Everything You Need to Know About Saltwater Pool Maintenance

While not as intensive as looking after a standard swimming pool, saltwater swimming pools still require some TLC. One of the reasons why people choose saltwater pools is that they believe them to be a zero-maintenance solution, but that’s not strictly true. Luckily, while you still need to maintain a saltwater pool, the process is easy – here’s our guide on saltwater pool maintenance to help you enjoy it for longer.

The benefits of a saltwater pool

While not without their maintenance tasks, saltwater pools do offer several benefits over a standard swimming pool. The water in a saltwater pool feels far softer than a chlorine pool, and while this type of pool generates its own chlorine, the water tends to be gentler on the skin. There are also no chloramines that traditional pools produce, as these are burnt off during the production process.

There’s no need to store chemicals with this type of swimming pool. When the settings are adjusted properly, the pool will produce the right amount of chlorine, so owners don’t need to add it manually.

Saltwater pool maintenance basics

There are tasks you need to carry out on a daily, weekly and monthly basis to keep your saltwater pool functioning at its best.

Daily

It’s a good idea to make a habit of cleaning the pool and the filters regularly, so if you see any visible debris, skim them off the water and be diligent about emptying the pump basket. This will make your weekly and monthly tasks easier and quicker to deal with and keeps the pool working optimally.

Weekly

On a weekly basis, you should test the pH and free chlorine of your pool. There are test kits and strips you can buy to help you do this. A normal free chlorine level is between 1 and 3ppm, and the pH should be between 7.2 and 7.4. If the levels are off, you can adjust the generator.

Monthly

Each month, you need to check the salinity, alkalinity, stabiliser and calcium levels of your pool. Salinity levels should be between 2700 and 4500ppm, but this can vary between pool models. For alkalinity, you should be looking for a level that falls between 100 and 150ppm. Stabiliser is what stops the chlorine from evaporating out of the pool, and most saltwater pools use cyanuric acid which bonds with the chlorine and keeps it in the water. You should aim for your pool levels to be between 70 and 80ppm. And finally, calcium should be between 200 and 400ppm to prevent corrosion and scaling.

The need for regular maintenance

If you don’t maintain your pool regularly, over time it will return to its natural state, and you’ll just be left with an algae-covered pond. There are four pillars of saltwater pool care – sanitation, circulation, water balance and practical maintenance.

• Sanitation kills any microorganisms in the water and keeps the chlorination system operating properly
• Circulation removes sediment and debris
• Water balance minimises chemical intervention and protects the surfaces of the pool and the people using it
• Practical maintenance takes care of the finer details to keep every inch of the pool as clean as possible.

These are a few considerations to bear in mind when caring for your pool.

Check the pool circulation regularly

You’ll want to check there’s proper circulation in the pool, as without this, saltwater concentration levels will manifest throughout the water. You can use a saltwater concentration detector in various areas of your swimming pool to make sure these are consistent. If the numbers differ, change the angles of the jets to keep the circulation flowing well.

Maintain your maintenance tools and equipment

Salt levels can build up on tools and equipment, leading to residue and even damage over time, so don’t neglect equipment maintenance. Make sure that you wash down the saltwater from tools and that it doesn’t splash outside of the pool liner to prevent damage over time. Also ensure you check the filter, pump and skimmer to keep them clean.

Wash down decking to remove salt

In addition to washing down tools and equipment after you’ve used them, you should also wash down the surrounding decking to remove the saltwater. Salt is corrosive in high levels and it can damage your decking if it’s left to build up.

Use the right type of salt

Contrary to popular belief, there are different varieties for salt for swimming pools and choosing the right type is essential for keeping your pool working properly and how long your salt generator will last. There are three varieties of salt: solar salt, mechanically evaporated salt and mined salt. A salt with the highest purity will be best for avoiding damage and problems developing, and we recommend a mined salt for pools with a salt chlorine generator. Make sure you use salt that’s at least 95% pure to minimise staining to the pool and to extend the lifespan of your salt cell.

Check your salt cells

Finally, once or twice a year, check your salt cells. Even if your chlorine generator is marked a self-cleaning model, it’s still worth checking the saltwater cells to remove any calcium build-up that may have developed on the cells. To do this, turn off the pool pump and remove the cell from the unit. Rinse the plates with a hose and put the salt cell in a tall container, cover with salt cell cleaner and leave to soak for 15 minutes. Once they’ve soaked for the recommended amount of time, remove the cleaner and rinse the salt cell again before putting the cell back in place.

Winterise your pool

While temperatures don’t dip too low in the UK, you still need to winterise your pool and equipment to prevent any issues from forming. This is simple to do if you have a removable unit, but if not, check your owner’s manual for instructions on how you can winterise your salt chlorinator to avoid damage.

Saltwater pools offer many benefits, and they can be a wonderful addition to your garden. While they aren’t a maintenance-free option, the level of maintenance required is lower than a standard pool and they can be a bit more affordable too.

If you’d like more information about installing a saltwater pool, or you have further questions about maintenance for an existing pool, why not get in touch with our team today?