Ideal salt level for a pool
For Hayward AquaRite, 3,200 ppm (parts per million, the number a salt test shows) is the ideal salt level for pool water, and Pentair IntelliChlor does best at 3,600 ppm. The sweet spot for a Jandy AquaPure sits between 3.0 and 3.5 gpl (grams per liter; 1 gpl is 1,000 ppm), and 1 gpl converts to 1,000 ppm. Which number you chase comes down to the unit beside your pump.
What salt level is my chlorinator after?
Hayward AquaRite works from a low of 2,700 ppm up to 3,400, and Hayward's manual calls 3,200 ppm ideal. Set 3,200 ppm as your goal.
Pentair's instructions put Pentair IntelliChlor at 3,600 ppm of salt. The Plus and LT versions also call for 3,600 ppm. Any IntelliChlor should stay within a 2,800 to 4,500 ppm window. Drop under 2,600 ppm and the unit powers down.
Jandy's handbook sets Jandy AquaPure at 3.0 to 3.5 gpl, the same as 3,000 to 3,500 ppm of salt. Under 2.0 gpl, the system switches off.
| Chlorinator | Target | Band in the manual | Turns off below |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayward AquaRite | 3,200 ppm | 2,700 to 3,400 ppm | Not given |
| Pentair IntelliChlor | 3,600 ppm | 2,800 to 4,500 ppm | 2,600 ppm |
| Pentair IntelliChlor Plus and LT | 3,600 ppm | 3,000 to 4,500 ppm | 2,600 ppm |
| Jandy AquaPure | 3,250 ppm | 3.0 to 3.5 gpl (grams per liter: 3,000 to 3,500 ppm) | 2,000 ppm |
| Jandy TruClear | 3,000 ppm | 3,000 ppm, no band | Not given |
| CircuPool | 3,500 ppm | 3,000 to 4,000 ppm | Not given |
| CircuPool SJ series | 4,000 ppm | 4,000 ppm, no band | Not given |
| Intex Krystal Clear | 3,000 ppm | 2,500 to 3,500 ppm | Not given |
| Bestway Flowclear | 3,000 ppm | 3,000 ppm, no band | Not given |
What low salt does?
Not enough salt makes your cell slow down or stop working. Below 2,700 ppm, Hayward blinks Check Salt and works at reduced efficiency. Pentair points to APSP guidance: free chlorine should fall between 2.0 and 4.0 ppm.
According to Pentair's product page, Plus and LT units display Add Salt under 3,000 ppm. Pentair cells switch off once levels drop under 2,600 ppm. Below 2.0 gpl, Jandy shuts down. The manual warns that running low on salt shortens the cell's life.
Your cell also shuts down in cold water, no matter what the salt reading is. Under 50 °F, Hayward stops, and Pentair quits below 52 °F. Once you pour in salt, keep the pump going for 24 hours so it can dissolve.
What high salt does?
Excess salt gives the water a salty taste and can harm your equipment. Salt becomes noticeable on your tongue at 3,500 to 4,000 ppm. Above 4,500 ppm, Pentair cautions against high salt since corrosion becomes more likely.
Salt over 4.0 gpl can harm the power center, Jandy cautions. Once salt passes 6.0 gpl, it can corrode the pool's fixtures. Bring it down by draining part of the water and topping up with fresh water. That's the only fix, according to Hayward.
How do ppm and gpl stack up?
Salt is measured in ppm, meaning parts per million, by Hayward and Pentair. The Jandy AquaPure displays gpl, short for grams per liter.
With pool water, 1 gpl works out to 1,000 ppm. Times gpl by 1,000: 3.0 gpl becomes 3,000 ppm, and 3.5 gpl becomes 3,500 ppm. Pentair's sensor can miss by 500 ppm, high or low. Check the water before pouring in any bags.
Questions people bring to the counter
Is 4,000 ppm of salt too much for a pool?
Hayward counts that as high. Salt becomes noticeable on your tongue around 3,500 to 4,000 ppm, and Hayward's ideal range stops at 3,400 ppm. Jandy cautions that anything above 4.0 gpl may harm the power center, though Pentair works fine up to 4,500 ppm.
What tells me my pool is short on salt?
Both Hayward and Pentair units alert you once salt drops too far. Below 2,700 ppm, Hayward AquaRite blinks Check Salt, while Pentair Plus and LT models display Add Salt under 3,000 ppm. Pentair sensors can miss by 500 ppm, so check the water first before you dump in salt.
What if the salt in my pool gets too high?
Salty taste shows up once water hits 3,500 to 4,000 ppm, and your equipment can suffer at high levels. Pentair flags corrosion danger above 4,500 ppm, while Jandy notes salt over 4.0 gpl may hurt the power center. To bring salt down, partly drain the pool and top it back up with fresh water; there's no other fix.
How do I add more salt to my pool?
Pick pool salt made of more than 99% pure sodium chloride. Salt with anti caking additives, iodized salt, rock salt and yellow prussiate of soda are all off limits. After pouring the salt in, run your filter pump 24 hours to dissolve and mix it.