Salt Based Pool Water Conditioning Systems

Q: What are the benefits of using a salt chlorination system, as opposed to standard chlorine-based systems?

A: 1) It’s convenient ~~ Salt chlorinator systems eliminate the regular addition of chlorine products to the water. This means you do not have to buy, transport or store dangerous chlorine compounds.

2) It’s energy efficient ~~ Salt chlorinators systems are the model of recycling efficiency. The same salt molecules are used over and over, requiring only a small amount of electricity.

3) It’s environmentally friendly ~~ Because pure chlorine is produced at the source using natural salt, there are no dangerous chemicals produced, no packaging to throw away and very little energy used.

4) It feels great! ~~ Bathers report a soft, silky feel on their skin, instead of the dry, irritated feeling they experience in a pool without salt water chlorination… and because salt water pools are closer in salinity to your own natural tears, there is no eye irritation.

A: No. Even though these pools are sometimes referred to as "salt water pools", the salt level is relatively low. The taste threshold for salt to most people is about 5,000 parts per million (ppm). The salt level of a "salt pool" is well below that at about 3,000 ppm. To put this in perspective: the saltiness of your tears is about 9,000 ppm or three times the salinity in the pool. The ocean has a salt level of more than 30,000 ppm, or 10 times the salinity of the pool.

A: No. In fact, they require less maintenance than traditional chorine-treated pools because the sanitizer is pure and produced right at the pool. This eliminates the need to buy, transport and dose chlorine. A simple rinse of the device’s electrode, once a season, is all that is required to maintain it. Salt pool owners will tell you that their pool requires much less attention than other pools.

A: No, it is surprisingly economical. The initial expense is the device itself and the salt to put in the pool. Once the device starts working, it begins to pay for itself by making pure, free chlorine!

A: Salt water pool technology has been around for over thirty years. Recent advances in electronics have made the systems more affordable and available to every pool owner.

Q: Are salt pools harder on the pool’s equipment or materials?

A: No. Any pool requires regular testing and adjusting of pH, alkalinity and other chemical factors. As long as these same standards are kept in optimum range, there is no difference between a salt pool and a traditional pool. There has only been one concern with salt pools when it comes to materials; rare instances of soft stone used for coping. The salt crystals can penetrate the porous surface and accumulate, causing premature wear. This issue can be solved by simply sealing the stone properly.

Information...