Why use Chlorine?

Even if Salt Water Pools use Chlorine. They use an electronic process to create Chlorine from Salt Sodium Chloride It is extremely important to maintain a consistent level of chlorine in the pool.  If the chlorine level is allowed to drop to zero, the pool will develop algae the water will turn cloudy and swimmers will be at risk of infection from bacteria and virus.  The purpose of the chlorine is to burn up (oxidize) the algae and kill germs and bacteria.

Important Terms to Remember:

Chlorine Residual - the level of chlorine in the pool water, ready to fight germs and kill algae.  This can be measured using a good chlorine test kit or test strips.

Chlorine Demand - the amount of chlorine that is needed to burn up all the contaminants in the water.  A heavily used pool will have a high chlorine demand and will use a lot of chlorine.  A lightly used pool will have a low chlorine demand.   Properly estimating chlorine demand is very important because if you do not, your pool will either run way to high or way too low on chlorine.

Factors that increase                                                                Factors that reduce

chlorine demand                                                                               chlorine demand

Heavy usage                                                                                                        Low usage

Sunny weather                                                                               Lack of sunlight

Hot water                                                                                               Cold water

Low stabilizer level                                                                                   High stabilizer level

Your Innovative Salt Water Chlorinator

Salt Pool water chemistry is slightly different from normal pool chemistry.  For more information on how a salt system works read the salt systems section.  For information on how to work with a salt system read more below.

Properly controlling your salt-water chlorinator.

There are three things that are important when using salt-water chlorination:

1.  Keep the proper level of salt and stabilizer in the pool.

Your Innovative salt-water chlorinator requires 3000 - 3500 parts per million salt.  This can barely be tasted in the water, but provides enough salt for the salt cell to produce the chlorine needed to maintain the pool.

If the salt level drops too low, the system will not be able to produce chlorine.  Your Innovative Salt Chlorinator will show low salt levels in the pool by turning on the Low Salt LED.  The answer to low salt levels is to add low calcium salt pellets to the skimmer and let it dissolve into the water.

It is also important to have a good stabilizer level (30 - 50 ppm) in the pool or the sunlight will burn up the chlorine and the chlorinator system will not be able to keep up with the demand.

2.  Adjust the output run time percentage on the LED indicator on the Innovative Chlorinator.

The salt system has Increase and Decrease buttons that control the percentage of run time and therefore the amount of chlorine that is generated.  This can be adjusted using the Increase and Decrease buttons to keep the production of chlorine in line with the demand.

3.  Keep a close eye on the stabilizer and salt levels in the pool.

These levels must be carefully maintained.  If the salt level is too low, then the unit will not produce chlorine. If the stabilizer level is too low, the chlorine will not stay in the water long and the unit will not be able to keep up with demand.

4.  Make sure the pool is running long enough to produce adequate chlorine.

The timers on the pool should be set to run during the hottest daylight hours, preferably from at least 8 am to 12 pm and again from 6 pm to 10 pm during the summer. The system will only produce chlorine while the pump is running so it is important to run the pool long enough. The Innovative Chlorinator Product line produce 33 grams of pure chlorine per hour. This is up to 40% more Chlorine output than most other chlorinator brands on the market. A 2-speed pump will allow you to filter for long periods during the day while saving up to 70% of your electrical costs. All Innovative Pool Products control panels can be used to control 2 speed pumps and in many instances will qualify for a REBATE from the utility company.

Shocking a Pool (Superchlorination)

If the chlorine reading gets too low your water will not have the sparkle and clarity you would like, it is important to superchlorinate the pool in order to quickly raise up the chlorine level to avoid unsanitary water.  The salt system should be sized to provide sufficient chlorine output, but in the event of very heavy chlorine demand (swim party, heavy rains, etc.) it might be necessary to supplement the chlorine feed with a manual shock. Turn the chlorinator output level to 100% and increase your filtering time to super chlorinate your pool. REMEMBER to reset you output level to it is normal level and return your filtering time to itís normal setting after your water clarity and chlorine level improves.

Simply adding more salt to the system WILL NOT be enough to solve the problem if you have a low chlorine level.

Benefits of Salt Water Pools

Salt-water pools used to be the exception, but now they are becoming a widely accepted method of water treatment in swimming pools. A many builders are now making salt water systems standard on their new pools.

