Salt water pool chlorine level
Hayward and Jandy both advise holding free chlorine between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm (parts per million, the unit on your test strip). For Pentair, the figure is 2.0 to 4.0 ppm. The output setting is how you move that number up or down. Chlorine gets made by your cell whenever the pump is on. Pick an output level and pump schedule that land you in range.
The chlorine level to target
Which free chlorine number you shoot for comes down to whose equipment is mounted on your wall. Both Hayward's manual and Jandy's manual say to stay at 1.0 to 3.0 ppm. On top of that, Hayward wants pH to fall between 7.2 and 7.8.
According to Jandy, letting levels stay over 3.0 ppm can eat away at the metal parts in your pool. Got an IntelliChlor cell? Then Pentair's guide points you to 2.0 to 4.0 ppm. Before adjusting the dial, check the water.
The meaning behind the output percentage
Think of the output percentage as the control for how much chlorine your cell puts out. Push it higher for more, lower for less.
The Pentair IC40 handles pools up to 40,000 gallons and turns out 1.4 pounds of chlorine across 24 hours. Running behind? Boost mode pushes the cell to 100% for 24 hours of pump operation.
Setting the chlorinator's run time
Your second control is how long things run. Per Pentair, output can be adjusted two ways: the setting itself or the number of pump hours.
The IC20 suits a pool holding 20,000 gallons. Over 24 hours it produces 0.70 pounds. The IC40 produces 1.4 pounds. Still low? Run the pump longer and retest.
Cells can run for 8,000 to 15,000 hours.
Notice a chlorine odor?
Smell tells you nothing reliable. Check your free chlorine and pH instead.
Your manual lists a goal, either 1.0 to 3.0 ppm or else 2.0 to 4.0 ppm, so check your reading against it. Hayward's pH range is 7.2 to 7.8 as well. Adjust the dial higher or lower, then test again tomorrow.
Questions people bring to the counter
Where should chlorine sit in a salt water pool?
Manuals from Hayward and Jandy call for free chlorine of 1.0 to 3.0 ppm. Pentair suggests staying between 2.0 and 4.0 ppm in your water. In a Jandy setup, never leave levels over 3.0 ppm, since that puts pool metals at risk of corrosion.
How do I bring my chlorine up?
Raise the output setting on the control panel, or simply run the pump for longer. Another option is hitting the boost button if you have a Pentair cell. Boost sends the unit to 100% output across the coming 24 hours that the pump runs.
Is chlorine still needed in a salt water pool?
Yes. Your chlorine comes straight from the salt cell. For pools as large as 40,000 gallons, a Jandy AquaPure 1400 puts out 1.25 pounds of chlorine every 24 hours.
What's the drawback of owning a salt water pool?
Salt cells wear down, and swapping one in runs $700 to $1,100. A cell can run for 8,000 to 15,000 hours. Good care means a generator lasts 3 to 7 years. You'll pay $1,899.99 for a Jandy AquaPure 1400.