Thinking of a Pool Salt System?
Millions of Americans have installed salt chlorine generators on their pools, ending the purchase, storage and handling of chlorine products. Chlorine generators, also known as pool salt systems, are the simplest way to sanitize your inground and above ground pool. They also work great on spas!
Pool salt systems are compact electrolytic cells that are either plumbed in-line, or hang on an aboveground pool wall. When you plug the salt generator into an outlet, the metallic plates become charged, converting the salt in your water to instant chlorine. It generates chlorine – and it’s like having your own personal chlorine factory!
When salt systems first became popular they were initially available only for the inground pool market. Today, they are made for a variety of applications, from a very small body of water to very large pools. Manufacturers recognized the need for a less expensive pool salt system for smaller aboveground pools. We have three different brands of aboveground pool salt systems at In The Swim. And the prices have never been lower, salt chlorine generators just keep getting cheaper, every year!
With a pool salt system, say goodbye to chlorine smell, dry skin, burning eyes, bleaching or any other side effects that you usually get from using or handling chlorine. The salt chlorinator gives the water a softer feel and is a constant way to chemically treat the water. All you do is add Pool Salt to the water; once – with annual boosts to replace salt lost to backwash and splash out.
The amount of salt needed for a 3000 ppm salt level is 100 lbs of pool salt per 5000 gallons of pool water. Just pour it in the water! You won’t taste or see the salt, but you will feel the silky soft quality it gives to the pool water. You can buy pool salt at any Home center or water treatment store.
With regular chlorine, peaks and valleys occur in your chlorine level, and it’s during the valleys that water issues can develop. When the tablets are fresh, the chlorine is too high, and as they erode away, the chlorine level will drop to low or non-existent if you forget to add more.
Because the salt system keeps a constant and consistent level of chlorine, people with salt water chlorinators tend to have fewer, if any pool water issues during the swimming season – and some salt systems even have a super-chlorinate function.
One of the other benefits of a chlorine generator is never having to buy chlorine anymore and also never having to store chlorine. I am a bit nervous about storing chlorine around my home. Children could be overcome by fumes if they open the bucket, or if it becomes contaminated, it can catch fire, or create deadly fumes.
For inground pools, salt systems range from 20,000 gallons to 50,000 gallons, and multiple units can be used for even larger bodies of water. Aboveground pools of less than 20,000 gallons can use any one of our aboveground pool salt systems. There is also a Salt System for Intex pools, shown right.
Most aboveground salt systems are a two piece set-up, with a cell and a control panel. The cell can be an inline unit, or it can hang on the wall, or connect to the wall return fitting. The control panel is a stand alone box with a cord that plugs into a standard 110V outlet. Inline units can also be powered by connecting the power cord into the pump timeclock or power switch.
It is true that down the road you will need to replace the salt cell; it is a wearable part of the system. Over the life of the salt cell however, most will realize a considerable cost savings, even figuring in the cost of the replacement cell and the pool salt.
When all is said and done a salt water generator is by far one of the best items that you can add to your inground or aboveground pool or spa. I just built an inground pool this week in my backyard, and YES, I installed a salt chlorine generator on my own pool. Trust me on this one – a year after you’ve switched to a salt water generator, you will say it’s the best thing you’ve ever done for your pool.
Thank you for the information. We purchased the INTEX 14 inch sand filter with chlorinator. Two things as we are consistently getting the 91 error code saying that we have low salt. Although we are between 4000 & 5000ppm with a 22’ above ground Coleman pool. We also have been having issues with chlorine being low, and having to add chlorine on a regular basis. What are we doing wrong? As we thought the chlorinator would consistently provide the chlorine, and we wouldn’t need to add chlorine often. Also, what does the self clean setting do?
