Salt Water Chlorinators For Above Ground Pools
SwimmingPoolSteve.com is user-supported. In order to keep this resource about pools and spas available for free to all readers I earn commissions for purchases made through links on this page. For more information see the full disclaimer page. By using this website you are agreeing to the terms and conditions.
Salt water chlorinators for above ground pools are different than the ones made for inground pools. In addition to the volume output of these salt water systems being lower, to accommodate the relatively smaller size of above ground pools, the actual physical units are also different. Salt water chlorinator manufacturers strive to make the installation of your system as easy as possible for you, and above ground salt systems have port sizes suitable for common above ground pool pipe size. Also, since flow switches are required, above ground pool systems have flow switches that are more compact and easier to install.
There are a few additional differences in above ground pool salt systems and inground pool salt systems such as above ground systems typically come with a permanent electrical plug attached, where inground systems typically require a hard wired electrical connection. All of this probably sounds pretty straight forward so far, which it is, but buying the right salt water system for your above ground pool is a little more complicated. The biggest reason for this is that there is a wide range of pools that can all technically be called "above ground pools". It would be easy to get some bad advice about what is best for your pool if you are not aware of the differences in above ground pool styles. To help you understand the different classes of above ground pools you can read this article: types of above ground pools.
Required reading before buying salt water - If you want to convert your pool to salt water there is a lot of technical information that you really should review. Salt water can potentially damage your pool, or parts of your pool system, at a faster rate than it would otherwise deteriorate. This is due to a corrosive process known as galvanic corrosion and if you want to inform yourself more about the potential concerns of salt water then you can read this article that I wrote previously: Is salt water bad for your pool?.
Complete list of how much chlorine every salt system can generate - Salt is added to the pool and through electrolysis chlorine is generated. The amount of chlorine that a given cell can generate in 24 hours determines the appropriate pool size that the system will operate effectively on. This is a great metric with which to create an apples to apples comparison between different brands of chlorine generators. For a list of almost every brand, make and model of pool salt water chlorinator compared with how much chlorine they can generate in 24 hours read these comparison reviews of the best pool salt systems.
Not every above ground pool is suitable for use with salt water chlorinators. Typically salt water compatible above ground pools will be called resin pools, and will cost substantially more than a regular above ground pool. Regular above ground pools usually have aluminum rails and other metal equipment that can be damaged by salt water at an advanced rate versus a traditional chlorine pool. A salt water compatible above ground pool will have powder coating, resin coating or plastic pieces to help ensure that the kit will withstand the potential for increased rates of corrosion.
How To Install A Salt System On An Above Ground Pool
Choosing the right salt water chlorinator for your pool, and installing it properly, basically comes down to what type of plumbing your pool has. Very entry level pools come with a pipe that is similar to vacuum hose used for swimming pools. Mid grade above ground pools might use 1 1/4" flexible PVC pipe, and more robust above ground pools might have 1 1/2" flexible PVC pipe. 2" pipe would be very rare on above ground pools, not that there would be anything wrong with having it. In general, larger pipe is better for swimming pool flow rates. It would also be rare to have rigid PVC pipe on an above ground pool, again not that there would be anything wrong with it. Rigid pipe, generally speaking, is better than flexible PVC pipe in every way except that flex pipe seems to survive direct burial in areas that experience below freezing temperatures in the winter.
The "best salt system" for your pool really just means one that is suitably sized to the volume of your pool, and one that will install without too much adaptation being required in order to fit it into your plumbing system. In truth, a well stocked pool plumber would be able to adapt any pipe size, material or orientation by simply selecting the right reducer bushing or adapter for the siltation. The average pool owner is not going to experience this level of convenience. For example I can look at a piece of pipe from across the room and tell you what type and size it is. Even with a tape measurer you might struggle to determine what size of pipe you have. To make it easy, 1 1/2" pipe is the same size in diameter as a can of soda. Or beer. Use beer. Smaller is 1 1/4" and larger is 2".
When you install the system into your pool the method you use will depend on which system you choose. The vast majority of systems will require you to cut open the plumbing system, and then install the salt system in place. Some salt systems will come with hose clamps to connect your pool pipes to the generation cell, and other systems require that you glue them in place. Either is fine, so long as it is connected securely and with the right fittings for each application. To learn more about pool plumbing materials, PVC glue and how to make plumbing connections you can read this article about pool plumbing materials.
Salt cell placement
It is very important that you install the generation cell directly before the water is returned to the pool. The cell generates chlorine and this chlorine, when concentrated, can cause damage to pool equipment, plastics and anything else it comes in contact with. For this reason the salt cell should be the final component installed right before the water returns into the pool.
