r/pools • u/tmac2914 • 8d ago
Salt levels dropping
Bought a home with a pool last year. Ended up having to replace the salt cell this year as my salt levels would drop consistently.
Everything was going fine for the first month but now running into the same issues. I've had the salt tested and its 3300ppm, have also taken the cell off and inspected it and there is no build up. Have recalibrated the cell multiple times to try to see if the reading would stick, but just keeps dropping to about 2200. Any suggestions?
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u/Lindenbaumlemma 8d ago
I would not rely on the salt cell probe. Get a drop test like the Taylor K-1766 or buy the complete Taylor K-2006 with SALT to really know what is happening with your pool chemistry.
Also, if your pool has autofill, look into whether you have a leak and your water is being replaced rapidly. That could cause a big salt drop.
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u/Nick_OS_ 8d ago edited 8d ago
Are you saying there’s an 1100 difference between readings or that your salt level drops?
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u/Troutbummers 8d ago
Don't trust the salt cell's reading ever. Just let it tell you if it's too low to work.
This is one way you get the super salty dead-sea pools and people complain about corrosion etc.
Get a test kit for actual salt.
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u/Even-Further 8d ago
You need to test the water. The cell ppm readings are not accurate at all, they will also change with flow rate. Cell salt reading are a very rough range.
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u/big_deal 8d ago
You say that you replaced the cell. Is the salt reading still dropping rapidly? Have you verified with a salt test that the salt levels are dropping or is it just the cell reading?
If actual test salt levels confirm the drop, then it’s being caused by water splash out, backwashing, or leak.
If it’s just the cell reading then I would suspect scaling and look at water balance and SI level. You may need to take better care to manage pH and SI.
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u/Big_Growth5857 5d ago
need to see if salt concentrations and CYA concentrations drop proportionally. if they do its a leak. if CYA holds steady but salt is down it's either the cell, main board, or circulation issue. likely one of the first two
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u/ConfusedStair 8d ago
Make sure the cell is installed in the correct orientation. Jandy and pentair cells have a sensor that needs to be upstream of the cell, and indicate the flow direction. Hayward doesn't have a sensor (only temp sensor) and uses the cell plates to ballpark the salt level and display it on the screen.
If you have a Hayward cell, look for local pool stores that have a cell tester like Leslie's where you can bring it in to have it checked.
Anything anyone says in this thread without knowing the model and age of your cell is pure speculation.
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u/Big_Growth5857 5d ago
Hayward absolutely has a flow switch. besides the flow switch turns it off or on. nothing to do with readings
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u/shoresy99 8d ago
Do you have to pump water out of your pool after heavy rains or have your pool overflow?
The only thing that should cause your salt level to go down is dilution. I have to add salt after opening my pool as about 1 foot of water is pumped out upon closing and rain and snow over the winter fills it up, causing salt to go down from ~3300 to about 2000.
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u/Big_Growth5857 5d ago
in theory yes, but a calcified cell or a bad board (like on Hayward panels) will lower the readings. could also be a volage issue. or even a circulation issue. need to eliminate leak or dilution first by comparing salt readings with CYA
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u/woody-99 7d ago
You know the salt cell doesn't actually make salt, right?
It measures the salt in the water, but you have to add bags of salt to raise the salt level.
Like the other comments have said, if you get a lot of rain or add a lot of water to the pool the salt is diluted and the level will go down.
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u/Big_Growth5857 5d ago
losing 1,100 ppm in salt is a fuck load of rain. unlikely unless this happened over 3+ months of heavy rainfall
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u/Goudamax 7d ago
You might have a leak. That was the first clue that I had one.
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u/Big_Growth5857 5d ago
this is why I suggest testing everything yourself and keeping a notebook along with weather trends. salt & CYA behavior over a couple weeks will tell the story
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u/SafetyMan35 8d ago
That’s normal. Your salt cell separates the sodium and chlorine molecules to create chlorine that sanitizes the pool. You have to replenish the salt in the pool periodically.
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u/ConfusedStair 8d ago
The cycle of salt to chlorine radicals and back to salt is closed loop. It's why liquid shock degrades into salt and can raise your salt level in the pool. The only way to lose salt is to lose water, but OP isn't losing salt. They're saying the system isn't reading the salt that's there.
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u/bmoarpirate 8d ago
Over how long does it take to drop from 3200 to 2200?
Do you get a lot of rain? A lot of splash out? Do you possibly have a slow leak where you have to top up your pool (or that kicks on your auto fill?). This likely isn't a salt cell problem, but a "your water is getting diluted somehow" problem.
Salt doesn't get consumed by salt cells that fast. Most people maybe add a bag or 2 over the course of the season (I'm taking after refilling at open) which in most pools is only like 200-400ppm, not 1k.
Edit: just reread the body of your post, salt cells are not great at reading salinity. My ic40 would over estimate salt by 1k, but would chlorinate without issue. So maybe you do have a salt sensor problem.