You've installed a new Salt Chlorine Generator to your pool and you've reached the point where you have to add salt. This guide tells you which salt to use, how much to add and how to add it.
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James Posted: 9/24/2012
Why shouldn't the salt be added to the skimmer? It would seem to be a good way to get it dispersed quickly.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 9/1/2012
Paula of Chipley - If I understand correctly that you are dropping the salt chlorine generation system to go back to chlorine tablets, you do not have to continue adding salt to your pool. The only system that relies on the salt is the salt chlorine generation system and you are turning that off. Adding chlorine tablets is fine.Reply
Paula of Chipley Posted: 8/31/2012
I recently moved into a home that has a salt water inground pool. We hired someone to clean it because it has been sitting dormant and covered for two years. They advised us that if we wanted to just put chlorine tabs in the pool, rather than put money into the replacement of parts and what not, that it would be okay. I am afraid that due to the system being salt water that it will be ruined if we do not add salt to the pool and use only chlorine tabs? Any advice?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/24/2012
Diana - You need to have the filter on to circulate the water in the pool and to dissolve the salt. There should be a switch on your Jandy system to turn the salt chlorinator off.Reply
Diana Posted: 8/24/2012
Ok thanks for that info. Next question how do I turn off salt chlorinator for 24 hours? I have a jandy system. Do I just leave filter off? Thank you for your help and advice.Diana
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/20/2012
Diana - The salt you are buying from Home Depot or Lowes is good as long as it's labeled pool salt. Two side issues that may be affecting your cells: when you add salt, let it dissolve for at least 24 hours before you turn on your salt chlorine generator. Move it around on the floor of the pool once or twice in that 24 hours to help it dissolve; and two, make sure you keep your pool water balanced. When the pH gets below 7.2 or the alkalinity gets below 90, the water becomes more corrosive and eats up you cell's plates faster.Reply
diana Posted: 8/17/2012
Wow why didn't I find you sooner. I have been adding salt that I bought at home depot to my pool. We have had to replace the cell at least 2 times. the pool is only 5 years old. I was recently told I am using the wrong salt. I need to use very very fine salt that i believe is called mineral compound. This will make the cell last at least 8 years. But that salt cost 29.00 per bag as opposed to salt at loews for about 10.00. which salt do I really need to use????Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/20/2012
Salt testing - Test you chlorine level first. As long as it is within range you can assume that your salt level is correct. If you are just moving in, have a pool store test a sample of your water for salt level to make sure the salt level is not too high.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 7/18/2012
hello there, i have just moved house and we have a salt pool chlorinator, obviously the salt becomes chlorine through the machine. So do i just test the salt of the water? or / and chlorine too?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/17/2012
Jen - Assuming you have fought the algae battle, one customer wrote in that he had a green tinge and was told by his pool store that his calcium level was low. Should be between 150 and 250 ppm. After adding calcium chloride (not salt) to his pool, the green tinge went away.See part #P37010DEReply
Jen Posted: 7/17/2012
We have an above ground pool. The water is green. We tried everything to make it blue. Our pump is a sand pump. Our water is from a well. Maybe there is to much metal and we can't seen to stabilize the water. Can we use salt in the filter basket? Or should we get calcium chloride?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/26/2012
jenn - No salt will not help reduce your algae. It has to be converted to chlorine. While you are waiting though, I would shock the pool with chlorine and algaecide. Note: if you have a steel frame above ground pool, we do not recommend using a salt system. It will corrode the steel.Reply
jenn Posted: 6/25/2012
just put up an above ground pool 24' round but the filter was broken. had to buy a new one decided to go with a salt water system. now waiting for the filter my pool turned green. can i add the bags of salt while waiting for the filter which should be here in a few days hopefully? Will that help at all with the green?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/17/2012
