High salt in chlorine pool?

Question

we were told that our salt level (total dissolved solids) in our chlorine pool was rediculously high. apparently we have to empty our pool and refill it because the water is "old" (compliments of the previous homeowner!)
anyone head of this, or know what else we can do in the mean time to decrease the salt level (TDS)? we cant empty the pool until the air temp is below 80 (we're in arizona and that wont be till october!)

Answer 1

I'm very curious as to what "rediculously high" TDS is. Total dissolved solids are something to think about when owning a pool, but for the most part you can flush these out without having to drain the pool or even partial drain the pool. Many things will pull water from your pool (evaporation, swimmer discard, backwash/rinse cycle, etc) and then require you to refill partially. Each time you do this the TDS is diluted a bit more.

Drop me a line at [e-mail] with the complete chemical readings of your pool (free and total chlorine, alkalinity, hardness, pH, TDS, etc), filtration system, chlorination system, material the pool is made of, gallon size of the pool, turn over rate of the pool pump. With this information I can help you with anything that you may encounter in your pool and can verify if you have to do this costly "fix".

Answer 2

If you are on a salt system that uses an electro charge to turn it in to chlorine to sanitize your pool- then you need to turn that system off- Sunlight will burn off the chlorine level in your pool. You can get some salt testing strips to test the pool's salt level at any pool store. I think you put about an inch of water in the cup and stick a strip in it and after so long it will tell you the salt content.
Give me anymore details and I can help you out, but I've never heard of having to empty and refil a pool because of salt content, you usually have to do that if your calcium is high, but not salt, that burns off itself, it's used to make chlorine.
There is no reason to drain your pool very much. If you want to drain it a few inches and put some fresh, that's fine, but the sun will on it's own take down the water will heat over time so you will need to occasionally add some to keep it mid way of the skimmer every week any way. I've cleaned up swamp water before, there is hardly ANY reason ANY TIME you will EVER need to drain your pool water.

Answer 3

yep, you should replace half the water every 2 years... when chemicals are added, they build up... I recommend replacing half to two thirds of the water now, then the entire pool in october... and once you do this, use dry or tablet chlorine... the liquid contains more salts...