( it’s part of the chemical make up of normal chlorine pucks). Get the water checked at a pool shop twice per season and you’ll be ok.
As for the installation of the unit itself…best left to a pro. There is some wiring involved and plumbing as well. There are a number of installation issues that could come up. A pro will be able to deal with all of them. You may not be able to and every installation is a little different.
Edit: I see someone has suggested draining your pool. Absolutely not. This is only the case if your pool was a Bromine pool. You state it’s already a chlorine pool so it’s not required.
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