Salt Water Swimming Pools
Posted by Norman Fong
Salt Water Swimming Pools that are not too common in the United States but are catching on fast. Salt Water Pools are slowly making inroads because most new pools are specified as them. They use a chlorine generator so they are not chlorine free. Swimming in a regular pool may make you feel or see a whitish residual or chlorine flaking, on the skin, frizzled hair or red eyes. In a salt water swimming pool, the water feels smooth and refreshing and does not taste like the ocean. The swimming pool is only 8-9% as salty as the ocean.
Roughly 13% residential and commercial pools were salt water pools in 2010.
How does a saltwater pool work?
Salt reacts with electricity in the chlorine generator. A chlorine generator’s main function is to produce chlorine for the pool so you do not have to buy it, store it or handle it. A generator produce chlorine constantly. A 40 pound bag of salt costs $9 and needs to be replaced roughly 6 times a year. We have a vinyl cover over our pool, which reduces the amount of salt we need to add. The average yearly cost for residential pool chlorine is around $700. Salt dissipates over time, gets diluted by any rainwater, and also gets filtered out. Water chemistry will be simplified moving to a salt water pool. Note that chlorinators that display salt levels show inaccurate levels when water is cold, so you need to use salt test strips in this instance. More muriatic acid will be utilized to control the pH in a saltwater pool.
It costs from $1000 to $3000 to retrofit an existing pool. You do need to maintain the generator every 3 – 6 months or so by cleaning it out with a muriatic acid wash. Salt needs to be replenished every year or so, but costs very little. A 40lb bag costs about $9. The best time to upgrade to it is when you install a new controller for a variable speed pool pump. These new controllers like the Easytouch can handle salt water pools. The only problem areas for a salt water pool installation are if you have stainless steel plumbing or stainless steel in your heater, which will corrode.
Natural Swimming Pools
Recently, we read about an alternative way of creating a chemical free swimming pool. This method seeks to utilize filtration and purification as mother nature performs it. A water garden with specially selected native plants is grown in special gravel, and is created adjacent to the pool or as part of the pool. Additionally, energy efficient pumps and filters are utilized. These pools look far more natural than your typical swimming pool. The method is used more widely in Australia and Europe.
Alternatives to salt water pools
Other unconventional alternatives to chlorine in pools include systems that release ozone gas (roughly $8,000) or use ultra-violet light to kill bacteria. The UV technology kills cryptosporeidium, something chlorine does not.
Check this Website with more details. It is best to install a salt water pool system along with a Variable speed Pool pumps to maximize the energy and chemical savings.
Filed under: Conservation, Eco Friendly, Effort, Environment, Green, Medium, Money, Shopping | Tags: muriatic acid, Pool, Salt Water Swimming Pools, Swimming Pool
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2 Responses to “Salt Water Swimming Pools”
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May 27th, 2010 at 9:00 am
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May 14th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Salt Water Pools- a huge rip off!
If I could talk anyone out there out of getting a salt system for their swimming pool, I would feel satisfied. Having provided pool service in Elk Grove
for over a decade, I’ve watched these systems come to market and pick pocket unsuspecting pool owners. Salt water chlorine generators are overpriced pieces of equipment that are not needed. The sales pitch is always the same; soft water, less chemical smell/ feel and not having to deal with adding or storing chlorine.
In reality, these machines are not at all what they seem and any good pool service can achieve better results with out one.
The generator only produces chlorine while it runs. Large pools or heavily used pools may have to run 10- 12 hours a day to keep up with demand. That costs a lot to do. Tabs chlorinate 24/7 with out depending on the pump. In late Fall- Spring, the generator won’t make any chlorine because the water is too cold. The unit just shuts off. You will need to, have to, add chlorine at least half the year.
The generators make the same chlorine as the chlorine from tabs or liquid. If you use the right amount of tabs there won’t be a problem with smelling or feeling the chlorine.
Chlorine generators raise the Ph of the water rapidly so you will need to keep gallons of acid at the house to correct the water. Tabs have a low Ph so they keep the waters Ph pretty steady. They also aid in keeping the alkalinity in balance, however I won’t get into those chemical reactions here.
The chlorine generator system is usually a $1000- $1500 “upgrade” and the life of it is limited to 3-5 years. Then you need another $400 cell. When using tabs, you’ll need a new $8 floater about every 7 years.
The byproduct from a chlorine generator is a white “snow” that covers the bottom of your pool. Nobody told you about this??? Ask around.
The generator will need to be cleaned every 3 months or so. This is a process where you soak it in an acid water mixture (more acid) for half an hour then try to hose out the build up.
You will have to bring the salt content of your water up to 2800- 3400 ppm, depending on the brand you get. That’s an additional $100 or so. Plus you’ll be adding about $30 worth of salt each year. The water will taste just about like sweat.
And finally, if you want soft water, put some salt in your pool. There’s no need for a chlorine generator to soften water.
I hope this helps change the view some of you have on salt water pools, and no, I don’t sell tabs for a living. I just use them.