Salt water pools are a more environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional chlorine pool. The advantages of a salt water pool system are the long term savings from not requiring chemicals, a reduction in required maintenance, and softer feeling water.
The initial price of a salt water pool chlorinator is one that may dissuade some—units often run over $1,000. The Pool Frog Mineral Hybrid (25,000 gallon), the Aqua Rite Chlorine Generator, and the Zodiac LM3 Salt Chlorine Generator all cost in excess of one thousand dollars. Purchasing a salt water chlorine generator can be an expensive initial investment, but it is one that certainly pays off over time.
Salt for an averaged size family pool runs a cost of $20 to $30 for the pool season. Chlorine, however, cost roughly $50 to $60 every month. Sunlight, rainfall, backwashing, and water loss require you to add additional chlorine.
The advantages of a salt water pool chlorine extend beyond cost. They are safer for kids and pets, requiring lower levels of free chlorine in the water. Skin and hair also do not suffer the level of abuses that are so common with chlorine pools, and clothing does not suffer fading or bleaching which chlorine tablets are known to do.
Despite the pool being technically regarded as a salt water pool, the low required salinity levels do not leave you feeling as if you are swimming in the ocean. You also do not taste the salt in the water like you would in the ocean.
The disadvantages to consider in salt water pool chemicals are corrosion and scaling. Salt is a heavily corrosive substance and will damage metal rails and pool furniture. It also slowly eats away at the pool surface. Scaling occurs when excess calcium builds up on the pump’s titanium plates and is then emptied into the pool. The buildup then floats to the pool’s surface, requiring regular skimming across the top of the pool to remove it.
One interesting comparison between a salt water pool systems and traditional chlorine pools is the concept of evaporation. When a chlorine pool evaporates, it takes some of the chlorine chemicals with it. Salt, however does not evaporate with the water.
Chlorinated pools have their own merits. Chlorine is better suited to clean up bacteria floating around in a pool. As well, the time it takes to clean up a dirty pool at the start of the season with chlorine is often one or two days, while a salt water swimming pool might be clean after four or five days depending on the levels.
