Pool Salt

Electrochlorination is simply the process of creating chlorine through the use of salt (sodium chloride) and an electrical current. Chlorine is not added in the traditional way to your swimming pool as tablets or liquid, but made using salt and specialist chlorination equipment.

There are two methods of electrochlorination:

• salt chlorination, typically used for domestic pools, or;
• membrane electrolysis, typically used for larger commercial pools in leisure centres, lidos, hotels and schools.

Salt chlorination makes chlorine in situ within the swimming pool, with salt being added directly to the swimming pool. Salt chlorination is typically used in domestic or smaller commercial pools.

Chlorination through membrane electrolysis uses specialised equipment with membrane technology to create a controlled output of chlorine that is then dosed into the swimming pool. With larger equipment investment, this is usually reserved for larger pools including leisure centres, lidos, hotels, schools and spas.

Yes, you can add salt to your pool, but it will not provide any sanitisation benefits without a salt chlorinator. It will simply result in salty water without producing chlorine.

Yes, using the correct swimming pool salt is essential. Impurities, additives and even anti-caking agents in even high quality tablet salt or PDV can cause damage to equipment and your pool liner, and reduce the efficiency of chlorine production. Specialist swimming pool salt that meets the high quality standards required should always be used in salt chlorination.

It is also important to use swimming pool salt for the correct application. Poolsel is suitable for use with salt chlorinators where you add salt directly to the pool, typically for domestic pools, whereas Hydrosoft Granular or SoftSel Pluss Tablets should be used for membrane electrolysis.

If it’s your first time adding salt to your pool or you have drained and refilled your swimming pool with fresh water, then most systems suggest you should add around 3kg of Poolsel per m3 of water. Some chlorination systems are designed to operate at higher concentrations of 4-6kg of Poolsel per m3 of water. For best results, check your equipment manufacturer or pool installers instructions for exact requirements.

Once setup, you will then need to monitor your salinity levels and add Poosel to top up accordingly for continued chlorine production.

Check your salinity regularly to see if your swimming pool needs more salt as you would for checking traditional chlorine, algae or PH levels. Visible indicators may include cloudy water or change of colour, and indicates high levels of bacteria or algae.

Make sure not to add too much salt as this can cause damage to the chlorinator – you should maintain a suitable salt concentration to protect you and your pool.

Pool salt should preferably be stored in a clean and dry environment. If you only need to use part of a bag, it might be worth investing in a watertight box to store your salt to stop it from getting damp and clumping together. Wipe clean your salt bags before tipping your salt into your swimming pool if you see any visible debris to save you from cleaning it out of your pool later!

Some hot tubs also use a small salt chlorinator for chlorine production. If you have a salt chlorinator, you can indeed use Poolsel within your hot tub.

To extend the lifespan of your salt chlorinator:

• Use high-quality swimming pool salt free from additives and impurities
• Maintain the correct salt levels (avoid over-salting)
• Regularly check and clean your equipment

Proper salt selection and maintenance will help ensure efficient chlorine production and protect your pool system.