How to Convert Your Pool to Salt Water

You can convert your backyard pool to a salt water pool and never have the need to add, or purchase chlorine again. The pool will remain clean, be far less maintenance, and will be better for the environment. The conversion will cost you between $700 and $1,500, mostly for the chlorine generator. If you are able to do some basic wiring, this is also a task you can complete all on your own.

Purchase a chlorine generator and install it in the plumbing system of your pool. It needs to be just before the water inlet port, and after the pump, filter and any heating element you may have. The generator has an inlet and an outlet port and simply inserts into the existing plumbing. The salt level will be so low in your pool that the water is still considered to be fresh water and thus will not harm your pipes, pump, filter, or other pool elements.

You will need salt water test strips which you can purchase at your local pool supply store. You will use these to determine when the salt level in your pool is at the proper level. To start the system you will need to add approximately 50 pounds of salt for every 1,200 gallons of water in your pool. Once the salt is added and the chlorine generator is plugged in, the system will begin working.

The chlorine generator will turn the salt (sodium chloride) into two separate components, sodium and chlorine. The chlorine generated performs the same task as the chlorine you add. Unlike the chlorine you add which must be replaced, the generated chlorine does not. After a short time the chlorine and sodium recombine to once again become salt. This salt then once again passes through the chlorine generator and the process begins again.

You will need to add additional salt only to replace what is removed from the pool when water is splashed out or otherwise removed. Many of the systems are completely self cleaning and maintenance free. The initial purchase cost of the generator will be quickly off-set by the savings in chemical purchases. It will also reduce the amount of time you spend maintaining the pool and increase the amount of time you can spend enjoying the pool.