The Intex salt water system generates chlorine for swimming pools by adding salt to the pool's water, without the use of expensive, toxic chemicals to keep it clean. The salt dissolves in the water, and the pump pushes it through a chlorine generator that separates the sodium chloride in the water, producing chlorine. The Intex system gives the pool a low dose of chlorine keeping the pool clean without irritating skin, eyes or bleaching clothes.
Items you will need
Pool
Plain salt (check manual for amount)
Water
Intex saltwater generator
Chlorine tester strips
Sodium tester strips
Install the Intex chlorine generator to your existing pool pump system according to the instruction manual. Intex chlorine generators are made for all models of above ground pools, but are not available for concrete pools. The models each hook up in different ways, so you need to consult the manual. Make sure that water is flowing in the direction indicated on the chlorine generator.
Add one 25-pound bag of salt for every 1,000 gallons of water. Do not use yellow or iodine salt. Go to a pool supply company, and get salt for the pool. If you're converting your pool from a chlorine-treated pool to a salt water pool, wait two days, so the chlorine dissipates. The sun and heat remove chlorine, so you don't have to add anything to get rid of it. Since the early 1980s, salt water pools were used in Australia, and since 1990, all countries started using salt water in the pools. Many hotels, schools and home pools have switched over to salt water. The salt in the water is diluted to the point no one notices that it's a salt water pool. The salt content is about the same as a human tear. The biggest benefits are that you use less chemicals, have less problems with the alkalinity, and it doesn't damage your skin or hair.
Test the water with a sodium tester strip according to the instructions on the label. Place the strip in a small cup of pool water for five minutes, and check the strip. The salt/water ratio should be in the 3,000 to 3,500 parts of salt per gallon range. If there isn't enough salt add a couple pounds, and check the sodium level again with another test strip. If you have too much salt, run plain water into the pool for about 20 minutes and check the sodium level again.
Turn on the pool's pump and the chlorine generator. Set the chlorine generator according to the instruction manual for the amount of hours the chlorine is generated. When activated, the chlorine generator makes a low amount of chlorine constantly. Set the generator, so that it runs near the time you usually swim, but not while you are swimming. You can choose one to 12 hours.
Check the chlorine level with a chlorine tester strip following the strip manufacturer's instructions. The pool is ready for swimming.
Warnings
- Never swim in a pool when the chlorine level is too high.
Tips
- The salt/water ratio must be 3,000 to 3,500 for the Intex chlorine generator to produce the chlorine accurately. The Intex chlorine generator lights up green on the control panel when chlorine is produced. A red light tells you either the salt is too low or too high. Test the salt to determine what is needed.
- Let it generate at least six hours during hot weather and at least three during cool weather. It needs to run every day for chlorine level maintenance. The factors that determine how long the chlorine generator stays on each day is the sun's heat and where you live. Heat and sun leach chlorine from your pool, so check the chlorine often. If it stays too low, increase the time the generator runs. If it stays too high, decrease the generator's operation. Always check the pool one hour before swimming, and turn on the generator for an hour if the chlorine is in the low range on the test strip.
References
Tips
- The salt/water ratio must be 3,000 to 3,500 for the Intex chlorine generator to produce the chlorine accurately. The Intex chlorine generator lights up green on the control panel when chlorine is produced. A red light tells you either the salt is too low or too high. Test the salt to determine what is needed.
- Let it generate at least six hours during hot weather and at least three during cool weather. It needs to run every day for chlorine level maintenance. The factors that determine how long the chlorine generator stays on each day is the sun's heat and where you live. Heat and sun leach chlorine from your pool, so check the chlorine often. If it stays too low, increase the time the generator runs. If it stays too high, decrease the generator's operation. Always check the pool one hour before swimming, and turn on the generator for an hour if the chlorine is in the low range on the test strip.
Warnings
- Never swim in a pool when the chlorine level is too high.
