It’s simple to keep your salt water pool in great condition
Test your pool water to determine your current salt levels.
Use a pool salt calculator or a pool salt chart to figure out how to fix your water.
After you add salt or dilute your water, wait 24 hours and retest.
Keeping your salt levels within the ideal range is necessary for safe swimming.
There’s nothing quite like taking a dip in a salt water pool on a hot day. These pools are popular for being lower maintenance than traditional chlorine pools, but one thing you still need to keep an eye on is the level of salt in the water. Learn everything you need to know about maintaining the correct salt levels, including how much salt to add to your pool for safe swimming.
The salt level in your pool should usually fall between 2,700 and 3,400 ppm (parts per million). The absolute sweet spot is 3,200 ppm, but you're good to go as long as it falls within the listed range.
Note that the ideal salt levels can differ according to your salt chlorine generator, which you’ll find in a salt water pool but not a chlorine pool. Some generators can handle salt levels that fall outside of the target range. For example, certain brands work fine if the salt levels are between 1,500 to 4,500 ppm. Check your generator’s manual for this information.
| Current salt level | 8,000-Gallon pool | 12,000-Gallon pool |
|---|---|---|
| 0 ppm | Add 213 pounds | Add 320 pounds |
| 1,000 ppm | Add 147 pounds | Add 220 pounds |
| 2,000 ppm | Add 80 pounds | Add 120 pounds |
| 3,000 ppm | Add 13 pounds | Add 20 pounds |
| Current salt level | 16,000-Gallon pool | 20,000-Gallon pool |
|---|---|---|
| 0 ppm | Add 427 pounds | Add 533 pounds |
| 1,000 ppm | Add 293 pounds | Add 367 pounds |
| 2,000 ppm | Add 160 pounds | Add 200 pounds |
| 3,000 ppm | Add 27 pounds | Add 33 pounds |
The salt level in your pool matters because after you add the salt to your pool, your salt chlorine generator turns it into chlorine. If you have too much salt in the water, you’ll notice a salty taste after swimming. Even though it’s a salt water pool, you shouldn’t taste any salt because our taste buds can’t detect it until the levels are at least 3,500 to 4,000 ppm.
Besides an unpleasant aftertaste, too much salt can cause some serious damage to your pool and pool equipment. Metal parts are at risk of corrosion, like ladders, brackets, and heaters. Beyond that, high salt levels can wear away at your pool finishes like tile, flagstone, and concrete. The cost of a salt water pool is an investment, so you want to be sure you’re keeping it in the best condition possible.
On the other hand, if your salt levels are too low, your pool is not properly chlorinated. Sometimes, low chlorine levels may lead to a cloudy pool. Whatever the case, if your water has low chlorine levels, it may not be safe to swim in as it could be playing host to dangerous bacteria and microorganisms like cryptosporidium, E. coli, and giardia.
Calculating how much salt to add to your pool requires a few pieces of information. You need to know your current salt level and pool volume to get started.
The first thing you need to do is figure out your pool’s current salt level. You should get in the habit of checking this weekly to ensure that your water is safe to swim in. Luckily, test strips are one of the most affordable things when it comes to the cost of swimming pool maintenance, as they cost about $10 to $15 for a pack of 10 or 20.
You may want to skip the test strips and go straight to your salt chlorine generator for a reading if it provides one. While the reading is a good way to keep an eye on your water levels, it may not provide an accurate reading. For example, your generator can produce incorrect readings if it has dirty salt cells or damaged leads.
For this reason, you should use salt water test strips whenever possible for the most accurate readings. Use a sterile container and get your water sample early in the morning before the sun comes out because the sun affects chlorine levels. Dip the container at least elbow-deep in the deepest side of your pool, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the test strips.
Additionally, most pool stores offer testing services. Oftentimes, these services will tell you more about your water besides the salt levels, like your water’s pH, total alkalinity, and stabilizer levels. It’s a good idea to regularly test your salt water pool’s pH levels, so you know whether to raise the pool’s pH level or lower the pH.
Be sure to fill your pool to capacity before testing the salt levels. If your pool is low on water, add fresh water, allow it to recirculate for a day, and then take a reading.
If this sounds like too much work to add to your already long to-do list, consider hiring a pro for your pool maintenance needs. That way, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your pool is in good shape.
The easiest way to figure out your pool volume is to check your pool construction paperwork if you have it. If not, you use the following equations to calculate your pool’s volume depending on the shape of your pool. If your pool has a shallow and deep end, it’s probably best to use an online calculator to get the most accurate figure.
