Common Saltwater Pool Troubles

Many things can go right with a saltwater system; having all green lights on your system display is golden. But, like any electronic product, things can go wrong at times.

Some of the most common issues are a dirty salt cell, not producing enough chlorine, and, of course, when the cell gets old, it stops functioning or generating chlorine. None of these are deal breakers, and each has an easy solution.

One drawback is the constantly rising pH. It's partly due to the process itself and the chemical reaction and partly due to the turbulence of the salt cell. So, although you save on chlorine, you may spend more on muriatic acid to keep the pH in check.

Some maintenance is required, like cleaning the salt cell, ensuring the salt level is good, and setting the output to the correct setting to chlorinate your pool. Still, for the most part, it is much easier than trying to maintain a steady chlorine reading during the season by manually adding chlorine to the pool.

Knowing some things that can go wrong before you purchase a system is an important aspect that should be part of your buying equation.

I am honest about the true benefit of a saltwater system: it adds chlorine to the pool without you having to do anything. This means no more trips to the pool store for shock or liquid chlorine. It is a great time saver for sure. But for me, that is the only benefit.

With that said, a saltwater system is a preference. And if you can absorb the cost of the system and don't mind the extra overall cost of a salt pool, then it is the way to go. Who wants to add tablets and liquid chlorine or shock every week to their pool? You can set it and forget it with a Saltwater Generator connected to your pool equipment. Of course, some maintenance is required, like cleaning the salt cell, ensuring the salt level is good, and setting the output to the correct setting to chlorinate your pool. Still, for the most part, it is much easier than trying to maintain a steady chlorine reading during the season by manually adding chlorine to the pool.

Upgrading is a personal choice you should make according to your overall pool care budget. Everything depends on how much you will spend, not worrying about adding chlorine to your pool each week. I have a Saltwater Pool, and I am so used to the convenience of it that I wouldn't be able to go back to a manual chlorine pool. Once you convert, you probably will not go back, either.

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[jamesryanharbour]

I service an air bnb in Florida. Had no issues until the owner hooked up the Sentry or plastic autofiller, every week I showed up salt was around 2000. I told her the autofill is broken and constantly running. She said, “oh no it’s just the heater running evaporating the water.” In a whole month j dumped 10 bags of salt in her pool because of the autofill.

Gets better. So she takes the filter out and runs the pool, so now debris and dirt get trapped into the salt cell not allowing it to work. Which then she calls us out for an emergency visit because her pool is green.

I changed the autofill, I cleaned the cell, and the pool water level is where it needs to be and the salt level has remained the same, and chlorinator is producing chlorine.

Long story short, when you have a salt cell and your pool is having problems, the variables of issues multiply compared to a chlorine pool.

[aaronmadrid]

Hi would certification/ license do you need to open a leslie’s wholesale account

[ducksalot]

In one of your interviews with Bob Lowry, he stated that you with a cya reading of 100ppm or 100g per thousand litres you need a free chlorine level of at least 8.5 to 9 ppm. Love your podcasts, just be careful of what your advocating

[therealmrsmall]

The problem with an oversized generator is that it will produce more byproducts that will raise pH faster...At least that is what I found, and Pentair recommended sizing appropriately to help reduce that side effect.

[fiero]

Also on a salt water pool, be sure to coat your pool deck box metal hardware with grease, and buy 2 sets of pool furniture. They will rust out every 2 to 3 seasons. 🤣🤣🤣