Is the pH Level in a Pool Too High With Salt Water?

Salt Water Pools

• A salt water pool is another way to sanitize and keep your pool water clean. Make no mistake, however, that salt water pools are not chlorine free. The use of a salt water generator takes the salt in the water and transforms it into chlorine. The amount of chlorine needed to keep a salt water pool clean is less than that of a standard chlorine pool. A salt water pool does not taste salty, and there's no need to ever handle or add chlorine again to you pool.

Testing

• Salt water pools require special testing strips to get accurate readings of the water. These strips can be found at most pool supply retailers. Chemicals in a salt water pool are more stable than that of a chlorine pool and will require less chemicals to balance them properly. That, however, should not stop pool owners from testing the pH levels on a regular basis. Check weekly to ensure the pH levels are somewhere between 7.2 and 7.6.

Addition

• The pH levels are not higher than usual in a chlorine pool. The pH is more likely to stay within range because the water is constantly sanitized by the salt water system's chlorine generator. The generator consistently keeps the pool sanitized, which leads to less fluctuation of the pH levels. In the rare case you need to lower or raise the pH in your pool, you can do it with the same chemicals used in a standard chlorine pool. Dosages will vary based on the reading and water capacity.

Chemicals

• The effectiveness of the chlorine in a salt water system has less of an impact on the water chemistry values such as pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness. As a result, fewer chemicals are needed. Salt water systems also have no effect on total alkalinity or calcium hardness, which eliminates the need for chemicals such as those. This kind of filter system will cost more money at start up. In the end, however, it could pay for itself in chlorine and chemical savings, especially for larger pools.