With a properly sized filter and salt chlorinator, run times of 7 – 8 hours will generally be necessary. The defining factor governing filtration times in a salt pool is usually determined by the size of the filter/ioniser and the need to make sufficient chlorine.
Most pools need the chlorine generator to be on for 8-12 hours per day. This will produce enough chlorine to properly sanitize the water.
Changing your chlorinator run time for the warmer weather…
Assuming you're chlorinator has been appropriately sized for your pool, you'll want to run it at LEAST 8 hours per day in summer, 12 if you live in an extremely hot part of the country (such as far north QLD, NT, e.t.c.) or have any form of pool heating.
Since it's summer, set your salt water chlorinator to 80% to 100%. You're going to need all the chlorine you're going to get from your unit as your pool will need it due to a number of reasons: UV rays from the sunlight will “eat” your chlorine faster.
Your salt system can be set to run from 0% to 100% capacity. If you have your system set on 50% capacity and your pool pump is set to run 8 hours per day, then your salt cell will produce chlorine for 50% of that time – or 4 hours.
You should never turn on your salt chlorinator until you have balanced your pool's water and all levels are within range. It is important to maintain salt and chlorine stabilizer levels in order to prevent scaling and to maximize system effectiveness and life.
When you are ready to begin, you will need to turn off the salt chlorinator before adding salt to the water. Don't turn it on again until the salt reaches the proper concentration; if the salt chlorinator is running before dissolving the salt, the pool will have uneven salt concentration.
Chlorine tabs (placed in a chlorinator, floater, or skimmer basket) maintain a chlorine residual in the water. You do need to use both tabs and shock. Without tabs, the chlorine shock will dissipate quickly out of the water; without shock, the chlorine level will not get high enough to fully sanitize the water.
As much as you can
If your question is “How often should I run my pump to keep the pool at its best?” the answer would be 24/7 for as much of the year as the pool is in operation.
It's best to run your pool pump during the day
Not only does sunlight give fuel for algae to grow, it also destroys your pool chlorine and this is why you should always run your pool during the day!
When the pool water temperature drops between 65-62 degrees (depending on the brand), the salt cell will automatically shut down to preserve the lifespan of the cell.
A Salt Chlorinator uses 0.12 - 0.2kw per hour and will cost 3.6 - 6 cents per hour to run.
Add tablets to the chlorinator as needed.
Usually this needs to be done once per week. Always turn off the pump before opening the chlorinator. Don't stand right over the chlorinator because if the unit is plugged up, it can build up dangerous levels of chlorine gas inside and you do not want to inhale that.
When you notice calcium build up the salt cell will need to be cleaned. Even self-cleaning chlorinators experience calcium build up and require cleaning at least every six months.
It's best to add chlorine to your pool at night, so it can work while no one is swimming and the sun has set. If you use a slow-dissolve chlorine treatment like a tab, adding it at night gives it time to dissolve, so the pool will be ready to face the day.
One mistake a lot of people make when it comes to chlorine tablets is adding way too many. Your chlorinator or floater should never be filled to the top with tablets. This would be considered overuse of tablets which plummets your pH, causing your water to become acidic.
The saltwater chlorinator needs a sufficient flow of water for effective operation. A dirty skimmer basket, clogged or dirty filter, and a clogged pump strainer, can cause insufficient water flow for the chlorinator to produce less chlorine.
The ideal salt level is between 2700-3400 ppm (parts per million) with 3200 ppm being optimal.
Low/No chlorine production
You should check the free chlorine levels once a week and adjust the chlorinator accordingly. Make sure the cables are connected to the cell. If the chlorine level is a bit low then the Zodiac saltwater chlorinator has a boost button that will super chlorinate your pool.
Do You Run a Pool Pump While Swimming? While you can run your pump while taking a dip, it is not necessary so long as it has been running recently enough to ensure the water is clean and debris-free.
On average, you should run your pool pump around 6-8 hours per day during winter and 10-12 hours per day during summer. Note that you need to run your pool pump longer during summer because algae grow more in warm temperatures.
Every pool must turn over at least once a day, so most pool pumps should run approximately 8 hours a day. But here's the thing: you don't have to run your pool pump consecutively. You can choose to run it for three hours in the morning before you leave for work and another 5 hours in the evening.
It's often recommended to shock your pool once a week. If you don't do it every week, you should at least do it every other week. This is necessary to maintain your pool's water chemistry. If you have a lot of people over in your pool or have a party, you may want to shock your pool more frequently.