If you have got a saltwater pool, balance is everything. Crystal clear water isn’t the only goal; you also want the salt level in pool water to stay right where it should be. Too high and the chlorinator starts struggling, which can burn it out faster. Too low and you risk cloudy water or even algae.
When salt creeps too high, you might notice the water tasting stronger, your skin feeling a bit dry, or the system flashing a high-salt warning. That’s your cue to fix it. Most of the time, it’s just about swapping some of that salty water for fresh water. But there’s a right way to do it if you want to avoid wasted effort and guesswork.
7 Steps guide to Reduce the Salt Level in Your Pool
If your pool’s salt level has crept higher than recommended, it can affect water balance, damage equipment, and make swimming less enjoyable. The good news is, bringing it back to the ideal range is straightforward with the right approach. In this 7-step guide, we’ll walk you through practical methods to safely and effectively lower the salt concentration in your pool—so you can restore crystal-clear, comfortable water without harming your pool system.
Step 1: Test Your Current Salt Level
To measure your salt level (ppm) in your salt water pool, use a digital tester, testing strips or the number shown on your salt chlorinator. Check what your number is against a pool salt chart. Most pools are set at about 3,200 ppm, but you can get more in depth depending on the brand of your chlorinator.
Step 2: Decide How Much Water to Remove
As soon as you understand your number you can estimate how much you should drain. In case your reading is slightly above the optimum salt content in the swimming pool water you may only require taking out a relatively small amount. When it is way over you will have to replace more.
Step 3: Drain the Pool — but Not All of It
Draining is straightforward, but take care. Never empty the pool completely unless you’re certain it’s safe for your pool type. Concrete pools can handle bigger drains. Vinyl liner pools should only be drained partway to protect the liner from damage.
Step 4: Refill with Fresh Water
As soon as you can empty out what is necessary, replace the water in the pool using clean and fresh water. Use your garden hose or available to you trucked-in water. At low speed- you do not want to raise mud or trash at the bottom.
Back-filling or even the tap-water you are using may be having some minerals such as calcium, so ensure that you test your chemicals once refilled.
Step 5: Circulate the Water
Once your pool is full it is time to get that fresh water circulating. Connect the pump and start it up and leave it running most of the day. This assists in commingling the old and the new water to make sure that your salt level in your pool readings are accurate.
When you test too early the result can get misleading. But first allow the circulation to do its work.
Step 6: Retest the Salt Level
After the water has circulated, check your saltwater pool ppm again. Compare your results to your pool salt chart. You’re aiming for the ideal salt level for pool water — usually about 3,200 ppm, but your chlorinator manual will have the exact number.
Step 7: Adjust if Needed
If the reading is still above the normal salt level in pool water, you may need to repeat the process — just remove a smaller amount of water this time. It’s better to lower salt slowly than to drain too much and end up adding salt back later.
How Much Salt to Add to Pool
There will be times when you’re lowering salt, but other times you might need to increase it — for example, after heavy rain or when you’ve replaced a lot of water. Knowing how much salt to add to pool without guessing keeps you from overshooting.
1. Check the Pool Volume
To figure out how much salt you need, you’ll first want to know how much water your pool holds. If you don’t know already, your pool builder or manual might have the number.
2. Test the Current Salt Level
Use your tester to check your salt level in pool water now. If it’s close to the range shown on your pool salt chart, you’re fine. If it’s below, it’s time to add salt.
3. Pick the Right Salt
For pools, you can’t just grab any salt. Look for pool-grade salt — it dissolves well and doesn’t have additives that can cloud the water or damage your system.
4. Adding the Salt
Spread the salt evenly around the shallow end of the pool while the pump is running. Avoid dumping it in one spot — you want it to dissolve quickly and circulate. Once added, give it time to mix before testing again.
Pool Salt Chart – Your Quick Reference
A pool salt chart is basically your cheat sheet for knowing how much salt your pool needs. It lists how many pounds (or kilos) of salt to add based on your pool size and your current saltwater pool ppm reading.
Why it’s handy:
- Saves you from guessing how much salt to add to pool.
- Helps you hit the ideal salt level for pool without going over.
- Keeps your salt level in pool water steady for longer, which means fewer corrections later.
Most manufacturers have their own version, but the idea’s the same: match your pool’s gallons/litres to your current reading, then see the amount needed to reach the target.
Pool Salt Calculator – A Digital Helper
If you’d rather not read a chart, many pool websites have a pool salt calculator. You type in your pool’s size, your current saltwater pool ppm, and your desired level. It tells you the amount of salt to add.
These calculators are quick, but remember: they’re only as accurate as the information you put in. If your current reading is off, the result will be too. Always test before you trust the numbers.
Important Considerations When Managing Salt Levels
1. Know Your Salt Generator
Your salt generator turns salt into chlorine, and each model has a preferred normal salt level in pool water. Run it outside that range for too long and you’ll shorten its life or end up with poor sanitation.
2. Preventing Future High Salt Levels
- Test regularly, especially after rain or heavy pool use.
- Don’t add salt “just in case” — only add it when your pool salt chart or calculator says it’s needed.
- If you top up water often due to evaporation, keep in mind that salt doesn’t evaporate — so levels can climb over time.
3. Keep the Chemical Balance in Check
High salt can be made worse by poor chemistry. Watch your pH, chlorine, and calcium hardness so everything stays in balance. If these drift too far, you could have problems even if your salt reading is fine.
4. Weekly Maintenance Matters
Keeping your salt level steady is easier when you have a routine. During weekly maintenance, make it a habit to:
- Test the saltwater pool ppm.
- Check your pool salt chart to confirm you’re still in range.
- Inspect the salt generator cell for buildup.
- Skim, vacuum, and balance other chemicals.
Even five minutes a week can save you from bigger, more expensive adjustments later.
Need Professional Help? – Contact Us
If your readings keep swinging or your salt generator isn’t working as it should, it might be time to get an expert in. Our team can test your salt level in pool water, troubleshoot your equipment, and help you hit that ideal salt level for pool again.
Contact Us to schedule a service visit or ask for advice.
FAQs
What happens if too much salt is in the pool?
Your system may flash a high-salt warning, and parts of your equipment could wear out faster. The water can also taste stronger and feel harsher on the skin. Lowering the salt level is the fix.
Does pool salt raise or lower pH?
Adding salt doesn’t change pH much on its own, but the chlorine generated from salt can cause pH to drift up over time. That’s why pH checks should be part of your weekly maintenance.
How to lower salt level in pool quickly?
The fastest way is to partially drain and refill with fresh water, then circulate and retest. Small, repeated drains are safer than trying to fix it all at once.
Final Thoughts
Keeping the salt right in your pool water isn’t a huge deal once you’ve done it a couple of times.Once you’ve done it a few times, looking after the salt in your pool just becomes second nature. You test when you remember, glance at the pool salt chart stuck to the wall, and only add salt when it’s really needed. Some weeks you might be figuring out how much salt to add to pool, other times you’re just making sure you’re sitting in that normal salt level in pool sweet spot.
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