If you have chosen a saltwater pool system, chances are you have a lot of questions as to how the maintenance and care of this type of pool compare to a traditionally chlorinated pool. Both of these systems use chlorine to sanitize the water, but how they work is very different. With a traditional system, you have to manually add liquid or powdered chlorine to a feeder system, where it will then be pumped into the pool as needed. With a saltwater pool, however, the water is sanitized through the use of chlorine salt. An electrochemical reaction occurs between a salt cell and a generator and chlorine salts are created, which are then pumped through the pool system to chlorinate the water.
Now that we understand that basic difference, let’s address a really common question most new saltwater pool owners have: will I still need to shock my pool?
Shocking a pool is the process by which you spike the levels of chlorine to an incredibly high level to kill algae and other substances that can still make their home in your pool water, despite its constant level of chlorination. For those who use traditional chlorine, shocking a pool is a regular part of swimming pool maintenance and it helps to keep the water safe, clean, and easy to balance.
Do You Shock A Salt Water Pool?
It might seem that since this system is so different in operation from a traditional chlorine system that care and maintenance would also be quite different, but that isn’t true. A saltwater pool requires much the same maintenance and cleaning that a traditional pool needs. So the answer as to whether you shock a saltwater pool is a resounding YES.
Now, here we should note that some saltwater systems have a setting that is supposed to provide this same super chlorination, but most pool techs advise against using this feature in place of regular shocking. This feature is often incredibly hard on the motor of the system and will cause it to wear out faster than it would otherwise. Chlorine salt is effective at maintaining appropriate levels of sanitation, but using the super chlorination feature on a salt pump may not provide the concentration of chlorine in the water that you need to ensure that you kill any algae or mold in the water.
When and How to Shock a Salt Water Pool
When you get down to it, the maintenance and cleaning schedule is not any different for saltwater, as opposed to a traditional pool. Most pool techs recommend that you shock any type of pool about once a week, and this includes saltwater systems. Not all residential pool owners shock their pool this frequently, and it isn’t required, only recommended. Some people only shock their pool when they notice a problem, such as the development of algae or the strong smell of chloramines.
It might seem like algae shouldn’t grow in treated water, but sadly, it is a very hardy thing, indeed. And there are a lot of different types of algae that can make their home in your water. As many people have learned the hard way, algae can proliferate very quickly if left untreated. Chloramines are what give off that excessively bleachy smell that pools sometimes have. These are compounds that build up in the water over time and are a result of the chlorination process. When the levels get high, there will be a noticeable smell.
Additionally, though many people don’t want to talk about this, sometimes accidents happen in pools. Whether it is pee or poop, if someone has an accident, you will want to remove any solid waste and then shock the pool to ensure that it is safe to swim in.
When it comes to choosing the right type of pool shock for a saltwater pool, pretty much any commonly available pool shock will do the trick. Many people use granular pool shock and feel that it works better with a saltwater pool than liquid shock does. It is a personal preference though. Many professional pool techs swear by granular calcium hypochlorite for use in saltwater pools, as it is easy to use. This type of pool shock also doesn’t contain the additives that many others have which can lead to spikes in the levels of cyanuric acid in your pool.
Before you shock your saltwater pool, you will want to make sure the chemicals are properly balanced to get the best results. This means you will need to test your water and address any issues with chemical balance that you might find. You want to achieve the same chemical levels as you would a traditional pool (this means a pH between 7.4-7.6, total alkalinity of between 80-120/ppm, and a calcium hardness of between 200-400).
Once you have your chemical levels balanced, it is time to shock your pool. You will want to closely follow the manufacturer’s instructions as to the proper mixing (if any is necessary) and the amounts of shock to use for your particular pool. You want to reach what is called a chlorine breakpoint, which is around 30/ppm. There are also tons of free calculators online that will help you calculate the right level of shock for your pool. You will need to know how many gallons your pool to make this work.
Now, you are ready to add the shock, but you want to make sure your pool filtration system is running since this will help the shock get distributed through the water more evenly and quickly. Some types of shock are added directly to the water, others need to be diluted before being added to the water. After you have added the shock, you will need to turn down your salt cell system, since the shock will keep your pool properly chlorinated for a few days and having the salt cell running, as usual, can increase the amount of time the pool is unusable due to high levels of chlorine.
You may notice that your water starts to get a bit cloudy after doing this and this is normal. This is the result of the chlorine breaking down calcium and other substances, which can then be filtered out of the pool. Keep your filter on until the water clears up. The pool will need to be left closed for at least 12-24 hours. Most pool techs recommend shocking in the evening and then testing the water again in the morning. Once the chlorine levels have returned to normal, it is safe to swim in and the salt cell should be turned back up to its previous level.