Chlorine or Salt Swimming Pool?

What do I do now?

Now that you have decided to purchase a swimming pool for the family, you need to decide if you want to use a saline system or chlorination.

For years chlorine was used to keep pool water clean, clear and safe for swimmers.  However, bathers had to deal with the smell, the bleached out swim suits, handling toxic chemicals and occasional green hair.  Indoor pools also experienced poor air quality as chemical smells permeated the enclosed space.

Salt systems are gaining more recognition due to the overall cost savings and the trend toward more eco-friendly lifestyles. They still use a chlorinator to treat the pool water; they do this by a process called electrolysis.  A device called a chlorine generator (salt cell) is installed on the pool’s filtration system.

A small electric current breaks down the water into its basic elements (H₂O) Hydrogen and Oxygen as it passes through the salt cell. The salt mixing with the elements produces Hypochlorous Acid (Chlorine - Cl).  In the end the Acid is converted back into salt. Which means it is not necessary to continually add salt. Most pools only need to add salt a couple of times a year.

Wondering if your pool will be as salty as the ocean?  No, the US Department of Interior website states that the salinity of ocean water is about 35,000 parts per million (ppm) and the level of your pool is between 2500 and 4000 ppm.  You won’t even taste salt till the level reaches about 5000 ppm and human tears are about 9000 ppm.  Many swimmers, especially those with sensitive skin, prefer the feel of a salt system on their skin and hair.  

Salt is salt, is salt; except when it comes to your pool.  The type of salt used in your pool is important to keep any stains from occurring.  Basically, all salt (Sodium Chloride – NaCl) is the same chemical element, but where the salt is obtained and how it is produced can be important.  Salt deposits from underground mines, saline ponds that are left to dry out in the sun and salt that is mechanically evaporated can contain impurities or contaminants such as Manganese, iron and copper. These impurities can cause staining in a pool.   

Another way to determine the purity of the salt is to look at the shape, the more irregular the shape of the salt crystals the greater chance that there are impurities that could be trapped in the salt crystals themselves.   It is a good idea to check with your salt supplier to find out where and how the salt was made. Most suppliers should be able to provide a product specification sheet that will list the level of stain causing minerals.  Be sure to never use salt intended for water conditioning equipment or rock salt as they contain additives and impurities that you do not want in your swimming pool. 

When starting up a brand new plastered pool, be sure to wait 28 days before adding salt.  This will give the plaster time to cure. For more information on plaster pools check out www.npconline.org.

Maintaining your salt pool is similar to your chlorine pool with the one exception that you do not have to add chemicals as often.  As stated before you only need to top off the salt in the salt cell once or twice a year.   Monthly you will want to turn off the pool, remove the salt cell and clean it with a solution of 1 part muriatic acid and 2 parts water.  Brushing the cell will help to keep calcium deposits from clogging up the water flow. 

There are many reasons to purchase a salt system with your new pool.  Not only do they give you a healthier swimming experience and safer maintenance (no toxic chemicals to deal with) but they are easier to maintain and fit into the eco friendly lifestyle of today.  So when you are obtaining your quote for your new pool be sure to investigate the addition of a salt system.