There are many factors to consider when building or upgrading your own backyard oasis. One of the biggest decisions you’ll face is which type of sanitizing system you’ll be using to keep the water clean and healthy. Generally speaking, the two primary choices available to most homeowners would be either the salt pool or chlorine pool. In this article, we will discuss the primary differences between a salt pool and a chlorine pool, including the benefits, drawbacks, and other considerations you should factor into your decision.
One of the biggest misconceptions that we hear from pool owners is that salt pools do not contain chlorine. Technically speaking, chlorine is not added directly to the pool in the same way it would be in a chlorine pool, but chlorine is still the primary chemical for killing bacteria and sanitizing the water. Well, if chlorine isn’t being added, how does the chlorine get into the salt pool? The chlorine is actually a derivative of the salt added to the water. This process happens when the salt water is run through electrodes that are plumbed into your pool equipment – a process called ‘electrolysis’. Thinking back to Chemistry 101, salt is actually a compound of sodium and chloride (NaCl). The process of electrolysis essentially separates the chloride element from the sodium element, resulting in the production of chlorine.
If salt pools actually contain chlorine, then what is the benefit of having a salt pool instead of a traditional chlorine pool? It turns out that there are several benefits. First and foremost, the salt pools derive their chlorine in a way that is much less harsh than pouring liquid chlorine or chlorine tabs directly into the water. Second, the chlorine is produced consistently in small amounts, so you won’t have big peaks and troughs when it comes to your chlorine levels. This results in several key benefits to having a salt pool in comparison to a traditional chlorine pool, including:
Taking this into consideration, why wouldn’t everyone opt for a salt water pool? First, not all pools should be converted to salt. Typically pools with natural stone finishes would want to opt for a traditional chlorine pool because the salt can erode the natural stone over time. Second, there is a cost associated with a salt water pool. On average, the cost of converting from a chlorine pool to a salt pool is between $1,200 and $1,500. In addition to this, you’ll have more ongoing maintenance costs associated with maintaining your salt pool. Those include salt (which could cost between $50 and $100 per year) and the cost of cleaning the salt chlorinating cell (which could cost between $200 and $300 per year).
Overall, if you are able to spare the additional expense, salt pools are the easy choice for a luxurious pool experience.
Traditional chlorine pools rely upon manufactured chlorine (typically in liquid or solid tablet form) to be added to the pool on a weekly basis. When these chemicals are added by your pool service provider, chlorine levels will spike. Throughout the week, chlorine levels will dissipate. This means that for only a small percentage of the time, your chlorine levels will be in that perfect range. Compare this to a salt pool where chlorine levels can be engineered to be within that perfect range every day. Additionally, because the chlorine is not being derived naturally, the chemicals can be much harsher on your skin and eyes.
However, chlorine pools are more budget-friendly, as they are less expensive to install and maintain. If you are taking good care of your pool and performing all routine maintenance, you can keep the harmful impact of the chlorine to a minimum.
The pros and cons of each system will depend on the individual’s preference, but when it comes to regular weekly maintenance, our professionals can easily work with either type. It is important that before making this decision one should educate themselves about both systems as well consider what they offer based off their specific needs; weighing up all factors accordingly then decide which option works better for them! Our team is available to answer any of your questions, or if you’d like to convert your traditional chlorine pool to a salt pool.
