A saltwater pool is an alternative to a traditional chlorine pool. 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.
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.
As previously mentioned, saltwater pools are not chlorine-free, nor are they chemical-free. A salt water pool is a chlorinated pool, with an alternative delivery system. As such, you will still need other pool chemicals when using a salt chlorine generator.
People who use saltwater pools are still producing chlorine through saltwater generators. Saltwater will sanitize your pool, but it does so through electrolysis, which produces bacteria-killing chlorine. In other words, saltwater pools are no healthier or safer than chlorinated ones.
A short video produced recently by the American Chemical Society answers the question, “Is it OK to Pee in the Ocean?” with a resounding “yes!” Ocean swimmers, relax, and know that your, eh, “contribution” is processed by the marine environment. Pool swimmers, you are not off the hook.
Basically by draining your salt water pool when you want to make the switch to chlorine, you are starting from scratch. You obviously no longer need salt for your pool. This is going to be replaced with chlorine tablets.
PRO: Saltwater pool is softer on your eyes and skin.
By avoiding the use of store-bought chlorine products, the occurrence of chloramines in the water can be reduced. This helps to prevent the uncomfortable side effects—and the strong chemical smell—that are common with traditional chlorine pools.
Saline pools have become the modern way of chlorinating a pool. The saltwater initially converts into chlorine. For that process to occur, a chlorine generator is used through electrolysis. This operation breaks down the salt (which gets to the pool water) and converts it into chlorine.
When it comes to maintenance costs, we can consider saltwater swimming pools less expensive than traditionally chlorinated pools. Besides not being necessary to buy chlorine, (because it's generated from the salt) saltwater pools require fewer chemicals to keep the water clear and clean.
This increases the salt content in the body, raising the blood pressure of patients with salt-related blood pressure and may cause heart attacks, ”said Meriç, adding that although swimming regularly has health benefits in all aspects, this is not true for some people.
This start-up investment may be recouped in a few years with less expensive day-to-day chemical needs. A saltwater pool requires less than $100 a year in salt and chemicals if it is consistently maintained. A chlorine pool, on the other hand, will cost between $300 and $800 per year in maintenance chemicals.
A salt pool sanitizes the water with chlorine just like other pools. The difference between them is in how the chlorine is added to the pool. Salt chlorine generators convert sodium chloride (NaCl), also known as table salt, into chlorine. These salt generators, also called salt cells, work by electrolysis.
Here's how it works: You add pool-grade salt to your pool and wait until it dissolves. Power is applied to the chlorine generator to convert the dissolved salt into chlorine. Fresh, pure chlorine treated water is returned to the pool for complete sanitization and swimming comfort. It's as simple as that!
Gentle on Eyes – Saltwater pools have much less salt than the ocean. When you open your eyes under water or get splashed in the face, it doesn't sting. The salt concentration is very similar to that of human tears. Most people have experienced the fumes associated with an indoor hotel pool.
Shock your pool once a week with Salinity Surge Shock or Salinity Oxidizing Shock. Pool shock works as an added defense against bacteria and contaminants. With Oxidizing shock, you can use your pool after just 15 minutes!
A saltwater pool is more expensive than a traditional pool because it requires a higher initial investment. Compared to chlorinated pools, a saltwater pools system is more complex. Both minor and major repairs will call for the expertise of a licensed (and specialized) technician.
Swimming in a salt water pool is better on the joints and muscles than a traditional chlorinated pool. Salt water contains bromide, a mineral that helps relieve those everyday aches, pains and soreness we all feel deep within our joints and muscles.
Pee contains a very low amount of bacteria—less, in fact, than what's normally lingering on your skin—and it's healthy bacteria. So go ahead, whip it out in the shower.
Salt systems are actually chlorine generators, using a process called electrolysis. Electrolysis happens by sending electricity through saltwater (sodium chloride, or NaCl), which interacts with the chloride ion in the salt. This creates chlorine in the water, and a very high-pH byproduct called sodium Hydroxide.
A saltwater pool uses a salt chlorine generator. This means that instead of adding chlorine to the pool water, you add salt, and the generator converts it to chlorine.
The ideal saltwater chlorine generator output is between 50% and 70%. If the saltwater system output is set too low, then you'll need to run the chlorine generator for a longer time. We'll go deeper into the chlorine generator output later in this article.
Saltwater pools offer a better swimming environment, and while it might feel better on the skin and does not cause eye irritation, it's not without its problems. Saltwater is corrosive to metal and tends to corrode any metal objects near the pool such as outdoor furniture and even nearby grills.
Salt water isn't much better: "Like chlorine, the salts in ocean water dry out your hair and damage the cuticle." Ultimately, too many summer swims (you know, if there were such a thing) can weaken strands and cause breakage.