These equations tell you the total volume of water in your pool in gallons.
Rectangular pools: Average Depth x Length x Width x 7.5
Circular pools: Average Depth x Diameter x Diameter x 5.9
Oval pools: Average Depth x Length x Width x 6.7
Once you know your current salt levels and your pool volume, then you can figure out what adjustments—if any—you need to make. You can consult either a pool salt chart or a pool salt calculator.
A pool salt chart will show you how many pounds of salt you need to reach the desired salt level, which is typically 3200 ppm. First, find the row that lists your pool’s current salt level. Next, find the column for your pool size. The number in the intersecting box will help you figure out how many pounds of salt you need to add.
Another option is to use a pool salt calculator. You need to plug in your pool volume, current salt levels, and ideal salt levels. The calculator will tell you how much salt you need to add or how much water you need to replace to dilute the water.
To start adding salt to your pool, turn off your salt chlorine generator but keep your pump running. Then, pour the recommended amount of salt into the pool, but keep it away from the skimmer. You may find it easiest to pour the salt into the pool's shallow end.
It’s a good idea to use high-quality salt that’s at least 99.8% pure sodium chloride, non-iodized, and food quality. You may also consider starting with one bag less than what you’re expecting to use; that way, you can avoid accidentally exceeding the desired salt levels.
After pouring in the salt, brush down the pool floor; brush towards the main drains. Next, keep the pump on for 24 to 48 hours. At the end of this period, check your water’s salt levels again. Repeat the steps above if your salt levels are still below the target range. Note that these steps are part of converting your pool into a salt water pool.
No time to maintain your pool? Most pool contractors offer seasonal maintenance. Talk to your pro about scheduling check-ups to keep your pool healthy.
To dilute your salt water pool, you must first figure out how much water you need to replace. In theory, you don’t have to figure this out, but it can help. If you’d prefer to skip the math, drain about 6 inches of water, refill the pool, turn on your pump, and allow the water to recirculate for a full cycle. Afterward, test the salt level, and if it’s still too high, repeat these steps until you reach the desired readings.
On the other hand, if you’d prefer a more calculated approach, you can do a little math or use a pool salt calculator. First, divide the current salt level by the ideal level you’re trying to reach. Take that number and subtract one. Take the result and multiply it by your pool volume. That will tell you how much water you need to replace.
You can use a submersible pump or a venturi pump to drain the water. The latter is much faster if you need to drain a large volume of water. If you don’t own a pump or don’t want to deal with this diluting process, hire a pool service near you to get the job done for you.
While the focus here is on salt levels, it’s important to conduct a comprehensive test of your water chemistry after you fix your salt levels, as they may be affected by the diluting process.
All types of pools require regular maintenance, and while salt water pools can be less time-intensive to maintain than chlorine pools, you still want to stay on top of your water’s chemical levels. It’s a great idea to check your salt levels weekly to ensure everything is in tip-top shape. You should also check water chemistry levels after throwing a pool party or large storms, as these events can change your water.
Keeping an eye on your pool water is a huge part of your salt water pool maintenance. In addition to checking for salt levels, test your pool water for the following every month:
pH
Total alkalinity
Calcium hardness
Cyanuric acid
Metals
Total dissolved solids
Every three months, check your salt cell plates for scale buildup. You may be able to clean the buildup off with a high-powered hose, but if not, you can mix up a mild acid wash.
Mizuki Hisaka contributed to this piece.
Yes, it’s possible to put too much salt in your salt water pool, and doing so can cause a number of problems, including corroding metal parts and causing the chlorinator to stop working correctly. In general, slightly elevated salt levels won’t cause serious problems beyond salty-tasting water, but you should dilute the water in a pool with extremely high salt levels to prevent damage to its components.
A good rule of thumb is to add one or two 40-pound bags of salt for every inch of rain, but you’ll want to test your salt levels first to ensure you’re adding the right amount. Rainwater can dilute the salt levels in your pool, so after significant rainfall, test the levels and add the appropriate amount of salt to bring it back to the ideal level.
Yes, you should keep your pool pump running when adding salt and be sure to leave it running for 24 to 48 hours. This will help circulate the salt to ensure even distribution. You will want to turn off your pool’s salt chlorine generator before adding salt and leave it off until the salt has fully dissolved. Check your manufacturer’s instructions for any steps that may be specific to your pool.
