We have people call us alot this time of year asking , "Why do you need to install a 3" floating chlorinator when I have a salt pool? Is something wrong with my salt cell generator?"
So I am here to tell you, most likely the answer is an emphatic "No". The salt cell generator is fine. Not to say that is true 100% of the time, but is a large amount of the time.
The reason that we need to install the floating chlorinator is simply due to the fact that we need to keep a little chlorine in the pool even in the cold and winter months.
The salt cell generators are made to work when pool water temperatures are above 60 degrees.
In pool water temperatures that are 60 degrees or below, the salt generators simply shut down and by design do not allow the salt cell to ionize (breakdown) the salt and convert it to chlorine. Once the pool water temperatures rise above 60 degrees again, the control boards automatically recognize this and "kick" the generator back on and allow for the ionization of the salt to be converted to chlorine.
This does not mean that we do not add salt to the pool if readings are low. It simply means that the salt cells need a little help during the cold months when water temperatures are low. We do take the floaters out once the water temperatures heat back up and the salt cells are converting chlorine again. Floaters go in and come out as part of weekly service; see the Partial Service plan. For the rest of the winter checklist, see how to winterize a pool in Texas.
I hope this helps to clear up the need to install the floating chlorinators during the cold months.
