So, you have or are considering a saltwater pool. That’s great! Some of the benefits of these pool types are that salt water pools require less handling of harsh chemicals such as chlorine. Not only is the saltwater better for your skin, hair, and clothes but it also eliminates the rise and drops in chlorine levels when shocking the pool. First and most importantly, install a sacrificial anode on the equipment. This will help protect the metal components within your pool from the corrosives of the salt water. We recommend two anodes if you have a heater. One on each side of the heater to protect the copper heat exchange from being eroded away.
Every Day
You should get into the habit of checking your pool, yes, every single day even if it’s just a quick looksie to make sure everything is okay. You should:
- Quickly skim off any visible debris in the pool.
- Make sure that the skimmer is clear and empty the pump basket.
Once a Week
At least twice a week, you need to clean your pool. If you have an uncovered pool in a heavily treed area, or one in high use, you may need to do so more often.
- Net the surface to remove leaves and debris.
- Run a pool vacuum. Allow about 45 minutes to an hour to do this by hand or save yourself time by investing in an automatic pool cleaner.
- Check that the pump and filter are running correctly.
- Check the water chemistry and balance as needed. Use test strips or a drop kit to ensure that the pH is in the ideal range and that the free chlorine level is correct.
- Rinse off the pump, filter, and skimmer with the garden hose.
Once a Month
You should test and check some additional levels every month.
- Salt levels should be checked to make sure they are within the range specified by the manufacturer. They can be increased simply by adding more salt. Try not to rely on the salt chlorinator’s automatic reading. The salinity level should be between 3000 and 3500 ppm. This can also be checked by using a saltwater test kit.
- Stabilizer levels should be 70-80 ppm for an outdoor pool and 0-30 ppm for indoor. If they are too high, add fresh water. If too low, add cyanuric acid.
- Calcium should be 200 to 400 ppm. High calcium keeps the pool from becoming cloudy whereas low calcium will cause etching in plastered pools.
Every Three Months
Manufacturers recommend that you inspect the salt cell every three months. Your chlorinator generally has an alert.
- Remove the salt cell and visually inspect for scale buildup or debris.
- If you see any deposits, flush the cell with a high-pressure garden hose. If that doesn’t work, scrape it with plastic or wood.
- Once the cell is checked and/or cleaned, reinstall it.
Some of the steps for maintaining your salt water pool are the same as with any pool, some are different, however, it is still important to do all of your pool maintenance to keep everyone safe and healthy.