If you know how and when to add salt to the pool, it will be easy to maintain.After checking the salt content of the water in your pool with a salt test strip and using a reference table to find out how much salt to use, go around sprinkling it little by little to make sure it gets distributed evenly.Once you've added the salt, you should sweep the bottom of the pool with a pool brush to prevent it from getting piled up.
Step 1: Find the target salt level with your chlorine generator's instructions.
Different systems need different amounts of salt.You should consult the literature that came with your salt chlorine generator to find out how much salt you need to add.One of the first things you will find is critical information.Important information like salt concentration can be displayed directly on the generator itself for easy reference.
Step 2: Purchase bags of salt for swimming pools.
You can find swimming pool salt at your local pool and spa specialty store.Non-iodized salt will do any type of food.If you want a product with 99% purity or higher, you should shop around.40–80 lbs (18–36 lbs) bags are used for swimming pool salt.You'll need at least 2 bags for a single treatment.It's a good idea to stock up as you'll be treating your pool periodically.High purity salts are easier to process than lower purity ones.
Step 3: Take a sample of the water in the pool.
If you want to use the test kit for a longer period of time, you need to fill the small vial with water from your pool.Remove the strip from the water sample and compare it to the color chart on the test kit's packaging to determine the salinity.The depth of the color will tell you how much salt is in the pool.Salt test strips give concentrations in parts per million.It's a good idea to check the salt level in your pool at least three times a week.
Step 4: You can find out how much salt is added by looking up a salt table.
Some general guidelines for treatment may be included in your salt chlorine generator or packaged salt product.You can find a reference chart online if you run a search for "pool salt table." One of these tables will tell you how much salt to use for a pool of a given size, shape, and volume.It is easier to pour in just the right amount from a salt table that has both pounds and PPM.For a 12 ft circular pool that holds 3,000 gallons (11,000 l) of water, you'd need to add 87 pounds of salt, or about 2 whole bags, in order to bring it up to the recommended concentration.Salt shouldn't be added to your swimming pool.It could lead to the degradation of the walls, floor, and other surfaces over time.
Step 5: Before adding the salt, turn off the chlorine generator.
You can find the switch that corresponds to the generator by going to your pool's control unit.Adding salt to the generator can place too much strain on it, leading to damage and costly repairs.During treatment, some salt chlorine generators may need to keep running.Refer to the literature that comes with your generator to find out if you should leave it on or turn it off.
Step 6: Walk around the pool slowly, pouring in the salt as you go.
Shake the corner off of the bag of salt as you circle the pool.It will be distributed more evenly throughout the water.Sprinkle the salt 1–2 feet away from the edge of the pool to prevent it from drifting into the skimmers.It's better to let the salt absorb slowly than to dump it all at once.Adding more salt to the deep end around the main drain is recommended by some experts.The reason for this is that the more water there is, the quicker the salt will break down.
Step 7: The salt is at the bottom of the pool.
If you notice the salt is piling up, you can spread it out with a pool brush.The area around the main drain is a low-lying spot.The motion of the brush will cause the salt to be dissolved more quickly.If you have an above-ground pool that doesn't have a main drain, you can plug a vacuum into the skimmer input and turn the vacuum head upside down to pull water up from the bottom of the pool.
Step 8: Run the pool's filter until the salt is completely dissolved.
Depending on the water temperature and strength of circulation, this can take up to 24 hours.You should be prepared to wait up to 48 hours for the salt to break down in a large pool.Wait until the salt has dissolved completely before taking a dip.It isn't dangerous, but it may be unpleasant.
Step 9: If your salt levels are within the target range, you should check them again.
Drop in a fresh salt test strip the morning after you add the salt.Take a few minutes to notice the difference in color.The shade on the test strip should match the ideal shade for your pool.Adding more salt will bring the salinity up to the recommended level.Allow up to 48 hours for all of the salt to be dissolved.In most pools, the salt concentration needs to fall within the range of 2,500-4,500 PPM.
Step 10: Bring fresh water to your pool.
Don't worry if you add too much salt.Replacing some of the water is easy to correct.Set your pool to drain from the main control unit and refill it with water from a nearby hose.A good rule of thumb is to drain and replace about a quarter of your pool's water at a time until it reaches the recommended concentration.Divide the average depth by 8 to find out how much of the pool's total volume is left.For a pool that's 10 feet deep, 1/6th would be 38 cm of water.Wait another 48 hours before you switch on your generator, and then test the water again to make sure it's at the optimum targeted level.
Step 11: When you're done making adjustments, turn your generator on again.
After you've achieved the optimum salt concentration for your pool, head back down to the control unit and flip the generator switch over to "On" to restore power.The fresh salt will be converted into chlorine to clean the water in your pool.Happy swimming!As soon as you get your salt chlorine generator up and running, you're free to dive in.