You’ve probably heard of salt water pool systems before and if you’re a swimmer, you’ve probably even swam in one. Are you thinking about getting one installed for yourself, but want to know what makes them worth the investment? Well look no further. We cover how the system works, as well as the pros and cons of making the switch from chlorine based to salt water.
While you can convert an existing chlorine pool to salt water, you may be considering purchasing a home that already has a salt water pool in place. It’s important to understand more about how the system works in order to fully understand what you’re signing up for.
Let’s take a look at a few things you need to know about salt water pools.
How Salt Water Pools Work
Salt water pools have a generator that contains a salt cell and a control box. Basically, the system uses electrolysis to create chlorine. So, the main thing you need to know is that salt water pools still use chlorine to clean and sanitize the pool – it just makes its own instead of relying on you to add it in, like you would with a traditional pool. You’ll be adding in salt instead.
Benefits of a Salt Water Pool
The main benefit of having a salt water pool is that you won’t have to add your own chlorine. This means you won’t have to purchase it at the pool supply store all the time and you won’t have to store it around your house. You won’t be handling it at all – and you skip those bags of shock too!
Since the pool still uses chlorine, you won’t be getting away from having it in the pool. The good news is that if you’re sensitive to chlorine, a salt water system usually creates softer, less harsh water than throwing in traditional chlorine tablets or granules.
Drawbacks of a Salt Water Pool
So far, a salt water pool probably sounds pretty good. It is a great system for some, but it also has its downsides that you’ll you want to consider before purchasing a home with a salt water pool or converting your current system.
First of all, if you are looking to install a new pool or convert an old system, you should know that a salt water system is expensive. In addition to purchasing the system itself, you will have to change out existing or upgrade new components of the pool such as the ladder and handrails. These items are usually made of steel, and salt corrodes steel, so you’ll need to convert these components to plastic, composite, or even sealed steel.
Salt is also corrosive to some stone that you typically find around pools. Travertine, flagstone, and certain bluestone can’t withstand the salt, so you’ll want to make sure the deck or patio around your pool isn’t vulnerable to salt corrosion.
Finally, you need to know that it’s important to understand how to maintain a salt water pool and the proper level of salinity and pH you’ll want on a regular basis. If you don’t understand how the system works, the proper levels, and how to maintain it, you could ruin your pool and harm the swimmers who get in it.
When it comes down to deciding if a salt water pool is worth the investment, you should decide carefully. Take the time to talk to some pool servicers and find out about scheduling regular maintenance and what you should know about taking care of your pool. For some, it’s just right, but for others, a traditional chlorine pool is a better fit. Both offer endless hours of fun and relaxation for your family and a break from the summer heat, which is certainly worth the investment.
Author bio – “San Francisco native Darren Johnson is a full-time college student, writer, and SEO expert in training, with a focus on making websites more engaging through their content. Right now, he’s working with the team at allweatherpoolservice.com. You can find him on the Twitterverse @DarrenACJ.”
