Salt water pools offer a more convenient sanitization method over traditional chlorine. The reliable systems operate independently and are easy to maintain. Salt water chlorination produces clean, clear, silky-smooth water that's luxuriously soft.
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.
Most people are able to convert their inground pools to a salt system for around $1,700 to $2,500 plus the cost of salt (typically 25 cents to 63 cents per pound). This cost includes the salt chlorine generator, which can vary in price depending on the size and manufacturer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Every 3 months, make sure you open and inspect your salt water cell. You'll want to check for scale build up, as well as deposits. If it's clear of any debris, you can reinstall it, but if there are deposits, you can use a high-pressure hose to flush them off.
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.
Make sure to rinse your hair and wash your swimsuit after you swim. Showering after you swim will keep your skin from becoming dry. You don't have to worry about picking up a germ, and you'll get rid of that chlorine smell. It only takes a few minutes to shower, so make sure you make it a priority.
If this chlorine smell was noticed after the pool was getting a lot of use that could be expected as it's oxidizing all the bather waste. If it's all the time, you could be battling algae and keeping enough chlorine to keep it from getting out of hand but not enough chlorine to eliminate it.
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.
Some Misconceptions About Salt Water Systems
You need a special pump and filter to run a salt water pool. There is no such thing as a “salt water pump” or “salt water filter”; any pool pump or filter will do just fine.
12x24 Inground Pool Cost
The cost for this size, on average, will be between $26,000 and $38,000, depending on the type of material used. Materials and their average associated costs are as follows: Concrete, $38,000. Fiberglass, $34,000.
Since you are converting your pool from chlorine, the pool salinity level should be near zero, and as a general rule of thumb you will want to add 30 pounds of salt per 1000 gallons. Pour the salt directly into your pool, sweep it around if it collects on the bottom, wait 24 hours, and then turn on your generator!