For a very long time, a swimming pool that utilizes a chlorine-based system for maintenance was the only option for homeowners who wanted a pool on the premises. Although there are good reasons why chlorinated swimming pools have become the go-to system for pool owners, they are not without their disadvantages. Pools that rely on chlorine to maintain their health are high-maintenance.
With chlorinated pools, some of the issues owners and swimmers have to contend with are:
- Maintaining the pool chlorine; pool owners are in a never-ending battle to keep chlorine and other chemicals in their right proportions.
- The chemicals used in the water often lead to eye and skin irritations and can leave the water with an intense smell.
- The cost of maintaining a pool that depends on chlorine to keep its water healthy and pleasant is fairly high.
When you own a chlorinated pool, there is hardly a moment’s respite from looking after the pool. All it takes for the pool water to become chemically unbalanced, unsanitary, and unattractive is a few days of laxity, says State Management.
But fortunately, there is now a much better way. Swimming pools that use salt offer a more effective pool sanitization method than chlorinated pools. They don’t have the same rigorous maintenance regime as traditional pools. But by using salt as the main agent for pool health, these pools avoid most of the flaws associated with a chlorine swimming pool.
What is a salt water swimming pool, and how does it work?
A salt water swimming pool does not mimic ocean water; this is the first thing people imagine when they hear the term “salt water swimming pool.” There is no heavy taste of salt to deal with while swimming in a salt water pool. Also, pool owners do not have to worry about the risk of salt damaging their swimming pool equipment.
A salt water pool sanitizes pool water from the salt additive that is always present in it. Although the system uses the same sanitizers that a chlorine-based system uses but these sanitizers are very different. Unlike in the chlorinated pool, where you add the chemicals manually to the water, in salt water pools, the sanitizers are from the salt.
This is how it works
The primary piece of equipment in a salt water pool is the salt chlorine generator. Through electrolysis, the generator breaks down salt in pool water to produce hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite. These two sanitizing agents are also present in chlorine pools. But because salt is always present in the water, this method for creating pool sanitizers is much easier.
The process is not like a chlorine pool where the owner adds the chlorine by hand to generate sanitizing agents. In a salt water system, salt is never absent from the water, and the pump system ensures constant production of the sanitizing agents the water needs. There is no risk that there will be a buildup of chloramines in the water.
Why salt water pools are better
- No chlorine, no hassles, just salt
Salt water pools use chlorine too, but the chlorine comes from the salt in the water. The salt in the water is constantly being cycled into chlorine and back into salt again through electrolysis. The pool is effectively rid of algae and bacteria without any hassles. A salt water pool dispenses the expensive and dangerous step of buying, storing, and adding chlorine tablets to the water.
- A more pleasant pool
Salt water pools are a lot gentler on the skin and eyes because there is very little chlorine in the water. Swimmers find salt water pools soothing, and they will also avoid the long-term health effects of constant exposure to heavily chlorinated water. Salt water pools are also healthier because there is no risk that algae and bacteria will proliferate due to chemical imbalance.
- They have lower maintenance costs
With a salt water pool, the owner only needs to add food-grade salt to the water once every six months. The pool’s self-regulating abilities help save the owner money and time. The only task left for pool owners to do is maintain the pH balance of the water. Additionally, they can rest in the knowledge that their pool is not harming the environment.
- They have better aesthetics and are safer
The water in a salt water pool is crystal clear, and it is easy to see the bottom of the pool. The pool does not have a bad smell from chloramine buildup or the strong smell of ocean water (it uses only one-tenth of the amount of salt in ocean water). There is no risk that a blond person who uses the pool will find their hair turning green. And there are no lingering chlorine fumes to be afraid of.
A salt water swimming pool is the closest thing to a maintenance-free swimming pool. It is the only way to get all the benefits of a swimming pool without the stress that comes with traditionally chlorinated pools.