How a salt chlorinator works and how to install it

Switching to salt chlorination is a solution for enjoying crystal-clear, healthy water without suffering from the strong chemical smell, dry skin, or irritated eyes caused by traditional chlorine tablets.

It is very likely that you are tired of handling pool maintenance products every week or finding the water cloudy after a few days without checking the system. The good news is that today’s technology allows us to automate this process, creating an ecosystem that is much gentler on our bodies.

At Brikum, we know that outdoor maintenance can raise questions. However, switching to this system does not require complex construction work or engineering knowledge. With the right tools and a step-by-step guide, understanding and assembling this equipment is a completely accessible DIY project.

How exactly does a salt chlorinator work?

If you are wondering how a salt chlorinator works, the answer is that it uses an electrical process called electrolysis to separate the molecules of salt dissolved in the water and generate natural chlorine, disinfecting the pool completely automatically and continuously.

This system turns your home pool filtration system into a small disinfectant factory. Instead of adding artificial chemicals to the water, you add ordinary salt. Understanding how a salt chlorinator works at a chemical level will help you feel more confident about installing it and understand why it is such a clean and effective method.

The salt electrolysis process explained step by step

The process is very straightforward. Slightly salty water leaves the pool and passes through the sand filter. Immediately afterward, it enters a component called an electrolytic cell, which contains titanium plates. 

The control panel sends a low-voltage electric current through these plates, triggering a reaction that converts salt (sodium chloride) into sodium hypochlorite, the natural disinfectant that destroys bacteria and algae.

The endless cycle: why the salt does not get used up

The best feature of this system is its ability to recycle. Once the sodium hypochlorite has done its job of removing dirt and disinfecting the water, it breaks down and turns back into salt. 

It is a continuous closed cycle, which means the salt does not evaporate. You will only need to replenish a small amount when the pool loses water through filter backwashing or swimmers’ splashing.

Advantages of switching to salt chlorination at home

Installing this system provides immediate benefits, such as reducing skin and mucous membrane irritation, while also delivering medium-term financial savings by drastically reducing the need to buy bottles and tablets of chemical products every week.

Taking a step toward a more natural approach can even change the swimming experience. It is not just about comfort, but about promoting the overall health of the whole family and making maintenance much more manageable.

Health and comfort (goodbye, red eyes)

Salt-treated water has a very mild salt concentration. When you swim, you will notice that your skin does not dry out, your hair is not damaged, and you can open your eyes underwater without them becoming red or stinging. The bleach-like smell that permeates swimsuits disappears completely.

Medium-term financial savings

Although purchasing the equipment involves an initial investment, it pays for itself within a couple of seasons. You will no longer spend money on buckets of fast-acting chlorine, slow-release chlorine, algaecide, and stabilizers. The only consumable you will need to buy at the beginning of summer will be a few bags of salt, which are extremely inexpensive.

Preparation: what you need before installation

Before beginning the equipment installation, it is essential to calculate your pool's water volume to choose the right machine, gather the necessary PVC plumbing accessories, and add the salt to the water so it has enough time to dissolve.

Properly preparing the ground ensures that the installation proceeds smoothly. You cannot cut pipes if you are missing a key part or if the salt has not yet dissolved.

Calculating your pool's water volume

Each unit is designed to handle a maximum number of liters. To know which one to buy, multiply the length, width, and average depth of your pool. The result will give you the total cubic meters. Always choose a device rated slightly above your actual volume so the motor does not have to work too hard during the hottest days of summer.

Tools and pipes required

To make the plumbing connection in the equipment shed, you will need to have your toolbox ready. The Brikum catalog has all the basic materials you need.

• Special PVC glue for high-pressure pipes.
• Cutting tools for cutting the pipe.
• Sandpaper to remove plastic burrs.
• Teflon tape to ensure a watertight seal on the threaded connections.
• Adding the initial salt to the water

The standard ratio is about five grams of salt per liter of water. Pour the bags directly onto the bottom of the pool and turn on the pump in recirculation mode (bypassing the filter) for at least twenty-four hours. The salt must be one hundred percent dissolved before you turn on the device for the first time.

 

Step-by-step guide: how to install a salt chlorinator

To learn how to install a salt chlorinator, you must cut the return pipe leading to the pool, always after the filter, glue the PVC fittings to insert the electrolytic cell while respecting the direction of water flow, and secure the electrical control panel to the wall of the technical room.

The order of the components in the hydraulic circuit is important: the pump pushes the water, the sand filters it, and, just before it returns to the pool, the chlorinator injects the natural disinfectant.

Shutting down the system and cutting the pipes

For safety, disconnect the filtration system’s main power supply. Close the valves for the skimmers, main drain, vacuum cleaner, and return jets so that the technical room does not flood. Measure the size of the titanium cell and mark the return pipe. Cut out the exact section of plastic with a saw and sand the edges thoroughly so that the glue adheres perfectly.

