adding salt

[sueasinsue]

Hi-I opened my pool and now I need to add the salt, when I add the salt I was then going to put the solar blanket on but I was wondering if I need to wait? Should I leave the blanket off for a day or two? Does it matter? Also should I turn the salt cell on immediately following the addition of salt or should I wait a few hours until the salt is mixed in?

 

[ajw22]

Salt takes a while to dissolve and disperse in the water. Keep your pump running for 24 hours with your SWG off. You can have your blanket on.

 

[sueasinsue]

Thank you!

 

[PoolGate]

Make sure to test your salt level before adding any additional salt. Your water will already have some salt in it. The K-1766 Taylor test is best. Salt is easy to add but requires draining some water to remove.

 

[sueasinsue]

I usually take a sample to the local pool store to see how much salt I need to buy and add. They don't charge me for the test.

 

[PoolGate]

I usually take a sample to the local pool store to see how much salt I need to buy and add. They don't charge me for the test.

I would not trust pool store testing. The below is what we recommend.

Amazon.com : TAYLOR TECHNOLOGIES INC K-1766 DROP TEST CHLORIDE SALT WATER : Swimming Pool Liquid Test Kits : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : TAYLOR TECHNOLOGIES INC K-1766 DROP TEST CHLORIDE SALT WATER : Swimming Pool Liquid Test Kits : Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

 

[sueasinsue]

Ok good to know! This is my fourth season as a pool owner and thanks to this forum I have done everything myself from opening to closing to testing to slamming. Maybe I should take the step and do this myself too.

 

[PoolGate]

Ok good to know! This is my fourth season as a pool owner and thanks to this forum I have done everything myself from opening to closing to testing to slamming. Maybe I should take the step and do this myself too.

Also just FYI I hope you are not paying more than $5 per 40lb bag of salt. I buy water softener salt from Home Depot. Just make sure the salt is 100% salt with no additives.

 

[sueasinsue]

The bags I buy are 40lbs $4.99 each from the local pool store. It's a little independent mom and pop store I found, not a big chain pool store.

 

[ajw22]

The bags I buy are 40lbs $4.99 each from the local pool store. It's a little independent mom and pop store I found, not a big chain pool store.

That is a good price. Support your local retailers.

 

[rowiac]

The typical price I can find at Home Depot or Lowe's is about $6-$7 for a 40 lb bag of water softener salt. I guess I need to look around to find a better price.