It does not need to be physically close to the pool wall, just make sure that there are no additional components for the water to flow through, like a pool heater, before going back to the pool. If you had a heater it would be very important to have the water go through the heater before going through the generator cell.
If you have a heater you should also read this article I wrote about do pool heaters need a check valve? to learn about the potential for damage from salt chlorine generators leaking chlorine back into pool heaters that are installed behind them in the pool system.
How to install a salt generator - The physical installation of an above ground salt system is very straight forward. Your unit will come with instructions about how much salt you need to add to your pool. Installing the cell will be as simple as connecting two pieces of pipe to it and plugging the unit in. If this still sounds intimidating to you then you will benefit from this additional article that breaks down the process of how to install a pool salt system.
**Please Note - While the installation of the cell and adding salt to the pool is very easy, be sure to measure the salt content in your water before you start adding. You might incorrectly assume that you are starting from zero when you might have a few hundred or a thousand ppm of sodium in your water already. This is especially true if you have been operating this pool as a regular chlorine pool already. Avoid adding too much salt to your pool. The only way to lower the level is to drain water and replace with non-salinated water.
Best Salt System For Above Ground Pools
You need to know the volume of your pool as this will determine which model of salt chlorine generator you should buy. Each unit that you look at will have a rating for the volume of pool that it is suitable to be used on. To calculate the volume of your pool read this article on how to size your pool equipment. As a general rule of thumb you want to pick a system that is well large enough for the pool, if not a little oversized. For example, if I had a 10,000 gallon pool I would not want a system that goes up to 10,000 gallons. Sure it would probably work, but I would rather buy a system for a 12,000 gallon pool, or 15,000 gallon pool and then run it on a lower setting than the 10,000 gallon unit. By sizing your salt system like this you can usually get an extra season or two of life out of each cell without too much extra cost involved. There is a point of diminishing returns with this so buying the largest salt cell on the market for your swim spa is probably a bad idea.
When it comes to which is the best salt system for above ground pools this simply comes down to picking a trusted name brand product. There are a lot of salt systems on the market, and not all of them are great. Specifically the titanium used on the cells is very expensive to manufacture and this is where cheaper systems will end up failing early. If you buy an off brand name salt water chlorinator for your pool,, like from the local hardware store or big box chain store, then you almost certainly have purchased a lemon. If I had an above ground pool, and I needed to buy a salt water system for it without any industry insider connections or wholesale discounts, I would buy one of these units and install it myself:
Intex Krystal Clear Saltwater System
Buy From Amazon: Intex 26669EG - for pools up to 15,000 gallons
Buy from Amazon: Intex 26667EG - for pools up to 7,000 gallons
The Intex Krystal Clear above ground salt water system is the industry standard unit for temporary pools and very entry level above ground pools. If your pool only cost you $500 then it is hard to justify an add-on salt system that is another $500. For these pools this Intex system will allow you to add salt, and convert this salt to chlorine. This is suitable for pools up to 15,000 gallons and this system can generate up to 0.60 lbs of chlorine every 24 hours (also available for pools up to 7,000 gallons). It is not specifically high quality, but it is very affordable. I would encourage anyone with a more permanent above ground pool to pass on this unit and go for one of the more professional grade brands listed below.
Solaxx CLG10A Saltron Above Ground Salt Chlorine Generator
Buy From Amazon: Solaxx CLG10A - for pools up to 20,000 gallons
The Solaxx CLG10A Saltron above ground salt chlorine generator is the ideal salt system if you have an entry level above ground pool and you are worried about how difficult it will be to install the cell. While it really is not very hard to install a salt system on an above ground pool, I can understand that different people have different skill levels. This unit installs inside the pool, hanging over the edge, which makes installation as easy as it comes for salt water chlorinators. This unit is good for pools up to 20,000 gallons and can generate up to 0.40 lbs of chlorine every 24 hours. I would encourage most above ground pool owners to look towards a cleaner installation with one of the systems listed below where the cell is installed into the plumbing system.
Hayward AquaTrol Above Ground Salt Chlorination System
Buy from Amazon: Hayward AQ-TROL-RJ - Return Jet Style
Buy from Amazon: Hayward AQ-TROL-HP -Hard Plumbed Style
Buy from PoolSuppliesCanada.ca: Hayward AQ-TROL-RJ - Return Jet Style
The Hayward AquaTrol above ground salt chlorination system is probably the most popular pool salt system on the market for above ground pools. It is suitable for pools up to 18,000 gallons and outputs an impressive maximum of 0.65lbs of chlorine every 24 hours. The pictured model is the RJ or "return jet" mounted style where the cell mounts directly to the pool wall at the return port. You can also purchase a version that is similar to inground pool units where it is hard plumbed in place near where the pump is located. The capability of each version is the same, just the way it connects into the system is different.