What is the cost benefit of a salt-water pool?

Most people buy the Innovative Salt Water Chlorinator it for the increased swimmer comfort. The mild saline solution in very gentile on your eyes and skin. It also will save quite a bit of money on pool chemicals with a return on your investment in 2-3 years.

If you are going to spend $25,000 and up to build a beautiful pool, doesn't it make sense to invest in the water quality and comfort.  After all, shouldn't the best thing about the pool be the water?  In the end, (if you bought our Innovative Salt System) you made an excellent investment on your swimming pool experience.  A little money spent on your salt water system will allow you to enjoy your swimming experience so much more.

Is there a down side to a salt-water pool?

The only real problem we have seen is the fact that it does change the way you do your water chemistry and people are sometimes slow to adapt.  It is very important to follow directions carefully with regard to water chemistry.  Some pool owners have experienced problems trying to keep the pH down, but in our experience it is simply a matter of keeping up with the water chemistry and not letting the pH get too high before trying to adjust it.  Overall, the water chemistry does get easier, but there is a small learning curve.

Salt Water Pools - What's Different?

What's the difference between a saltwater pool and a pool maintained with packaged chlorine?

Salt-water pools used to be the exception, but now they are becoming the preferred method of water treatment in swimming pools. Many builders are now making salt water systems standard on their new pools.  Most equipment manufacturers have also become aware of the fact that salt-water pools are not a passing fad.  They offer significant benefits, comfort and cost savings.

Lower Chlorine Levels

Saltwater Pools - 0.5 to 1.0 ppm chlorine

Traditional Pools - 3.0 - 10.0 ppm chlorine

No "Chemical Bath" Feel

NO packaged chlorine needed.

NO algaecides needed

NO soda ash or baking soda

Swimmer Comfort

By eliminating the need for the harsh chemicals, you eliminate the source of the irritation that plagues swimmers in most pools. No more red eyes and bleached swimsuits.

Controlled Stabilizer Levels

If you are using chlorine tablets, you are adding 1 lb. of stabilizer for every 2 lbs. of tablets you put into your pool.   Your stabilizer level rises to over 100 ppm and your chlorine becomes ineffective and yellow algae and poor sanitization results.

With a salt system, you add stabilizer as needed and are able to keep the level low.  Your chlorine remains VERY effective and you need much less in the water to do the job (see above).

Superior Algae Control

Saltwater pool systems virtually eliminate algae problems.  This is because high stabilizer levels do not inhibit the chlorine in the pool.

How Does a Salt Water Pool System Work?

Salt systems have three main components.

Salt

The first component is plain old salt. We suggest that you purchase a low calcium salt from your local pool supply store.  You have to have a minimum level of about 3000 parts per million of salt in the pool water.  Salt makes the water conductive so that the electricity can pass between the plates in the cell.  If the salt level goes too low, then the chlorine production simply stops (YOUR LOW SALT LED WILL LIGHT).  Salt is also the raw material from which the chlorine is produced.

Controller

The control unit sends power to the salt cell.  The unit controls how much chlorine is produced by regulating how long the power is applied to the cell.  If you turn the output down to 20%, then the unit will apply power to the cell only 20% of the time, thereby producing less chlorine.  If you turn the output up, then the unit would apply power to the cell for a longer period of time.  The amount of power applied to the cell does not increase or decrease.

The control unit will sense the level of salt in the pool and indicate the need to add more salt. The Low Salt LED will turn on or Flash.

The Innovative Salt Chlorinator is Self-cleaning, this feature reverses the polarity of the voltage through the cell in order to clean any scale buildup off of the cell plates. The Cell housing is clear and a visual check of the cell will show any calcium build up that has not been eliminated by the self-cleaning feature. Occasional cleaning of the cell in a 20% acid and water solution will clean any additional calcium build up off of the cell plates.

Salt Cell

The salt cell is a series of titanium plates with a proprietary coating. An opposite electrical charge is applied by the controller to each plate of the cell.  As the water passes between the plates, electrolysis takes place, releasing the chlorine in the salt.

Choosing a Salt Water Pool System

Once you have decided to convert your pool over to salt water, you have to find the system that is best suited for your pool.

