Opening your pool is exciting — but if you have a saltwater system, hold off on dumping those salt bags in right away. Here’s why waiting a few extra days can save you a headache (and a lot of water).
Let Your Water Circulate First
When your pool is first opened, the water needs a few days to circulate and balance out before you can get an accurate chemical reading. Jumping in too soon means you’re working with incomplete information, and that can throw off your whole startup process.
Cold Water Gives You a False Salt Reading
Here’s something a lot of pool owners don’t know. Your salt cell won’t give you an accurate reading when the water temperature is below 65°F. Most pools in Oakville open well below that in the spring, so if you’re checking your salt level right after opening, chances are the reading is off.
By waiting until your water warms up a bit, you’ll get a true reading and know exactly how much salt you actually need to add.
Why This Really Matters
Too little salt and your system won’t run properly. Too much salt, though, is a bigger problem the only way to bring the level down is to drain water out of your pool and refill it. Not fun.
Typically, most pools need around 2–3 bags of salt to start the season depending on your pool size, but it’s always best to test first and add based on what your water actually needs.
Not Sure Where You’re At? Come See Us.
We offer free water testing in store at Crush Pools. Bring in a sample and we’ll tell you exactly what your water needs no guesswork. It’s a quick stop that can save you a lot of trouble down the road.
Stop by and see us in Oakville, or give us a call to learn more.
380 Dundas Street E Oakville
Mon-Fri 10am – 5pm
Sat-Sun 10am-4pm
905-580-4741