Pentair IC15 IntelliChlor Above Ground Salt Chlorinator
Buy from Amazon: Pentair IC15
Buy from PoolSuppliesCanada.ca: Pentair IC15
The Pentair IC15 IntelliChlor above ground salt chlorinator is another extremely popular model of salt chlorinator from arguably the highest quality pool equipment manufacturer in the game. This system is suitable for pools up to 15,000 gallons in size and is capable of outputting up to 0.60 lbs of chlorine every 24 hours. The inground pool version of salt systems from Pentair sell the cell and power center separately, but this above ground unit comes with the cell, power center, and fittings to connect into your plumbing system.
Yes there are lots of other above ground pool salt water systems on the market and if you can find a good deal on one not listed here then it might very well be a good opportunity for you. Just be sure to choose a recognized brand, and a company that has been making salt chlorine generators for many years as this will help to ensure that you get what you pay for...as well as a reasonable amount of longevity out of the cell. You should also be aware that adding a salt system to your pool will change the way in which you manage the water chemistry. Despite what you might have heard, salt water pools are NOT maintenance free, or chemical free. To learn more about specific issues associated with caring for salt water pools you can read this article about salt water pool maintenance.
Top content from www.SwimmingPoolSteve.com
Pool and spa chemistry crash course
New pool owner guide
The Swimming Pool Steve blog
Have a question - ask Steve
Swimming Pool Steve is an award winning, second generation swimming pool specialist from Ontario Canada and one of the most trusted voices in the swimming pool industry. With over 20,000,000 views on the Swimming Pool Steve YouTube Channel, winner of the Pleatco Pool & Spa Industry Leadership award and author of hundreds of pool and spa articles both online and in print. Steve is committed to helping pool and spa owners as well as pool and spa industry workers learn more about the technical side of building, renovating, repairing and maintaining all types of swimming pools and spas. Follow Swimming Pool Steve on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Paid PDF Books From Swimming Pool Steve
Steve's Pool Survival Guide
The Swimming Pool Steve Pool Survival Guide is intended to help pool owners understand their pool and pool equipment better, understand water chemistry, water testing and chemical corrections to the water, troubleshoot the most common pool problems and have confidence in interacting and caring for their pool in the fastest possible frame of time. Also covers pool safety, things to avoid and how to operate your pool more efficiently.
Salt Water Recommendations
Are you considering upgrading to salt water in your pool? In this paid PDF Steve talks about which pools should avoid using salt water. Find out concerns about using salt in your pool but also the potential benefits of salt water. Finally hear which specific brand and model of salt chlorine generator Steve thinks is the best option currently available to pool owners and how to choose the right size salt system for your pool.
New Pool Heater Buyer's Guide
In this guide Swimming Pool Steve will help you to better understand your heater options as well as which would be best suited for your pool. Learn about BTU output and sizing of both gas/propane heaters as well as electric heat pumps for residential swimming pools. You will also learn about which specific brands and models of currently available pool heaters Steve likes to recommend. If you are thinking of adding a new pool heater to your equipment pad this buyer's guide would be a useful resource to help you make a more informed buying decision.
New Pool Installation Value Guide
This is a value shopping guide written by Swimming Pool Steve to help home owners hiring for a new pool installation to get the maximum value for their investment with tips about how to protect your interests during the vetting, hiring and pool installation process. Anyone serious about having a pool installed will find value in this guide. Pool installers will sell the pool package that is best for them - not for you! Become an informed value shopper with this PDF guide.
Endorsed Brands From Swimming Pool Steve
The following links and products are to affiliates of the Swimming Pool Steve website. These are brands, products and services hand selected by Steve for endorsement. Please note that these endorsements can include monetary compensation, affiliate links and referral fees to Swimming Pool Steve, however there is zero additional cost to you should you use one of these products or services. Income generated from these links helps to keep this pool and spa resource available for everyone. To have your product or service considered for listing here as an endorsed brand email SwimmingPoolSteve@gmail.com.
Amazon Disclosure Statement - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
www.PoolPartsToGo.com
New Black + Decker variable speed pumps are available online from www.PoolPartsToGo.com and they are a drop in replacement for many popular pump models including Pentair Superflo and Hayward Super Pumps. With an adjustable platform base, union connections included and a very strong warranty these pumps offer an impressive value to pool owners.
- Swimming Pool Steve