There are several issues to consider:

1.  Find a brand that you are comfortable with.

Look at the control box.  Are the controls easy to read?  Is the controller simple to understand and adjust? Is it weatherproof?

Do the controls give you enough information to be able to easily diagnose any problems?

2.  Find a unit that will produce enough chlorine.

Make sure that it will be able to handle your pool's chlorine needs even during times of highest usage. Most manufacturers do not tell you how much chlorine their systems generate per hour, some systems that claim to be sized for pools up to 40,000 gallons only make 23 grams of chlorine per hour. Our system which is also sized for a 40,000 gallon pool makes 33 grams of chlorine per hour. See Electrical cost chart below.

3.  Make sure your pool equipment is compatible with a salt system.

Most pool equipment is compatible with salt, but there are a few pieces that are not.  If in doubt, check with the manufacturer of the equipment to see if your pump, filter and heater are compatible.  Some warranties may be voided by the installation of a salt system.  In particular some heaters and newer stainless steel filters are not designed for use with a salt system.  The older stainless steel filters like Swimquip DES series filters handle salt just fine, but the newer Pentair NS stainless steel filters can develop corrosion issues quickly and the manufacturer will not warranty it.

NOTE:  Technically water is not officially considered to be "salt water" until you reach a threshold of 6000 ppm salt.  Up to that point it is considered to be "fresh water", but the salt in the water even at 3000 ppm can accelerate corrosion in some situations.

Troubleshooting Salt Water Pools

Saltwater pool owners are generally a very happy bunch, but occasionally things go wrong.  When this happens, it usually boils down to a few basic issues either with the salt system or with the maintenance procedures.

"System does not seem to be producing enough chlorine"

1.  Check the salt level in the pool.

Check your salt level with a saltwater test kit (even if the system does not indicate low salt).

NOTE:  If the system indicates a low salt level, be sure to test it with a salt test kit before adding salt.  If a salt cell is failing or is scaled it may give a false low salt indicator.

2.  Check the stabilizer level in the pool.

The purpose of stabilizer in the water is to help keep the chlorine from being so quickly dissipated by UV rays.  If there is not enough stabilizer in the water, then the pool will use chlorine at a rapid pace and the salt system will not be able to keep up.  Salt water pools should have 60-80 ppm stabilizer (cyanuric acid).

    3.  Check the settings on the control box

Make sure the system settings are correct.  Your Innovative Salt System can be set to run anywhere from 0 to 100% of the time.  If the pool is not using a lot of chlorine (such as in the off season), the system setting should be lower.  If the pool is using more chlorine, the system setting should be higher.

NOTE:  Do not set the control box any higher than necessary.  Salt cells have a limited lifespan and if you constantly run the system at 100% you will end up with premature cell failure.

3.  Check the timer settings on the pool.

The system will only produce chlorine while the pump is running.  If you have the system set at 100% and it is still not producing enough chlorine, then it might be necessary for you to run the pump longer.

"I added salt, but the low salt indicator is still on"

Check the salt level in the pool using a salt test kit (as described above).

If the salt reading is OK according to the salt test kit, then inspect the cell.  If there is scale on the plates of the cell, then soak the cell in a 20% acid solution.

"The pH level seems to be going up out of control"

Check the salt level in the pool using a salt test kit (as described above).

If the salt reading is OK according to the salt test kit, then inspect the cell.  If there is scale on the plates of the cell, then soak the cell in an acid solution according to manufacturer's instructions.

Salt Water Pool System FAQ's

Is this like swimming in the ocean?

No, the ocean has about 20,000 parts per million (ppm) of salt in the water, while a saltwater pool has only about 3000 parts per million salt.  At 3000 ppm, you generally cannot even taste the salt.  Any water under 6000 ppm is still considered fresh water. Your eye contains about 9000 ppm salt.

Is the pool water still blue?

Yes, since the salt water system creates chlorine, the water is still blue and also very clear.  A salt system gives your pool the best water quality you have ever seen.

Can I install it with my existing pool equipment?

Yes, since the water is still considered fresh water, it is compatible with all standard pool equipment (pumps, filters, heaters, poolsweeps, etc.)  If you have a stainless steel filter, check with the manufacturer.  To our knowledge, the newer Pentair Nautilus Stainless Steel filters are the only ones not compatible with salt systems.

