In case you're looking in the rising costs of maintenance and wondering can you use water softener salt in pool systems to save some bucks, you aren't by yourself. It's one of those queries that appears each summer when pool owners realize they need ten luggage of salt as well as the local pool supply store is charging double what the particular hardware store requires for water softener bags. The brief answer is the fact that you can often use it, but right now there are some massive "ifs" and "buts" that could turn the ten-dollar savings in to a thousand-dollar fix bill if you aren't careful.
Most people suppose salt is simply salt. After almost all, sodium chloride is usually sodium chloride, regardless of whether it's in your french fries, in your water softener, or keeping your pool very clear. While that's formally true from a chemistry standpoint, it's the particular other "stuff" in the bag that triggers the headaches. Whenever you're buying salt for a salt water chlorine generator (SWG), you're really spending money on purity and a specific materials size that won't mess up your own equipment or spot your liner.
It is almost all just sodium chloride, right?
In the most fundamental level, yes. Each pool salt and water softener salt are composed associated with sodium chloride. In the event that you look in the back of the bag of high-quality water softener salt, you'll usually visit a purity rating associated with 99% or higher. Pool salt goals for the same thing. The salt cell in your pool works by using electrolysis to split all those salt molecules directly into chlorine. It doesn't particularly care if the salt came from a bag having a picture of a person swimming or even a bag with a picture of a shiny faucet.
However, the production process differs. Pool salt is generally crushed into quite fine crystals, almost like table salt but a little coarser. This is designed to dissolve the time it hits the water. Water softener salt, on the other hand, often comes in big pellets or coarse crystals. These are designed to sit down in a brine tank and melt slowly over period. If you eliminate a 40-pound handbag of pellets into your pool, they're going to sit on the bottom such as rocks.
The reason why the high cost is so various
The main reason you're actually asking can you use water softener salt in pool setups could be the price. Pool salt is often promoted being a "specialty" product. Because it's marketed at pool stores, there's a comfort markup. Plus, it's processed to be "extra pure" and fast-dissolving, which adds a bit to the particular production cost.
Water softener salt is really a commodity. It's sold in enormous quantities to millions of households, therefore the price stays low. When you see a handbag for five bucks in a big-box hardware store and the similar-sized bag regarding fifteen dollars with the pool shop, it's tempting to seize the cheap things. In many cases, the salt inside of is nearly similar, but you have to know how to read the great print to guarantee you aren't buying something that will damage your water hormone balance.
The chemicals trap
This is where points get dicey. A lot of water softener salts are not just pure salt. Due to the fact they are made to clean resin beads in a softener, manufacturers often add chemicals to help with that process.
The risk of anti-caking agents
A few salts contain Green Prussiate of Soda (YPS), which is definitely an anti-caking broker. It keeps the salt from switching into a huge brick in the particular bag if this gets just a little wet. While YPS is usually fine for a water softener, it contains cyanide substances (don't worry, it's not enough in order to hurt you). The real problem is that it can contribute to a yellowish tint in your own pool water or even cause minor discoloration on the wall space with time. If you're likely to use softener salt, you need to make certain YPS isn't around the ingredient list.
Rust inhibitors plus iron fighters
This is the particular big one. Many brands sell "Iron Fighter" or "Rust Remover" salt pellets. These are fantastic for keeping your whitened laundry from turning orange if you have high iron in your well water, but they are a nightmare regarding pools. They consist of additives like citric acid or various other metal-sequestering agents that can mess along with your pool's pH and alkalinity. Even worse, if the ingredients react poorly with the high concentration associated with chlorine inside your own salt cell, these people can actually trigger the cell to scale up or fail prematurely. Often avoid any salt that claims in order to have "extra washing power" or "rust defense. "
Pellets versus crystals
If you've decided to proceed the softener salt route, you'll generally have two choices: pellets or photo voltaic crystals.
Pellets are compressed salt. They are hard, round, and heavy. Because they're therefore thick, they take quite a long time to break down in a pool. If they sit upon your liner for too long, these people can actually cause "pitting" or harm to the vinyl. They will can also make a localized area of incredibly high salt concentration that might mess with your own pool's finish.
Solar deposits are usually a better bet. They may be produced by evaporating sea water in large ponds. They are more irregularly shaped and generally dissolve much faster compared to pellets. If you're going to use water softener salt, high-purity solar crystals are almost usually the way to go. They're closer to the consistency of standard pool salt and won't sit on the floor from the pool for three times like pellets may.
What in order to check on the content label
Before you toss that blue bag into your own cart, you require to do a quick inspection. You're looking for one thing: 99. 6% purity or more. Anything less than that will means you can find nutrients or contaminants in the salt. These contaminants—like calcium, magnesium, or even components of dirt—don't just vanish. They stay in your water, potentially making it over cast or contributing in order to scale buildup on your pool tools.
Ideally, the bag should state "extra coarse crystals" or "solar salt. " Avoid anything that mentions "potassium chloride" unless you specifically have a potassium-based system (which is definitely rare and very much more expensive). You want pure sodium chloride with simply no added fragrances, cleansers, or "softening boosters. "
Just how to actually include it to your pool
Let's state you've found a high-purity solar salt and you're prepared to save some money. You can't just dump it in and walk apart. Since the crystals are larger than standard pool salt, they need a little help.
First, make sure your pump is running. You want as much circulation as achievable. Pour the salt slowly around the particular perimeter from the strong end, rather than dropping it all in one spot. Once it's in, grab your pool clean. You'll need to work those crystals around to help them dissolve. Don't let a stack of salt sit down directly over a depletion or on the seam in your lining. Keep brushing until you can't notice the crystals any longer.
It's also a good idea in order to keep your salt chlorinator turned off for about 24 hours after including the salt. You want the salt to be fully incorporated and evenly distributed through the water before it passes through the cell. If a "slug" of super-salty water hits the cell, it could trigger a high-salt error or cause the particular system to close down.
When you should certainly stick to pool salt
While preserving money is great, generally there are times whenever it's simply not worth the risk. If you have the brand-new pool along with a fresh plaster finish, don't risk it. Plaster is definitely porous and extremely sensitive to staining in its first season. The few bucks you save salt aren't worth the risk of a permanent gray or even yellow smudge upon your brand-new pool floor.
Also, if you're not really someone who enjoys to spend twenty minutes brushing the particular pool, purchase the particular pool salt. This dissolves almost instantly, which usually saves you the particular manual labor. In case you're the type which wants to "set it and forget about it, " the particular ease of pool salt will be worth the extra five bucks a bag.
A quick reality verify
At the end of the day, can you use water softener salt in pool environments? Indeed, hundreds of pool owners do it every year without a single issue. Simply because long as you stay with high-purity photo voltaic salt without ingredients, the chemistry is virtually identical.
Just keep in mind that you are the one taking the particular risk. If you accidentally buy the bag of salt with rust blockers and your pool turns a cool shade of natural, the money you saved will be gone in a good instant when you have to purchase metal sequestrants and clarifiers to fix it. If you're cautious, read your labels, and are also willing to put in a little additional brushing time, you can definitely keep your pool crystal clear while keeping and take note cash in your own pocket.