Maintaining a salt pool: salt electrolysis

Many people believe that there are two ways to treat a pool: the classic method using chlorine and electrolysis using salt. This is incorrect! In truth, all pool treatments are based on the antiseptic virtues of chlorine to clean the water. Even if you use a salt chlorinator, it is the chlorine produced by electrolysis that acts on the water, not the salt.

Reminder of chlorine’s action in the pool

Chlorine often has a negative reputation among consumers who find it irritating, smelly, etc. When chlorine comes into contact with water, it undergoes a chemical reaction and divides into free chlorine and combined chlorine. Free chlorine contains the active chlorine that purifies the pool by eliminating various microorganisms present. Combined chlorine, called chloramine, forms due to nitrogen and ammonia compounds left by swimmers. It is this type of chlorine that causes eye and skin irritation. This chlorine does not purify. Its presence in the pool indicates insufficient treatment.

How a salt chlorinator works

The chlorinator consists of twin elements: the control unit and the cell. The control unit powers the system and manages the various parameters. It is installed in a technical room and is connected to the pool’s electrical panel. The cell, for its part, is attached to the pool’s return circuit. It is within this cell that electrolysis produces chlorine. The cell is connected to the control unit.

The operation of the chlorinator is quite simple. Just add the required amount of salt and the process starts automatically. Upon contact with the electrodes, the salt dissolved in the water transforms into free chlorine, which includes two disinfecting agents: hypochlorite ions and hypochlorous acid. Both contribute to water purification, but hypochlorous acid is the most effective. It is what destroys organic matter, harmful germs, nitrogenous pollutants, algae, and viruses present in the pool. Under the influence of UV rays, the chlorine molecules reunite to form salt and this cycle renews itself continuously.

Precautions to take with a salt chlorinator

The level of active chlorine in the pool depends on the pH of the water. When the pH increases, the active chlorine level decreases. For example, if the pH is at 7.2, the active chlorine level is 66%; if it’s at 7.5, it drops to 50%. This is why it is essential to maintain the pool’s pH between 7.1 and 7.5. The effectiveness of the treatment also depends on the quality of the salt used. Good salt should contain little calcium and magnesium. It should not contain heavy metals such as lead, manganese, copper, or iron.

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