Does this soften the pool water?

Yes, and this is another benefit of the salt system.  Many pool owners appreciate the soft feel of the water.

Where does the salt go?

We add granulated salt (looks a lot like table salt, but without any additives) to the pool according to manufacturers instructions.  Most manufacturers recommend pouring it into the deep end of the pool, but read your directions carefully.  The salt quickly dissolves in the pool water.

Will I save money?

The fact that you do not have to use packaged pool chlorine will save a significant amount of money in the long run.  The REAL REASON to go with a saltwater pool system is because of the fantastic water quality.  The money savings is just icing on the cake.

Sizing a Salt Water Pool System

What size salt-water pool system should I purchase?

Each system will produce a certain amount of chlorine per hour.  If your system is not producing enough, it may require you to run the pool system longer hours in order to keep up with the chlorine demand of the pool.  This can add significantly to the cost of pool operation.  If in doubt buy a larger system than you feel you need.

What is Ozone?

Ozone- Ozone is a very powerful oxidizer that is often used in pool sanitation however Ozone generators alone leave no residual oxidizer in the pool water. Ozone dissipates within a few minutes of reaching the pool water. Ozone used in conjunction with your Innovative Salt Chlorinator will allow you to reduce the run time percentage of your chlorinator by oxidizing the organic nasties in the water passing through the filtration system. All of the chlorine produced by the chlorinator ends up in the pool as Chlorine Residual.

Chlorine - Introduction

Chlorine is one of the most important chemicals as far as swimming pools are concerned.

What is the Purpose of Chlorine?

As an oxidizer, chlorine literally burns up organic material in the water.  This is important because by burning up that material, it greatly reduces the load on the filter. 

As a sanitizer chlorine kills germs in fairly short order, usually milliseconds.  This is important because if the germs are not quickly, then swimmers can become infected.

How Much Chlorine is Necessary?

It is important to maintain a chlorine residual in the pool water at all times.  A chlorine residual is the chlorine that is in the water waiting to oxidize or sanitize the bad stuff.   Generally speaking, you need to keep between 2.0 and 4.0 parts per million of chlorine in the water. This requires that chlorine be added to the pool on a regular basis in order to maintain the proper chlorine level.

How do I Maintain Proper Chlorine Levels?

To maintain proper chlorine levels, there are three steps:

1.  Test Regularly - this can be done using a simple test kit or test strips.  We recommend testing the water chemistry at least once per week and more often during times of heavier usage.  Follow the instructions that come with the kit.

2. Adequate Filtration- Your pool needs to filter enough every day to filter all of the water in the pool one time per day in the winter or off season and twice per day during the warm summer swim season.

3.  Superchlorinate as needed - there are several instances in which it is important to superchlorinate (shock) a swimming pool.

If the chlorine reading gets too low then it is important to superchlorinate the pool in order to quickly raise up the chlorine level.

If algae develops, it is a good idea to temporarily raise the chlorine level to 10 ppm and brush the entire pool down to expose the algae. If alge continues to be a problem have your pool water checked for Orthophosphates. Orthophosphates are basically a fertilizer for algae that will cause an ialgae bloomi in your pool even if chlorine levels are high. Your local pool store will have additives that will remove the Orthophosphates from your pool water and return your pool to a sparkling water pool.

        After a heavy rain, if a lot of rainwater and other contaminants have washed into the pool, it is a good idea to shock the pool.

1 There are other sanitizers on the market, but we have found chlorine to be the most cost effective strategy available for the homeowner today.  Bromine is often used on spas, but it still contains about 30% chlorine in the tablet and there are issues of corrosion on outdoor pools caused by the hydantoin (ammonia) base in the bromine tablets.  Biguanides are also another option, but most of the time we hear about people who got tired of spending the bucks on biguanides and were looking to get back to chlorine (making the conversion back to chlorine is not easy

Chlorine Testing

There are two ways to test for chlorine in a pool or spa. You can use either a test kit or test strips.  Typically, test kits provide more dependable readings.  Test strips can give a quick overall test, but are not as precise and can be sometimes confusing to use.

As always, read the testing instructions that are provided with the test kit and follow them very carefully.