A big part of keeping your swimming pool clean is maintaining its chlorine levels. A large part of this job depends on the chlorinator, which works constantly to keep your pool free of bacteria and other substances that can make it unsafe for use. Let’s take a look at a few simple maintenance tips that will keep your pool’s chlorinator running smoothly.

Knowing the Different Types of Pool Chlorinators

Most pool owners have one of three types of chlorinators: inline, offline, or floating. Inline chlorinators are built directly into your pool’s plumbing and provide a direct flow of chlorine into the water. Offline chlorinators deliver chlorine to your pool via flexible tubes. Floating models float freely in your pool while they slowly dispense chlorine into the water. These devices rely on tablets that dissolve and release chlorine at a steady rate into your pool’s water.

If you have a saltwater pool, you’ll be using a special chlorinator that converts dissolved salt into chlorine via electrolysis. The salt in the water is converted into chlorine gas within an electrode cell inside the chlorinator. The gas is then dissolved into the water to sanitize it. There is no need for chlorine tablets; all you need is to maintain the proper salt levels in your pool.

Simple Maintenance Tips

If your chlorinator relies on chlorine tablets, check it once a week to make sure that it is dispersing chlorine properly. Expect to use one 3-inch tablet a week for every 10,000 gallons of water in your pool, and check the chlorine levels in the water regularly. Adjust the chlorinator as needed to ensure that it’s releasing the proper amount of chlorine into the water. If the chlorinator is clogged, you should be able to fix it by cleaning it thoroughly.

If you have a saltwater chlorinator, check the salt levels as well as the chlorine levels in your pool regularly. Most saltwater chlorinators work best when you have between 4,000 and 6,000 ppm of salt in your pool water. If the salt levels are too low, your chlorinator won’t be able to produce enough chlorine. Salt levels that are too high could damage your chlorinator. You can check your water’s salt level with testing strips or by bringing a water sample to your local pool service professional. Many will test your water for free. Meanwhile, keep monitoring your chlorine levels to make sure they are where you want them to be.

You will also need to inspect and possibly clean your chlorinator’s salt cell every three months. If you see scale buildup on the cell, you will need to clean it. Turn off the power to the chlorinator, remove the cell, and spray off any loose debris with a hose. You can then remove the scaling with a salt cell cleaning solution.

Basic pool chlorinator maintenance is relatively simple, and it’s an important part of owning a pool. A local pool service professional can answer additional questions about caring for your chlorinator or help you if it requires repairs. When you need water care services in Newburgh, NY, contact Galati Pools and Spas.