Yes, a salt water pool has a reduced cost of operation as compared to a traditional chlorinated pool. This cost savings is primarily because chlorine is generated from salt and there is no need to buy chlorine. Additionally, salt water pools require fewer chemicals to keep the water clean and clear.
Many people use liquid chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) or solid chlorine compressed with cyanuric acid (granular or in tablets). In the case of a salt chlorine generator, you use salt (NaCl).
Saltwater pools require "free" chlorine to kill harmful bacteria that could make swimmers sick. On average, your saltwater pool should have a free chlorine reading of 1.0 to 3.0 ppm. If the level drops below 1.0 ppm, the water is not safe to swim in until chlorine is added.
When the free chlorine level is low, that usually means it's time to add more salt, but it may mean a couple of other things as well. For instance, low chlorine readings can indicate that you need to increase the chlorinator output or run it more frequently.
Superchlorinate after rainstorms or heavy pool use, but for algae, chloramines or contamination, you will need to use packaged pool shock. In summary, shocking a saltwater pool is no different than shocking any other chlorine pool.
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.
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.
You can spend less time checking levels and more time splashing around. For most people, the big selling point for saltwater pools is, well, the salt! The lower-chlorine saltwater is better for swimmers' hair, skin and eyes. Additionally, it also tends to be less harsh on pool toys and swimsuits.
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.
Again, you can use baking soda to raise it or muriatic acid to lower it. Cyanuric acid or CYA is the preferred stabilizer for salt water pools, and it should be at 70 to 80 ppm. Last but not least is calcium hardness. You should aim for 200 to 400 ppm of calcium to prevent scaling and corrosion.
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.
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.
Saltwater pools can definitely be heated just like freshwater pools. The saltwater chlorinator does not affect heating units, so you will not have to worry about this when installing a heater in your swimming pool. The heating units will also be set up and installed in the same way as in chlorine pools.
Low-Cost Annual Maintenance
The average annual cost to maintain a swimming pool is anywhere from $100 to $400. Saltwater pools will fall anywhere from $70 to $100 annually, as you don't need to balance the chemicals nearly as often.
You should review the salt cell at least every two months. Most need cleaning a minimum of every six months, and sometimes more often, so checking the cell is essential to make sure it doesn't need replacing.
You can convert your chlorine pool into a saltwater swimming pool and enjoy the benefits of salt water chlorination right in your own backyard. If your pool has a traditional chlorine sanitization system, you can easily switch to Hayward's advanced salt chlorination system.
If you have a pool, insist and encourage guests, visitors, and family to shower after swimming. This may seem like a moot point, even a waste of water, but it should be a protocol that you facilitate every time you swim.
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.
You won't have to spend as much money to maintain an above ground saltwater pool, either. That's because the typical life span of a salt cell is three to seven years. And when you use a saltwater system instead of chemicals, you will no longer have to buy chlorine tablets, liquid chlorine, or as many shock treatments.
It costs an average of $25,000 to install a saltwater pool, with a typical range of $12,000 to $38,500. You may only have to pay $500 to $2,500 if you already have a pool and want to convert it. The four main costs are pool installation, the saltwater chlorination system, the pool heater, and filling it with water.
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.
The slimy feel on your pool walls is an early indication of algae growth. To stop algae growth in its tracks, clean the pool filter first. Before adding any chemicals to the pool, make sure you have a clean filter. Cartridge, sand or diatomaceous earth filters all have their own backwashing methods for cleaning.
Generally, it's recommended to wait about 10 minutes between adding each pool chemical. Some pool chemicals like pool salt and cyanuric acid take longer to dissolve in the pool water. The aim is to avoid strong concentrations of chemicals mixing together.