Many people think that adding chlorine to salt water pool setups is a big no-no, but it's actually a totally normal part of keeping your water crystal clear. In case you've ever was standing by your pool floor wondering if you're about to wreck your expensive salt system by dropping in a jug associated with liquid chlorine, take a deep breathing. You're not. In fact, there are many periods when your salt cell simply can't keep up along with the demand, and helping it away with a manual dose is the particular smartest thing you can do.
The biggest false impression out there is that a salt pool is definitely "chlorine-free. " That's just not true. A salt water pool is really just the chlorine pool that will makes its own sanitizer on-site. Your own salt chlorinator uses a process known as electrolysis to convert dissolved salt straight into chlorine. But just like any manufacturer, sometimes the need for the product is more than the particular factory will produce. That's where you come in with a little manual intervention.
Why You'd Ever Need to Include Chlorine Manually
You might be thinking about, "If We paid all this money to get a salt system, why was I still purchasing chlorine? " It's a fair query. The salt cellular is designed to maintain a stable level of chlorine over time, not to handle sudden spikes in organic waste.
Think about a warm July afternoon whenever you've had 6 kids and four adults splashing around for hours. That's lots of sunscreen, sweat, and… other stuff entering the water. Your salt cell is chugging along at its set percentage, but it's struggling to kill off the germs as fast because it's being introduced. If you just leave it to the cell, you might wake up the particular next morning to a dull, cloudy pool or the beginnings of an algae bloom.
After that there's the weather. Great rainstorm doesn't just add water; it brings within nitrogen, debris, and sometimes even algae spores. Rain can also dilute your own chemistry. In these moments, adding chlorine to salt water pool water provides it an instant increase, or a "shock, " that resets the balance method faster than the salt cell can on its own.
The Relationship Between Salt and Chlorine
It helps to realize that the chlorine you buy in a bottle or a bag is chemically very similar to what your salt cell creates. When you add liquid chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) to your pool, you're adding the exact exact same sanitizer that the salt system creates. The particular only difference will be the delivery method.
One big benefit of a salt system is that it doesn't create since many "chloramines"—those would be the things that create your eyes trick that that severe "pool smell. " However, if your salt cell is definitely struggling, those chloramines can still develop. Manually adding chlorine helps "burn off" those combined chlorines, leaving your water smelling fresh and feeling soft again. It's basically providing your salt cell a well-deserved split so it doesn't have to operate at 100% capacity for days upon end, which actually extends the life of the cell.
Deciding on the best Type associated with Chlorine
Not all chlorine is established equal, especially when we're talking about salt systems. If you're at the store looking at buckets, you'll probably discover "Cal-Hypo" (Calcium Hypochlorite) and liquid chlorine.
For the salt water pool, liquefied chlorine is usually your best friend. It's easy to put, it mixes instantly, and most significantly, it doesn't include calcium to your water. Salt tissue are actually prone to calcium scaling—that whitened, crusty buildup upon the plates—so adding more calcium by means of your shock is simply asking for upkeep headaches down the road.
If you utilize stabilized chlorine pucks (the ones you put in a floater), be cautious. Those contain Cyanuric Acid (CYA). While you need several CYA to shield your chlorine through the sun, as well much of it will actually make your own chlorine less efficient. Since salt pools usually have a "set it and forget it" backing level, adding pucks can throw that will balance out associated with whack pretty rapidly.
When Will be the Best Time to Do This?
Timing is usually everything. If you notice the water looks a little bit "off"—maybe it's dropped its sparkle or even has a slight green tint—don't wait. That's the perfect time intended for adding chlorine to salt water pool water.
Another prime time is right after a "pool party event. " In the event that the bather weight was heavy, dropping in a little bit of liquid chlorine that evening may ensure you don't wake up to a swamp. Also, when you're 1st opening the pool in the spring, your own salt cell most likely won't work well until the water temperature hits regarding 60-65°F. Until the water warms up, you'll have to rely entirely upon manual chlorination to keep things hygienic.
Step-by-Step: How to Add This Properly
You don't want to just wing this. Even though it's a casual process, the little precision goes a long method.
- Test the Water First: A person need to know your starting stage. Make use of a good fall test kit to check your Free Chlorine (FC) levels. In case you're below 1 ppm, you definitely need an increase.
- Estimate the Dose: Figure out how many gallons your pool keeps. Most liquid chlorine is around 10% or 12. 5% strength. You may find lots of on the web calculators that tell you exactly exactly how many ounces to add to achieve your target ppm.
- Clear the Pool: If there's a lot of leaves or debris, scoop them out first. Chlorine works more effectively when it isn't busy trying to dissolve a pile of outdated leaves at the bottom.
- Pour Carefully: Along with the pump working, pour the liquid chlorine slowly in front of a return jet. This can help distribute this quickly throughout the particular pool. Try to avoid splashing this on your liner or the pool deck, as this can bleach surfaces.
- Let it Circulate: Keep the push running for in least half an hour to an hour just before anyone jumps in. This ensures there aren't any "hot spots" of high concentration.
Don't Forget the pH Balance
One factor to monitor whenever adding chlorine to salt water pool water is definitely your pH degree. Salt systems naturally tend to push the pH up over time. Liquid chlorine also provides a high ph level. If your pH gets too high (above 7. 8), the chlorine you just added won't be nearly as effective. It's such as trying to operate a race in serious sand; the chlorine is there, but it can't move fast enough to kill the bacteria. Always keep several muriatic acid on hand to knock the pH back lower to the 7. two to 7. six range.
Sustaining Your Salt Cell While Using Manual Chlorine
Just mainly because you're adding chlorine manually doesn't indicate you should ignore the salt cell. In fact, using manual chlorine can help the particular cell last more time because you will keep the "Output %" lower. Instead associated with cranking your electrical generator to 100% to cope up after a storm—which wears out the precious metal coating on the particular plates—you can simply add five bucks' worth of liquid chlorine and maintain the generator in a comfy 30%.
It's a tag-team hard work. The salt cell handles the daily maintenance, as well as the liquid chlorine handles the particular heavy lifting during "emergencies. "
Common Myths Regarding Adding Chlorine to Salt Pools
I've heard people say that adding manual chlorine can "confuse" the salt sensor or damage the electrodes. That's just not how the chemistry works. The sensor actions salt levels (conductivity), not chlorine amounts. Your salt cell doesn't know—and doesn't care—that there's additional chlorine within the water. It will simply keep doing its thing.
The only "danger" is if you allow the chlorine levels get astronomically higher for a long period, that could theoretically lead to some corrosion of steel parts (like your own heater or ladder), but that's correct for any pool, salt or not.
Keeping Your own Pool Clear Year-Round
At the end of the particular day, adding chlorine to salt water pool water is an ability every owner need to have in their back again pocket. Don't end up being afraid to utilize it. It's much cheaper and easier to add a gallon associated with chlorine today than it is to buy a hundred dollars' worth of algaecide and phosphate removers next week because you let the levels dip too reduced.
Keep the few jugs associated with liquid chlorine inside a cool, dark place (it loses its strength if left in the sun), and use all of them whenever the water looks tired or the guest listing gets long. Your salt cell will be glad, your wallet will be glad, and your water will stay blue and beautiful all summertime long.