How often is salt needed with SWG?

[mshumack]

I find that I need to add more salt to my pool. I thought the salt was only lost by splash out or refiiling. But my salt level has appearently dropped from 3400 to 2700ppm. Some of the drop could perhaps be attributed to the heavy rains over the past month.

My neighbor (who also has a SWG) says it is normal to add salt periodically. He says the salt is consumed by the chlorine manufacturing process and as the chlorine is used (sanitizing) the pool there is not enough "chloride" left to recombine into salt - which is why the PH increases and necessitates adding the muratic acid. Then you need to add more salt for the process to continue. Does any of this make sense?

Thanks.

[mas985]

I think your neighbor needs to read up more on SWGs. The only way to reduce salt in the pool is through splash out or a leak. The chemical process is pretty well documented on this. http://www.goldlinecontrols.com/ElectronicChlorination.aspx

Also, salt readings can be influenced by water temperature or scale on the cell so it is not unusual for the readings to be off. But it would be a good idea to check for leaks anyway.

[mshumack]

That's what I thought. Thanks for the link.

My change in salt level must be due to the dilution from rain - if in fact I am lossing salt. I still have not confirmed that the (low salt) SWG readout is correct. I also posted a question regarding the PS234S salt test because that test says I have an plenty of salt in the pool. Your reply further confirms my suspicion that the SWG is not reading the salt levels correctly.

Thanks.