VivoPools

There are many pros and cons to salt water pools. First off, many people may mistakenly think that there is no chlorine in salt water pools; however, the salt generator actually converts salt into chlorine, which is what sanitizes the pool.

With that said, salt water pools tend to be much more comfortable for swimmers, much like a mild saline solution, making them a popular choice. The salt content in salt water pools is proportionately the same as that in human tears. So you can safely open your eyes even while underwater. The small amount of salt in the water can also make the skin feel softer and smoother.

Also, salt chlorination systems can produce an adjustable amount of chlorine each day, though they can only produce chlorine when the swimming pool pump is on. This constant supply of chlorine keeps the pool well chlorinated all throughout the week, rather than adding chlorine once per week and depending on slowly dissolving tablets to replace any chlorine that might have been used up.

Lastly, the latest salt water systems are capable of monitoring cleanliness and automatically cleaning the pool water. This is handy if you were to leave town for an extended period of time.

Now, for the cons to a salt water pool. In general, they are more expensive systems, both to install and maintain over time. Since salt is naturally corrosive to metals, a salt system should never been installed to a swimming pool that has a metal filter or copper plumbing. The chlorine created from a salt chlorination system also has a very high pH balance, which means more acid will be required to add to the swimming pool water to keep the pH properly balanced. The water chemistry still has to be properly balanced every week to make sure that the chlorine produced is doing its job properly.

Salt chlorination cells have to be inspected once every 90 days and cleaned as needed to keep them functioning properly. The cell itself typically lasts about 2-3 years and can be expensive to replace.

Lastly, the backwash or wastewater that comes from a salt water swimming pool is known to kill plants and dissolve beneficial soil nutrients. As a result, this type of pool has been linked to crop damage in some areas in Australia and even in the US. It is not surprising that there are American towns and localities that prohibit the use of salt water swimming pools. So, you need to first check with local authorities before you invest in this type of swimming pool.

Overall, with all the pros and cons in mind, salt chlorination systems can be a good choice for those that think the increased comfort of swimming in salt water is worth the additional costs of installation and maintenance over time. Another factor to consider is the cost savings of not having to purchase buckets of chlorine over time.

We hope this gave you a comprehensive overview, and should you decide to switch to a salt water system, please do not hesitate to give VivoPools a call!