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. 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 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.

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.

Baking soda is a pretty versatile product and a mainstay of any green person’ s utility chest. This product can be used for cleaning to laundry to maintaining your swimming pool to preparing your grill. Baking soda can easily replace far harsher chemicals that may exact a toll on the environment and perhaps your health. Arm and Hammer has a nice list of solutions to everyday household problems that baking soda can help solve.

My favorite uses of baking soda include:

• Cleaning toys
• Eliminating carpet odors when you vacuum
• Deodorizing a stinky garbage can
• Eliminating residue and dirt off fruits and vegetables
• Controlling the pH in your swimming pool at a far lower cost
• Creating an erupting volcano
• Boosting your clothes washer’s cleaning power

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Swimming pool pumps use a ton of electricity. It is estimated that they use up a shockingly high percentage of all residential power and use almost 1500 kWh of power each year. Spa pumps and heaters use up to 2250 kWh of energy every year. The pool pump uses most of the power, so finding energy efficient pool pumps is very important. It pushes water through filtration units and has not changed in many years. New variable speed pool pumps are now available. They are energy efficient and are quieter by running motors slower, but run for longer periods of time.

Pool Pump Power Usage

A typical 1 1/2 HP single speed pool pump uses almost 5000kWh (392kWh per month, 8hr a day) of power a year or $1159. A two speed model uses 3431kWh to accomplish the same task at a cost of $789, saving $370. Variable speed pool pumps, which can run at many slower speeds, like the Intelliflo will use even less energy, resulting in savings from $620-1360 a year according to the company. This makes it the most efficient pool pump right now.

Running a pump at the lowest speed 24/7 costs the same as running a regular pump for 1 hour. The water is pumped at a slow trickle speed. Energy rates keep rising, so this delta will only increase in the future. Keep in mind you will need a new controller to control the variable speed pool pump.  Note: After having lived with one for a while, you may find that you cannot run it at the slowest speed due to your pool’s plumbing. Our salt cell displays a low flow red light if our speeds are too low.

Variable Speed Pool Pump Cost

A new multi speed pump and controller will cost from $800 to $1500 plus $500 – $800 for installation.  A $100 rebate is available from PG&E Energy Efficiency rebates and many other electric utilities, making payback time in 2 – 3 years. Another benefit with a variable speed pool pump is that it makes a lot less noise when running, so we can run it from midnight to 7 AM when the power rates are at the lowest. Timing is adjusted in the spring and summer when our solar water heater is run.  A time period from 10 AM – 3PM, when the sun shines, is added.

Multi Speed Pool Pumps

There are 2 speed models and variable speed models.  The variable speed pool pumps are obviously the most versatile. Variable speed models are more important if you have a solar pool heating system or use your pool heater often.  In these scenarios, you might need to increase pump speed to accommodate the additional items. Look for programmable controls to handle these speed changes. California and other states require variable speed pool pumps on all new installations.

Pentair Pool has a Pool Pump Cost Savings Calculator to show variable speed pool pump savings and energy efficient pool pumps. Their Intelliflo VS-3050 variable speed pump costs $1100 plus installation.  It uses permanent magnet motors like a Hybrid car, to save additional energy. If you have a intelligent pool controller and solar heating, it may need a new chip ($250) to support the variable speed pump. Make sure the installer uses high temperature compliant cPVC piping into and out of the new pump.

If you buy a new controller for the variable speed pool pump, also consider switching to Salt Water swimming pools at the same time.  An advanced controller like the Easytouch handles both.

Check out this pool pump video:

Also consider using a swimming pool cover to reduce the run time of variable speed pool pumps and a solar pool heater to use the sun to warm your swimming pool.

Swimtown Pools – Over a decade of experience in the pool and spa industry and carrying more than 3,000 products at wholesale products including pool chemicals, pool safety covers, heaters, cleaners and commercial products.

Savior – Solar Pool Pump and Filter System, is a 100% Solar Powered pool pump and filter system.

Summer is coming. Swimming pools are major resource sinks.  If you are gifted (or cursed) with a swimming pool or spa, a pool cover is an essential item.  It helps improve the safety of the pool by preventing small kids from falling in and it helps reduce electrical, heating, and chemical costs.

Pool covers are not substitutes for fences.  Every pool should be fenced and locked. Many localities including ours require a perimeter fence around the pool.

Some vendors claim up to 80% savings using a swimming pool cover. This is a little optimistic.  You can measure how much water you lose every month by making marking the side of your pool’s tile. Refilling a pool with water costs a lot of money. Your water will also stay warmer with a pool cover.

A pool cover:

1. Increases safety
2. Reduces the use of chemicals – (Less evaporation and tree contamination)
3. Reduces water consumption – (Less evaporation)
4. Reduces power use – (Less pool sweep and pool pump operation time, less temperature loss)

In our own experience, it is a no brainer to get a cover for a pool, but they do cost thousands of dollars.  The thermal blankets you can drape over the water’s surface do not provide the same level of performance as a vinyl pool cover.

The only downside is that you need to pump water off your pool cover a couple times a year.  Look at all the gunk that we prevented from entering our pool!

Also consider getting a variable speed pool pumps to save even more money.

Don’t forget to get your pool heater checked and serviced. This will ensure it runs at 100% efficiency.

Save money on pool chemicals by using common grocery items. Pool Care

Spa Covers