should you put chlorine in a saltwater pool

Are salt water pools better than chlorine systems?

Saltwater pools require less maintenance and don’t have as many chemicals in the water, but chlorine pools tend to be more cost-effective and convenient. Ultimately, you’ve just got to weigh the pros and cons of each and determine which is the better choice for your circumstances.

Can you use salt instead of chlorine in pools?

Using swimming pool salt instead of chlorine delivers greater swimming comfort: Swimming pool salt does not give off an unpleasant odour as chlorine does. It is much less harsh on hair and skin. It does not cause your eyes to sting. It not only makes water clear, but soft as well.

Do salt pools generate enough chlorine?

Do salt pools generate enough chlorine? You could be under the impression that salt water pools do not require chlorine. However, this is not entirely correct. A salt generator is a device that generates chlorine on its own.

Do saltwater pools avoid problems with chlorine?

Do saltwater pools avoid problems with chlorine? The most significant disadvantage of a saltwater pool is the high dose of chlorine necessary to disinfect and oxidize the pool water. The good news is that by installing a UV disinfection system in your saltwater pool, you can lower the levels of chlorine in your pool.

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Can you use chlorine in a saltwater pool?

Yes, a salt water pool is easier to maintain! There's no need to purchase, store and add chlorine to your pool. Simply add salt and your pool's salt chlorinator will do all the work of making chlorine.

Why would you put chlorine in a saltwater pool?

Why would you put chlorine in a saltwater pool? Sometimes a saltwater pool's chlorinator isn't creating enough chlorine, and the water can become cloudy or develop algae. When this happens, a bit of chlorine can save the day, said Hunker.

What kind of chlorine do you use in a saltwater pool?

Many people use liquid chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) or solid chlorine compressed with cyanuric acid (granular or in tablets). In the case of a salt chlorine generator, you use salt (NaCl).

Do you need chlorine tablets in a saltwater pool?

A saltwater pool works much the same way as any other swimming pool, but instead of adding chlorine tablets, you'll add a fine-grain salt.

What are the disadvantages of salt water pools?

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.

How do you maintain a saltwater pool?

0:324:06How To: Maintain a Salt Water Pool - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStep 1 perform weekly tests free chlorine and pH should be tested on a weekly basis in yourMoreStep 1 perform weekly tests free chlorine and pH should be tested on a weekly basis in your saltwater pool. The water can be tested using test strips or by a drop test kit. The free chlorine level

How much chlorine do I add to a saltwater pool?

The amount of chlorine you add to your saltwater pool will depend on the type of chlorine used. In any case, the aim is to maintain chlorine levels at 1-5 ppm....How Much Chlorine Should You Put in a Saltwater Pool.Chlorine TypeAmountLiquid Chlorine (12% strength)10 fl oz (283 g)Bleach (6% strength)21 fl oz (595 g)3 more rows

What chemicals do I need for my salt water pool?

Besides normal and good water balance, all you need for a salt water pool is a chlorine generator and enough pool salt to raise the level to the salt system manufacturer's recommendation. You will still need to maintain good water balance on a salt water pool.

Do I need to shock a saltwater pool?

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.

How often should I shock my saltwater pool?

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!

Do salt water pools get algae?

You might not realize this, but algae are constantly getting into your saltwater pool through various means. Depending on the type of algae, it can latch onto your swimwear, your floats or pool toys, your pool equipment, or algae spores enter your pool through rainwater or a random gust of wind.

How much chlorine do I add to a saltwater pool?

The amount of chlorine you add to your saltwater pool will depend on the type of chlorine used. In any case, the aim is to maintain chlorine levels at 1-5 ppm....How Much Chlorine Should You Put in a Saltwater Pool.Chlorine TypeAmountLiquid Chlorine (12% strength)10 fl oz (283 g)Bleach (6% strength)21 fl oz (595 g)3 more rows

Do saltwater pools need chemicals?

Your pool pH, Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness must be maintained by testing and adjusting the levels as needed, just as with a traditional chlorine pool. You will also still need to use cyanuric acid, or chlorine stabilizer, to control UV chlorine degradation, and prevent overworking your salt cell.

Do I need to shock a saltwater pool?

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.

How long do you super chlorinate a salt water pool?

The Super Chlorinate Button. The superchlorinate button on a chlorine generator simply sets the chlorine output to 100% for a period of time, usually 24 hours or until the system is powered off.

What kind of chlorine do you use in a saltwater pool?

The main forms of chlorine you will typically use for your saltwater pool are:

How does manually adding chlorine to a saltwater pool help?

While a saltwater chlorinator keeps the chlorine level in your pool at the required level, it can be difficult to quickly raise the chlorine in the water on its own.

