Overview of Salt Chlorine Generators
Saltwater pools are all the rage these days. There are a number of reasons for their rise in popularity but reliability and concern for the swimmer’s health are the main drivers. This article will shed some light on how salt generators work and the equipment you need to run them. Below, we aim to highlight and educate you on the essential points to keep in mind when considering a new salt chlorine generator.
What is a Salt Chlorinator System?
Salt chlorinator systems, commonly referred to more simply as “salt water pools”, use a generator to electronically convert salt into chlorine. The difference comes in the amount of chlorine produced, which is much lower in salt chlorine generators than in standard chlorine pools. Not only does this effectively clean and maintain your pool, but the lesser presence of chlorine provides significant advantages to your skin, health, and swimwear.
Benefits of a Salt Water Pool
- Saltwater pools are not as harsh on your skin or more noticeably, your bathing suits!
- Owners of salt systems also report that there is little to no chlorine smell in or around the pool.
- Salt system are great at spreading chlorine in your pool at a consistent rate. This creates less of a ‘shock’ to the pool and is less damaging to the pool’s surface.
- Control panels make it easy to control the amount of chlorine in your pool. Although regular checks of your pool water’s chemistry is still necessary!
- Less maintenance – with the consistent chlorine levels, algae and bacteria will have less of an opportunity to grow and attack your pools’ surfaces.
- Salt Chlorine generators relieve you of the burden of lugging around heavy jugs of chlorine. That being said, your generator still requires salt to function properly!
How Do They Work?
It is a common misunderstanding that saltwater pools do not contain or require chlorine to keep algae and bacteria free. Saltwater pools are just like other pools in that they require chlorine to disinfect the water. The difference is that the chlorine in saltwater pools comes from the salt molecules themselves. Only the method of adding chlorine distinguishes saltwater pools from other pools. Additionally, the instrument by which these pools generate their chlorine is through a salt chlorine generator or salt chlorinator. These systems breaks down sodium chloride (NaCl) to generate chlorine (Cl). These systems get their power from salt cells which work on the principle of electrolysis. Electrolysis is the passing of an electrical current through some material to produce a chemical reaction. This water splits the salt into its two elements, sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl).
Tip: the most important attribute of any salt chlorinator or salt system is its chlorine output. This is measured in ‘pounds per day of sanitizer’ produced. This chlorine output is driven and by the amount of power driving your new salt chlorine generator!
How Long Does a Salt Generator Take To Make Chlorine?
Salt chlorinators only operate when water is flowing, which means run times will vary depending how long you operate your pump. Pool pumps typically run for 8 hours per day, but this can increase in the summer months, or decrease in the winter. Most salt generators also have an output setting which allows you to control the rate in which it produces chlorine. For example, If the output system is set to 50%, and the salt chlorine generator runs for 8 hours, chlorine will generally be produced for 4 hours of that time.
Chlorinator Maintenance
Usually, people think that a salt pool does not need pool cleaning or regular pool maintenance, but that is not the case! You do need to monitor and maintain the pool chemical levels regularly. Also, you need to hire someone that can inspect your salt generator. These systems can get excessive calcium buildup that can impact the functionality of your generator. If you are a Miami resident and are looking for pool maintenance Miami or Miami pool services, contact Alligator Pool Services.
Salt Chlorine Generator Parts
Salt systems consist of two parts: the cell and the control board. The cell is where the salt particles are split, producing chlorine. Within the cell, there lies a blade with ruthenium or iridium to allow the water to flow through the cell. The control board controls the cell and charges it. This is the ‘brains’ of the salt system. It monitors and helps maintain the chlorine level within the pool, keeping your pool safe and healthy. Additionally, a new popular feature of salt systems is the option to have your system connect to a pool automation system which can connect to a remote control or your mobile device.
