Does Putting The Chemical Chlorine In A Salt System Pool Cause Damage?
by G
They seem to have done this a number of times over the past 4+ years and when I've questioned they said it's just chlorine which is what the salt system produces. I thought I'd heard that wasn't good. Help, I'm concerned. Is that something we should be worried about? Does it damage the salt system. Thanks for the question I will assume everything in the question is 100% accurate and I have all the details. I absolutely know for a fact that pool service companies are a dime a dozen in the Phoenix/Mesa area. I had my own pool route there for years. If your pool guy has put chlorine in the pool, then says he's doing so because the chlorine generator is not working, ask him why it's not working and what is he going to do to fix it? The short answer is no, low levels of chlorine between 1.5 - 3.5ppm shouldn't damage the system. This is the range that you want your chlorine to be. But the big question is, again, why they're not taking the steps to fix the problem. That's why you have a chlorine generator...to make chlorine for you, using salt. And that's why you have a pool service, to take care of your pool so you don't have to. You want to have fun and swim and not need to worry about whether the chemicals are balanced correctly, right? Hypochlorus acid is still what the system produces to keep your pool sanitized. If the question is correct, which I think it is, there's only 1 of 2 possibilities: 1. He doesn't know what to do and how to fix it 2. He knows what to do and how to fix it, he's just lazy If he takes offense to this, ask him why he hasn't fixed the salt cell. If this has been going on for 4 years, why hasn't he done anything? Ask to see his records for your pool. How much salt does he put in? Or is this your responsibility? Ask him how he checks the salt. Is the salinity in range? Is it accurate? How does he know it's accurate? Is he basing it on pushing a button on the salt cell, or is he taking a manual reading and comparing that to the salt cell? What salinity meter does he use? Is that properly calibrated? How does he calibrate it? If not, why not? I've used an analog Myron Salt Meter from TMI Salt Pure for the last 3 years for the YMCA salt pool (80,000 gallons). I calibrate it once per month with salinity water that I get from TMI. Their salt water is set at 3000ppm. You can see a picture of it here: Salt Water Swimming Pools And check out this page on salt cells: Chlorine Generator Here's another good post from a concerned salt water pool owner: Are These Salt Water Pool Balance Readings Right? The only time the chlorine generator needs to be turned for chlorine is when you need to shock the pool. You'll only want this done when the chloramine readings get above 0.6ppm for 3 consecutive days. By the way, are you being charged for chemicals? I know there are several pool services that charge a flat monthly rate, chemicals included. Sorry, but you got my hackles up a bit. Pool owners entrust and pay others to maintain their $30,000 investment. When shotty work is done it gives real pool guys, like me who busted their butts everyday in the sweltering heat of Arizona to give their customers the very best, a bad name. Show him this post. Show him your question and my answers. Ask him the questions above. Hold his feet to the fire. My customers did to me and that made me an excellent pool guy. If you'd like to comment or ask another question, you can see your post on the salt water pool page (link is above) and the pool Q&A page in the "Salt Water Pool" category. Swimming Pool Questions and Answers Hope this helps and have a great Summer. Robert |
