Frequently Asked Questions - Salt Water Pools
What is a Salt Chlorinator for salt water pools?
A salt chlorinator is a device that turns salt into chlorine. It consists of a cell (where the chlorine is produced) and a power pack to supply power to the cell.
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How Does It Work?
Mildly salted water passes through the electronic cell and chlorine is produced. The chlorine is released into the the pool to kill bacteria and algae and then turns back to salt to be used over again.
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What are the Benefits of a Salt Chlorinator?
- A salt chlorinator eliminates the hassle of handling and storing chlorine.
- Peace of Mind - Set the desired level and chlorine and chlorine will be continuously produced, killing bacteria before it becomes a problem.
- Easier Maintenance - Fewer fluctuations in chlorine levels means fewer fluctuations in pH levels. This results in more stable, balanced water.
- Salt Feels Better - The human body contains salt. The salt water in your pool is similar to the level in your body. It therefore feels better and is less irritating to the body than standard chlorinated water.
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Is there a difference between "Normal Chlorine" and the chlorine produced by a salt chlorinator?
A salt chlorinator make chlorine the same way a chlorine factory does. However, traditional chlorine loses its potency by the time it reaches your pool. Liquid chlorine is approximately 12.5" pure whereas the chlorine produced by a salt cell is 100% pure.
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Is this New Technology?
No. This technology was developed in Australia over 30 years ago and is now used worldwide. Approximately 90% of Koho's new pools are equipped with salt chlorinators.
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How long will the Salt Cell last?
In seasonal climates, the salt cell will need to be replaced every 5 years or so.
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How much salt will be in the pool?
4000 ppm which is barely detectable. In comparison, a teardrop is about 7,200 ppm and ocean water is about 36,000 ppm.
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How much salt will I need?
4 kg of salt per 1000 liters is required. Accordingly 280 kg of salt is required for a 70000 liter pool. Less may be required as there may already be some salt in your water.
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What type of salt do I use?
High purity salt is required. It is important that the salt does not contain any additives. Any common salt such as table salt may contain additives that have staining properties. Consult Koho's customer representatives - they will make sure you use the correct salt.
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Is the water temperature in my pool important?
Water temperature is extremely important. To prevent damage to the salt cell the power to the salt cell should not be turned on until the temperature in your pool reaches 65F/19C. Water temperature over 88F/31C forces the cell to work harder than necessary and may also have a damaging effect on your liner.
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Will I need to add salt later?
Salt is lost only through slash-out and backwashing. It is not lost through the chlorination process or evaporation. You will have to add only a small amount (probably 1 or 2 bags) every year.
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What if the salt levels are too high or too low?
The salt system will continue to operate, however if the salt dips below 2500 ppm it can be damaging to the salt cell reducing its life.
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How do I determine the level of salt in my pool?
The salt chlorinator will tell you when the salt level is too low. For precise levels you can use salt test strips available at the Koho showroom.
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Is there any maintenance involved?
The salt cell actually cleans itself. Every 6 hours, the electric plates reverse their polarity to ensure there is no calcium build up.
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