An investment in a salt water chlorinator is a much more environmentally friendly option, since they only require non-toxic salt to function. They also require very little energy to run, so they will not significantly increase your pool's energy consumption or carbon footprint.
Yes, salt water generators do cost a good bit of money upfront. The average system is typically anywhere from $1,400–$2,000. Look at it this way: swimming pool owners who use salt, in many cases, will spend less than $100 a year on chemicals.
Saltwater Chlorinators use an electrolytic cell to sanitise your swimming pool. By adding a small amount of salt (sodium chloride) to your pool water, the cell converts the chloride contained in the saltwater into chlorine. This is an extremely efficient and cost-effective method of sanitising your pool.
A well-maintained salt chlorine generator will last 3–7 years. Replacing the salt cell costs $700–$1100. Replacing the control board costs $500–$900. You can extend the lifespans by maintaining a consistent salt level, cleaning the cell only when needed, and using the reverse polarity function.
We definitely think a chlorinator is a worthwhile investment: It automatically and evenly dispenses chlorine (even when you're out of town) You can control the rate that chlorine flows into your pool. You can avoid chlorine tablets in your pool or skimmer (and the vinyl liner stains they can cause.
A Salt Water Chlorinator usually costs anywhere from $800 - $1500 for a decent model, which will also rely on the size of your pool.
Automatic chlorinators will work with pools of varying volumes, depending on the chlorinator and your configuration. For example, some automatic pool chlorinators will sanitize pools of up to 40,000 gallons (a pool that holds 40,000 gallons may be about 12ft.
Overall, you need to run your saltwater generator and pool pump for at least 8 hours daily. Not running either of these long enough means not enough chlorine to sanitize the water. Remember, the pool pump needs to be running simultaneously with the chlorine generator for the salt cell to produce chlorine.
So, not only is shocking a saltwater pool okay, but it's actually important to your pool's health. Shocking is the process in which you overload your pool with chlorine (3-5 times the normal amount) to improve your pool's cleanliness and kill off organic matter.
Adding salt, without a SWG, gives the water what many people describe as a silky feel, but it doesn't give you any of the other advantages of a SWG. For example you can't use lower FC levels with salt the way you can with a SWG.
A Salt Chlorinator uses 0.12 - 0.2kw per hour and will cost 3.6 - 6 cents per hour to run. Running your pool pump after 10pm will cost much less as this is when off peak power usually starts in most areas.
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.
It's recommended to wait at least 20 minutes to swim after adding salt to your pool. If you're adding calcium chloride to your pool water, it's recommended to wait two to four hours before swimming again.
Salt systems will save you a ton of money on chemicals in the long run. While it is true that you will save money by not having to buy nearly as much chlorine, those savings are negated by the initial costs of buying the system, and the cost of replacing the cell every 5-7 years.
Along with other water treatment processes such as coagulation, sedimentation, and filtration, chlorination creates water that is safe for public consumption.
A well-maintained salt chlorine generator will last 3-7 years. Replacing the salt cell costs $700-$1100. Replacing the control board costs $500-$900. You can extend the lifespans by maintaining a consistent salt level, cleaning the cell only when needed, and using the reverse polarity function.
While green algae are endemic in salt water pools, they are the easiest to kill. Green algae tend to grow during summers when the temperatures can get high. They float freely in the pool, making the water green. You might even see them growing on the bottom of the pool, on the walls, or in the crevices.
Pros of Saltwater Pools
There's less chlorine and less of the heavy chemical scent and content. They're gentler on the skin, with less irritation to the eyes, hair and swimsuits. The water has a softer, silkier feel to it compared to chlorine water. They have lower maintenance costs than chlorine pools.
Is a salt water pool easier to maintain? Yes, a salt water pool is easier to maintain! There's no need to purchase, store and add chlorine to your pool. Simply add salt and your pool's salt chlorinator will do all the work of making chlorine.
The size of your pool, the efficiency of your pump and filter, and how dirty your pool is are just some of the factors you need to consider. Nevertheless, most pool cleaning professionals would advise against running a pool pump for more than 8 hours a day.
We suggest you start your salt chlorine generator at 50 percent output and run it for a couple of days, then check the chlorine level. In a balanced pool, a good chlorine level is 1-3 parts per million. If your chlorine levels are low, you can raise the percentage, and if it's high you can lower the percentage.
Although you don't add chlorine tablets to a saltwater pool, it does still contain chlorine. It just has a smaller amount that's generated through the filter system. A saltwater pool contains 10 times less salt than the ocean. There's around 3,000 ppm (parts per million) salinity in a saltwater pool.
Your salt levels will vary depending on the type of chlorinator you have. If you're using the Water TechniX Salt water chlorinator then you should try to aim for a salt level of around 3,000 to 4,000 ppm.
Given that your pool's chlorine demand can have such variation, most pool owners will want to choose a salt chlorinator with a maximum capacity 1.5 times to 2 times your actual pool size. For example, you may want to choose at least a 30,000 gallon max capacity system if you have a 20,000 gallon pool (1.5x more).
Chlorinator systems are designed for disinfection of drinking- and swimming pool water, odor control of slime and marine growths in e.g. cooling water towers, circulating water and service water systems.