How should I manually add chlorine tablets to my pool?

Chlorine tablets are also commonly referred to as pucks. They are round and are made from compacted chlorine that is highly concentrated. A good quality product will be stabilized meaning that it includes cyanuric acid which we’ll talk about more below.

What other benefits do chlorine tablets offer a saltwater pool owner?

It’s just a matter of putting the tablet (s) in your side skimmer and allowing it to dissolve on its own.

Why does a saltwater pool have chlorine?

A saltwater pool is a chlorine pool. While an old style chlorine pool involves manually adding chlorine as the sanitizing agent to kill bacteria, a saltwater pool uses a salt chlorinator generator to convert dissolved salt (NaCl) into liquid chlorine.

What ingredients are chlorine tablets made from?

The makeup of chlorine tablets is a benefit on its own because they tend to incorporate several ingredients that adds to the convenience. Chlorine tablets are typically made from:

How does salt water work in a pool?

The way that a salt water system works in a pool is that is generates chlorine slowly over a long period of time. If you wait for the salt system to generate your chlorine you may find that the bacteria and algae in the water grow as fast as your system can generate chlorine. This is especially true if you have high phosphate levels.

How to get rid of crypto in pool?

Using a UV, ozone or AOP system is another way to help eliminate the risk from crypto in your pool without needing to raise your chlorine levels so high...and these also work to eliminate chloramines form the water.

How to kill cryptosporidium in pool?

It is also important to add chlorine to your salt pool to occasionally burn off the chloramines in the water, as well as to kill cryptosporidium which is one of the hardest things in your pool for chlorine to sanitize. This is why sustained periods of free chlorine above 10 parts per million are required. Using a UV, ozone or AOP system is another way to help eliminate the risk from crypto in your pool without needing to raise your chlorine levels so high...and these also work to eliminate chloramines form the water. Just a few of the reasons that these systems are so popular for supplemental use in addition to chlorine or salt systems.

What is the CYA level in a pool?

The CYA level in your pool, when maintained at 30 to 50 parts per million serves to provide protection for your chlorine from UV degradation. Without enough CYA the sun will burn off the chlorine in your pool as fast as your salt system can make it.

How many parts per million of salt?

About 32,000 parts per million of salt. Most people do not care to say "electronic chlorine generator" so perhaps the best short descriptor would be simply to call it a pool with a "salt system". When you say salt water pools you are actually describing something that does exists, but that is not what you have when you put 3000 ppm ...

Do salt water pools need chlorine?

Do salt water pools need chlorine? - Yes. Salt systems (electronic chlorine generators) make a very small amount of chlorine which requires them to operate for many hours in order to build up the correct amount of chlorine for your pool. For most pools you will be able to dial in on an appropriate power setting to generate the right amount of chlorine for the needs of your specific pool. So what happens when there is a sudden need for chlorine, like there was a big party with 10 times as many swimmers as the pool normally sees? Or what if there has been torrential rains for days on end? In these cases you should not attempt to wait for your electronic chlorine generator to slowly build back up the chlorine levels in your pool. Adding chlorine manually is the best option to get your free chlorine levels back up quickly before any algae, or something worse, has the opportunity to grow.

Can you add chlorine to a salt pool?

So in this sense you can add liquid chlorine, granular chlorine or even chlorine pucks to your pool if you have a salt system and this is no problem at all. There are a few considerations about which chlorine you add, and how you add it, but in short yes it is completely safe to add chlorine to a "salt pool".

How to keep chlorine level in pool?

To keep the chlorine level in your saltwater pool at about 3 parts per million , it may be necessary to add chlorine tablets to the water. Chlorine tablets can help supplement your pool with enough chlorine when it isn’t producing enough through the chlorine generator. Adding chlorine tablets can also help fight algae and bacteria from forming in your water.

What Is A Safe Level Of Chlorine in a Pool?

A salt system will generate its own chlorine, but it may take some time. Additional chlorine tablets may be necessary to keep the chlorine in a pool at a safe level.

Can You Put Chlorine Tablets in a Saltwater Pool?

If you have a saltwater pool, it is certainly possible, likely even, that you’ll have to add in some chlorine eventually. To understand why this is the case, you need to understand that saltwater pools are still chlorine pools. As previously mentioned, the only difference is that saltwater pools electronically convert pool salt into chlorine.

What Causes Low Free Chlorine in Saltwater Pools?

Salt is added instead of chlorine to a saltwater pool, which the chlorine generator then converts into chlorine. When the free chlorine levels are too low, it usually means it is time to add more salt. Though, this may indicate some other things. For example, low chlorine readings may mean that you need to increase the chlorinator output or run it more often.

