Seasonal Maintenance Tips for Salt Pools

You may only use your salt pool when it’s hot, but it still requires some degree of seasonal maintenance throughout the year to keep it in the best possible condition. 

Here’s full seasonal salt pool maintenance guide. 

Spring

Most people open up their pools during the spring for the first time, so it makes sense to start our guide here. To complete spring seasonal maintenance, you should:

1. Clear the cover of any debris using a leaf net and pump away from any standing water. That water can be full of organic matter, so it must not end up in your pool. Then remove the cover.
2. Clean any debris from the pool, brush the pool, and adjust the water level so it’s about halfway up the skimmer’s face. 
3. Check that all the equipment is properly connected and turned on. The filter should be cleaned if you didn’t do so when you closed the pool. 
4. Turn on the equipment and make sure that the pump and filter are working properly.
5. Put the electrolytic chlorine generator (ECG) back in place if it was removed during the pool closing, but do not turn it on until the salinity levels have been checked.
6. Run the pump for at least 24 hours to circulate the water properly. 
7. Shock the pool with chlorine to resolve any problems caused by organic matter. Read this salt pool shocking guide to help.
8. Add treatment products to protect against scaling, staining, and corrosion. Be careful to only use products that are recommended for salt pools.  
9. The final step is to test and balance the pool and adjust key factors such as salinity, calcium hardness, pH, and stabilizer.

Summer

Now that much of the hard work has been done, you can enjoy your pool all summer long with only a few simple seasonal maintenance requirements to keep it in check. 

1. Skim your pool to clear any visible debris, vacuum it to remove algae, and brush the bottom of your pool to prevent salt from building up.
2. Check that the salt levels in different parts of your pool are consistent and the water is circulating well. 
3. Perform monthly checks to make sure that your pool’s chemistry is balanced. Check the salt level, pH levels, and stabilizer and adjust them accordingly. 
4. Inspect your electrolytic chlorine generator every two months or so to make sure that it’s functioning correctly. 

Fall & Winter

The fall brings an end to the swimming season, which means it’s time to close your salt pool. That’s an easy enough job, but there are a few steps you must follow to end your seasonal maintenance checklist:

1. Clean and vacuum your pool to remove any dirt and residue that could stain your pool over the winter months. 
2. It’s important to balance your pool before heading into the winter months. As a quick guide, your water should be:
   1. pH: 7.2-7.8
   2. Alkalinity: 80-120ppm
   3. Salinity: 2500-4000ppm (as per your manufacturer’s recommendations)
   4. Cyanuric acid – 50-80ppm
   5. Free chlorine: 2-4ppm 
   6. Calcium hardness: 200-400ppm
3. Use a salt pool closing kit to condition the pool water and prevent algae growth throughout the winter months. The pool closing kit should include a scale inhibitor, oxidizer, and algaecide.
4. Reduce the water level according to the type of cover you have. Reduce it by 3-6 inches if you have a floating cover and 12-18 inches for a mesh cover.
5. Turn off the electricity at the main control panel and disconnect the pump, filter, salt system, and skimmer. Any water needs to be drained from the valves and left open to dry. 
6. Set your ECG to its winter or neutral setting if it has one, and remove the cell for winter. This is an excellent time to give it a clean with a mild acidic solution. 
7. Remove any accessories from your pool, such as ladders, diving boards, and toys, and give them a good rinse before storing them for the winter. 
8. The final step is to put on your pool’s winter cover.  

And there you have it, all of the seasonal maintenance required to keep your salt pool in tiptop condition all year round.