Hi Heather, the self-clean is cleaning the salt cell, to remove calcium deposits. You may want to inspect the cell, to be sure it is clean, without any visible white deposits on the metal plates. The low salt error could be the salt sensor covered with calcium deposits, and being unable to read salinity level correctly. If you are testing salt level with test strips, you may want to take a sample to a pool store, as the strip may be inaccurate, and not very precise, if you have a 1000 ppm range (b/t “4000 & 5000 ppm”)
Hi,
I enjoyed your article on Salt Systems for above ground pools. I have a 16’x10’x42″ Bestway pool (2800 gallons) and was planning on upgrading my filter system. A friend told me to forgo the Chlorine and go for a Salt System, so your article was very helpful.
For small pools (Intex/Bestways) I think you should just use 3″ tablets in a chlorine floater, which is much more economical, Salt Systems (which produce chlorine, btw), are a bit too much gadgetry for such small pools. I have not heard good things about Solar Chlor units. Keep it simple, and you will save money, and worry.
Hi there we are first time pool owners having just set up a 18x9ft above ground best way pool. We Are using a sand filter and want it to be a salt water pool. What do we need to buy besides salt, salt shock and salt test strips? Do we need any other equipment to make our pool a salt water pool?
You do need a saltwater generator, aka salt chlorinator. Salt by itself won’t do anything, you need an electrolysis machine to convert the salty water to chlorine. Intex makes a nice unit, however we are currently out of stock, at the moment.
Is there a saltwater system available for a small Intex above ground metal frame rectangular pool, dimensions are 9.8′ by 6.5′.
Hi Danielle, there is an Intex salt system that will fit your pool. We are currently out of stock, but are hoping for more in a few weeks. https://www.intheswim.com/p/intex-deluxe-salt-system
I have a 16ft x 4ft circular pool. What size pump would you recommend to go with a 16″ sand filter? One that would have enough suction to remove dirt/sediment from the bottom of the pool with a vacuum attachment.
Hi Martin, one that is not too big. Smaller is best. The Raypak Protege 3/4 Hp would be good: https://www.intheswim.com/p/raypak-protege-agp-pumps Or the Hayward SP1540 pump (which we don’t carry)
We are trying to control cost, avoid chlorine, and not have to fight green cloudy pool all summer. We just got a new 16×48 above ground steel Best Way pool. I want to use a salt system, if possible have a skimmer in the system, and am not sure if sand of filter type pump is the most maintenance free, low cost way to go. I am also concerned about needing adaptors because hoses tend to be different sizes, and would like shut off valves and a timer because with our previous smaller pools we didnt have that and it was a mess. All I know for sure is that everyone agrees that the pumps that come with these pools are too small and weak, and that’s why we have had so many problems in the past. Please advise?
Salt systems are still chlorine systems, and overly complicates things, and will not help you control costs. The best thing for your pool is a $15 floater, which you keep 2 tablets inside of. Shock the pool weekly with non-chlorine shock, and add a dose of Clarifier and Algaecide, a few days later, also weekly or per label. I would suggest a 16″ Intex sand filter system, with slice valve type shut-off valves, and a timer that plugs into an outlet (then you plug the pump into the timer).
What size sand filter will work for 16Ft X 4ft (round) above ground pool
Hi Martin, I like the 16″ sand filter, but a 14″ would also work for your size. The bigger the better!
is it ok to use a salt system with an intex prism 15 ft x 42 in pool?
was thinking of using it with a sand filter instead of the provided filter
Hi, yes you can use a salt system in an Intex pool, no problem. The sand filter would be a nice upgrade to the cartridge filter. The sand should be changed every 1-2 seasons for such a small filter tank.
What is the best way to add the salt when setting up the pool? I have a 10k gallon above ground 22’x52″ pool that I just finished filling up and connecting the sand filter pump & salt water system. Do I pour directly into the water or try dissolving it in a separate container and then pouring that into the pool?
Hello, just pour it around the deep end of the pool, with the pump running. Then use a pool brush to push the undissolved salt toward the main drain, and around the deep end, until dissolved completely. Add just 1-2 bags of salt at a time. Be sure to use salt labeled Pool Salt, as other salts have impurities that can stain the pool and/or damage the salt cell.