Installing the electrolytic cell (housing)

Apply PVC glue to the pipe and the three-piece fittings supplied with the unit. Join the pieces by applying pressure for a few seconds. It is vitally important to look at the arrow drawn on the cell housing: the arrow must always point toward the pool, indicating the correct direction of water circulation.

Securing and connecting the control unit

Find a dry wall inside your technical room and screw the control panel bracket into place at eye level. This unit must be connected to the same power outlet as the filtration pump, so that the chlorinator only operates when the filtration pump is on. Finally, plug the communication cable from the panel into the titanium cell.

Initial setup: how to regulate a salt chlorinator

To understand how to regulate a salt chlorinator, you must adjust the production percentage on the digital display based on the total water volume, the outdoor temperature that month, and the number of hours per day that the filtration pump operates.

There is no single setting for the entire year. The equipment needs you to indicate how much effort it should make based on your pool’s changing needs, especially during heat waves.

Adjusting the chlorine production level

Most panels allow you to select an operating percentage from zero to one hundred percent. In the middle of August, with warm water and many swimmers, you should set the equipment between eighty and one hundred percent. As temperatures drop in September, you will need to reduce production to avoid saturating the water with disinfectant.

The importance of controlling pH

The electrolysis process has an inevitable side effect: it tends to constantly raise the water's pH. If the pH rises above 7.6, natural chlorine loses all its effectiveness. Therefore, it is highly advisable to complement the installation with an automatic acid dosing pump, which will read the water level and correct it for you.

Relationship between temperature and filtration hours

The chlorinator only automatically generates disinfectant while the water pump of your filtration system is running. As a general rule, divide the water temperature by two to determine how many hours of filtration you need. If the water is twenty-eight degrees, you will need fourteen hours of filtration; during that time, the equipment will quietly work its magic.

Basic maintenance to extend the life of your equipment

Basic maintenance to extend the service life of this equipment consists of periodically cleaning the titanium plates to remove limescale deposits and carrying out preventive shutdown of the machine when the water temperature drops sharply at the end of the swimming season.

With regular maintenance, you will learn how the salt chlorinator works and gradually may even be able to prevent very costly breakdowns. Although the system is virtually autonomous, the cell plates wear down due to the constant flow of electric current and the natural accumulation of minerals present in the water.

Cleaning the cell plates (descaling)

The electrolysis process inevitably draws limescale from the water toward the titanium plates. To clean them without damaging the metal, you need to use a very specific technique: immerse the cell in a mixture of water and descaling acid for a few minutes.

• Never scrape the plates with metal objects or stiff-bristled brushes.
• Always use specific reducing chemicals for salt cells.
• Rinse the part with plenty of fresh water before screwing it back onto the equipment-room piping.

System winterization

When the water temperature drops below fifteen degrees Celsius, conductivity decreases dramatically. If the equipment remains switched on under these conditions, the titanium plates will be overworked as they try to generate chlorine and will eventually melt. 

When autumn arrives, the ideal approach is to switch off the electrical panel and keep the water in perfect condition by applying a Pool winterizing product.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about salt chlorinators

Here are precise answers to the common questions that arise just before buying the equipment.

Will the pool water taste like seawater?

Not at all, since the concentration is approximately ten times lower than that of the sea. The salinity level is around five grams per liter, equivalent to the amount of salt in a human tear. Its taste is virtually imperceptible and it is extremely gentle and kind to the skin.

Can I install it in a pool that already uses chemical chlorine?

Yes, the transition is fully compatible and very straightforward. You do not need to empty the pool; simply stop adding tablets to the skimmers, pour in the bags of salt required for your water volume, and learn how to install a salt chlorinator by following our step-by-step guide to connect the new cell to your existing filtration system.

What should I do if the control panel displays the low-salt alarm?

This is the machine's most common warning and simply means that the water's conductivity has decreased. You only need to add one or two bags of salt to the bottom of the pool and remember how to adjust the salt chlorinator from the screen, slightly increasing or decreasing production after an extensive filter backwash or following a heavy storm that has diluted the water.

How long does a chlorinator's titanium cell last?

The average service life of this replacement part is between eight thousand and ten thousand hours of actual operation. If you keep the pH levels under control during the summer and remove built-up limescale at least once a year, the cell will remain in perfect condition for several swimming seasons.

Conclusion: automate your pool and focus on enjoying it

Mastering the entire process of installing and maintaining a salt chlorinator is the best investment of time you can make to forget about eye irritation and automate your water treatment daily life and focus exclusively on enjoying the pool with your family.

Taking the step toward electrolysis transforms a repetitive, demanding task into a system that practically manages itself. The key to success lies in correctly sizing the device according to the number of liters of water, being meticulous with PVC glue during assembly, and controlling the pH with a dosing pump.

Remember that in our online store you have everything you need to carry out this upgrade. We offer chlorination equipment from leading brands, special bags of salt, and all the pool accessories and plumbing materials so your installation project is a success this summer.