How Do Pool Saltwater Systems Work?

Saltwater pools are becoming popular every day and installed in most houses. For saltwater pools, an on-site chlorine generator plays an important role and has gained popularity among the public. Experts say that saltwater chlorine generators account for 35% and more of the residential pools, and also the process of sanitization has also become very easy for pool owners. If you are a homeowner with a saltwater pool, read on to know more about how pool saltwater systems work to maintain the chlorine level in the water.

What Is Saltwater Pool System?

A saltwater pool is so-called because salt is added to the pool’s water to allow the chlorine generator to work to maintain the chlorine level in the pool. The saltwater in these pools is about 1/10th salinity of the ocean, so no discomfort arises for the swimmers. Even though the water has a mild taste, swimming in the saltwater pool is very enjoyable.

What Is Salt Chlorine Generator?

A salt chlorine generator helps in reducing the chemical storage, installation of chemical feeders, handling the required chemicals, and transportation of chemicals. In short salt chlorine generator can be defined as a generator that produces free chlorine for your pool. It should be noted that a salt-chlorine generator should only be installed by a professional.

The salt chlorine generator uses electrolysis, which breaks the salt molecules apart to produce chlorine gas. The chlorine gas is absorbed by water in the pool to maintain the chlorine level.

Parts of Salt Chlorine Generator

The two main parts of the chlorine generator are the cell and control board. The cell is the important part that converts salt into chlorine. The cell is coated with naturally occurring metals ruthenium or iridium through which the water passes. The second part of the generator is the control board which provides electricity for separating chlorine from salt with the help of the electrolysis process. The control board can also connect the chlorine generator with an automated pool system and control the generator with the help of a phone or any other smart device.

How Do Pool Saltwater Systems Work?

As said above, saltwater pool systems use an electrolysis process to generate the necessary chlorine for your pool. After the saltwater passes through the generator, a chemical reaction produces sodium hypochlorite and hypochlorous acid chlorine. The main difference between non-salt water and saltwater pools is the number of chloramines reduced by using a chlorine generator. The maintained salt level for saltwater pools is 2800 to 4200 ppm, whereas, for the ocean, it is 35000 ppm. There is a general myth that saltwater pools are chlorine-free, but the pools use a chlorine generator for maintaining the required chlorine level instead of using chlorine in other forms.

Which Salt For Chlorine Generators?

For maintaining a chlorine generator, the use of pure salt is recommended. Use of swimming pool salt, food-grade, granular, and non-iodized salt is only suggested, and one should not use rock salt or calcium chloride. Here are some of the options

• Solar Salt
• Mechanically evaporated salt
• Mined Salt

The highest purity of salt should be used to avoid the troubles that might arise in the chlorine generator. The recommended level of purity is 99%.

How Much Salt Needed For Pool?

Before adding salt to the generator, one should check the salt level and figure out the amount of salt needed by using the chart provided by the manufacturer. The recommended salt level for any pool is 3000 to 4000 ppm, and also check the rating of the cell you are using. For a brand new pool, 40-50 Lb of salt is required for 2000 gallons of water.

Chlorinator Maintenance

One of the common myths is that chlorine generators do not require maintenance, but the maintenance process should be done regularly. The recommended salt is added to your pool depending on the water level. The salt cell should be inspected every 3-6 months, and the excess chlorine should be removed.

Conclusion

The advantages of saltwater pools are gentle on your skin and eyes. A chlorine generator will save your time, and the amount of chlorine required can be adjusted with a touch of a button. For any saltwater generator, pure salt is crucial, and regular checking of the generator is a must for producing chlorine. If you are a homeowner with saltwater pools, you need to use proper and pure salt to maintain the salinity. Canada Salt Group Ltd is a reliable supplier of pure pool salt all over North America. Contact us for more details.