JS - Unless you are taking samples at a point of high salt concentration, there is no reason for the salt reading to change as rapidly as it appears to be. Take a couple of reading after the pool has circulated for 24 hours. They should be the same. Also take a sample of your pool water to a local pool store and have them test it to verify your own readings.Reply
JS Posted: 6/16/2012
OK I'm confused. I have a 20x40 foot pool. It turned cloudy and green but I could see the bottom. I discovered that 1) my chlorine was nil as was my salt and 2) my chlorinator wasn't on because of a clogged intake screen. I added 6 bags of salt. 4 pounds granular chlorine. and hoped that everything dissolved as I wanted. I have a barracuda so it was running around the bottom of the pool that helped to mix. The pool pilot says now 7800 ppm. 2 hours later the pool pilot says 6500 ppm. 2 hours later the pool pilot says 5600 ppm. I am grateful that it is dropping but unclear why.Reply
xweco Posted: 6/15/2012
OK, I didn't run the Pool for 24 hours straight before taking the second measurement. I'll go with your reccomendations and see how I make out. THANKSReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/14/2012
xweco - Working the number backwards, it looks like you have a pool with 25,000 gallons. If your first reading was 2200 ppm than you were correct. You needed 26l bs of salt or just over six 40 # bags to get your salt level up to 3500 ppm. You wisely put in 5, knowing it's easier to add one more that to take out salt. After you added 5 bags a second reading says you have to add 5 more - it's like you didn't add the first five. Here are some possible issues. 1- Did you have the pump on for 24 hrs to help dissolve the salt. 2- If you used salt test strips, how old are they. They expire at some point and can give you false readings. 3- Have your salt level tested at a pool store before you add any more salt. They will give you an accurate reading to compare your test strip readings to.Reply
xweco Posted: 6/13/2012
I have done all the steps in your list, however, the first Salt test worked out to need 261 lbs to get the pool to 3500ppm from the 2220ppm in the test results. Per your suggestion, I added 5 bags and let it desolve, now the test is telling me I need 5 more bags. What seems to be the problem with the calculationReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/1/2012
emma - Your pool has about 14,000 gallons of water. To bring the salt level up to 3500 ppm you will have to add approx. nine 40# bags of salt. Put in 8 bags first. Let it dissolve for 48 hrs and then take a water sample to the pool store to test your salt level. If it is under 3500 ppm by 200-300 ppm add another bag of salt. Check your salt level every couple of month. Generally you will not have to add any more salt until the next season unless you have to add water to your pool or you have to dump water due to a heavy rain.Reply
Emma Posted: 5/29/2012
Have above ground pool 16x32 four foot deep how many bags of salt do I need to start with and is that all I add. Plz help.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/25/2011
I'm assuming your main concern is the copper piping in your pool heater. According to a heater manufacturer, your main concern in copper pipe corrosion is not salt from a salt chlorine generator but inadequate bonding to your heater unit. According to the manufacturer, if you keep your salt level below 6000 ppm you will not have a problem with salt. Most SCGs operate at 4000ppm or below.Reply
CFong Posted: 7/22/2011
We just upgraded our pool with Wet Edge Satin Matrix and am considering a salt chlorinator. Our contractor mentioned that we should check to make sure there would not be a problem since we have some copper piping in our system. Are you aware of any issues we should be concerned with?Our pool is around 35,000 gals. What unit would you receommend?
Thanks
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Sunny Posted: 6/8/2011
I am brand new having an inground pool. We had a man come out to open our pool, and he added a salt clorinator , it cost 3000.00 for cleaning and salt and clorintor. But the main drain does not suck anything down in it. The skimmer thing works. Do you have any one I can get to show me what to do to open the drain, and won't rip me off again. Thank youReply
Anonymous Posted: 6/3/2011
Thank you. (Man who knows about salt)Reply
Anonymous Posted: 5/4/2011
Most people buy their pool salt at a hardware store like Lowes or Home Depot. Because of its weight, pool salt is generally considered too expensive to ship.Reply
V Posted: 5/3/2011
Do you sell pool salt?Reply
Nancy Posted: 2/22/2011
Thank you for helping me remember how to do this. Count this as a random act of kindness on your partReply