Can Chlorine Help Prevent Algae Growth?

Unfortunately, while chlorine is being created, algae can take root in your system. Algae will grow even faster if you have high phos phate levels in your pool . Adding additional chlorine to your saltwater pool is the perfect way to find a quick solution to control nuisance algae.

Is There a Downside to Too Much Chlorine?

Adding chlorine to your system can help maintain a safe level of dangerous bacteria, but there are some downsides to adding too much chlorine to your system. When you add too much chlorine, you could increase your stabilizer levels, called CYA. Usually, CYA should be between 30 and 50 parts per million. These levels are enough to protect your pool from UV degradation.

How does a salt water pool work?

Simply put, the filtering system turns salt into chlorine to clean the water. Whereas, with traditional chlorinated pools, the chlorine tablets or granules are physically added on a consistent basis for the same purpose. As such, the chlorine levels in a saltwater pool are more stable rather than fluctuating. Though, you still may have to shock the pool with higher levels of chlorine on occasion.

How does chlorine work in a pool?

Standard chlorine pools rely on regular additions of chlorine or bromine to disinfect the water, while saltwater pools have an electrolytic chlorine generator that breaks down the salt in the pool to generate chlorine. The chlorine that’s released into the water when the salt is broken down sanitizes the pool water in much ...

What is chlorine pool?

Chlorine pools use store-bought chlorine to help keep the pool water balanced, but these products usually combine chlorine with binders and additives that break down in the water and increase the total dissolved solids in the pool and make the water feel harder on the skin.

How much does it cost to install a chlorine generator in a pool?

Installing a chlorine system for the pool only costs about $100 to $400, but installing an electrolytic chlorine generator can cost up to $2,500. The generator cell, which ranges from about $200 to $700, will also need to be replaced every few years in a saltwater pool.

Why does my pool feel soft?

The soft feeling that is often associated with saltwater pools is typically due to the low level of chlorine and total dissolved solids in the pool. Because the amount of chlorine in a saltwater pool is controlled by the electrolytic chlorine generator, chlorine levels, while remaining effective, tend to be lower than in a typical pool, ...

What is electrolysis in a pool?

Saltwater pools use electrolysis to split salt and create the required amount of chlorine with the electrolytic chlorine generator, so users never need to worry about storing bottles or buckets of harmful chemicals including chlorine, bromine, stabilizer, clarifier, algaecide, and more.

How much less salt is in a saltwater pool than in an ocean?

A saltwater pool actually has about 10 times less salt in the water than the ocean, and this amount needs to be maintained for the pool to remain clean and clear.

Why avoid store bought chlorine?

By avoiding the use of store-bought chlorine products, the occurrence of chloramines in the water can be reduced. This helps to prevent the uncomfortable side effects—and the strong chemical smell—that are common with traditional chlorine pools. Photo: istockphoto.com.

What is the chlorine level in a saltwater pool?

There you have it: everything you need to know about shocking a saltwater pool! Remember to never swim while shocking or super-chlorinating your saltwater pool, continue to test your pool’s water chemistry levels, and don’t allow anyone in until the chlorine level is between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm! Post navigation.

What is the best way to kill algae in a pool?

Chlorine is the most effective treatment to kill algae— black algae, a green pool, etc.—and it’s best to kill it at the first sign of a bloom. Whether you notice small spots or a complete overgrowth, it’s time to shock the pool.

How long does a shock last in a pool?

Turn down the salt cell system. If you’ve reached the recommended chlorine level for your pool, the shock should last several days , so you can turn down your saltwater pool system—also called salt chlorinators or chlorine generators —for a while.

Why is my pool water so hard to clean?

1. Running your pool’s super-chlorinate feature too often is hard on the motor and will cause it to wear out faster. 2. The super-chlorinate feature will not always kill all the algae or clean up the pool water as effectively as pool shock.

How much shock is needed to breakpoint chlorination?

You might be wondering how much shock is enough. Well, in order to reach breakpoint chlorination, you'll need to achieve about 30 ppm. If the chlorination does not reach this level, it won’t kill all of the algae in your pool or remove unhealthy chloramines.

What is the best shock for a pool?

There are a lot of good pool shock products out there (including liquid chlorine and non-chlorine shock), but here's one we really recommend: Calcium hypochlorite, or cal-hypo as it is often called in the pool industry, is the leader is shock products because is the most powerful and fastest working shock available.

How to keep algae blooms out of pool?

Here are just a few quick tips to keep it from becoming a problem: 1. Keep your pool chemistry levels balanced. 2. Brush and vacuum your pool regularly. 3.