Compare And Contrast Chlorine Vs Salt Water Pool

1 October 2010
Salt Water Pool Systems vs. Liquid Chlorine Pool Systems I currently utilize a salt water pool system called an Aqua Rite System. If you're in the market for a pool, it can be a bit overwhelming to choose a type of system that is right for you. The salt water pool vs. chlorine pool battle has been raging over the last decade, and today, many home owners are building these systems right from the start or converting their old chlorine pools into a salt pool. But what is the real difference from a salt water pool vs. chlorine pool? Here is a quick run-down of the pool battle. The main advantage of a salt water pool isn’t that it doesn’t use chlorine. In fact, a salt water pool does use chlorine to keep the water clean. The advantage is that the pool owner doesn’t add chlorine to the pool, which means no pre-packaged chlorine, less irritation for people who are sensitive to added chemicals. Salt water tends to be much softer than chlorinated water, so it’s much more pleasurable to swim in, and is much less harsh on your skin. In addition, a salt water pool usually has a much lower concentration of chlorine
than a chlorinated pool. No, it doesn't turn your swimming pool into the Atlantic Ocean. Nor does it make you feel like a seasoned salad after swimming in it. It simply gives you all of the benefits of traditional chlorinated water, without the negative side effects. In sum, with a salt-chlorinator, pool maintenance is easier, so you're able to keep your swimming pool looking great with much less hassle. The following paragraph contains just some of the benefits of a salt water pool. It's more comfortable. Salt softens pool water so it's gentler and less likely to cause red, burning eyes or dry, itchy skin. It’s easier on swimwear. Fabric swimwear won't fade or disintegrate over time. It smells better. Lower chlorine levels eliminate chlorine taste and smell. The water tastes slightly salty instead. It inhibits algae naturally. It’s safer around kids and pets. Saltwater pools reduce the need to purchase, store, add, and handle chlorine, but salt can be corrosive over time. It saves time. These pools are less expensive to maintain. A salt water pool vs. chlorine pool is a lot cheaper over time because you do not have to add chlorine tablets to the water. Instead, you just add salt. It is initially more expensive to maintain, but in only a few summers, it will pay for itself. After all chlorine tablets cost $60 or more per bucket and you'll only need about $20 worth of salt every summer, in most cases. Salt water system are more expensive initially but less costly over time. It is, in general, less time consuming to maintain these pools.
A salt water pool vs. chlorine pool eats up less of your time because the control box, which charges the salt, regulates most of the water levels. Once you learn the system, you can easily control it, even when you go away on vacation by setting up a timer. However, be aware that you'll still have to check the water for pH levels as well as calcium levels. It works because of the chemical composition of salt, which is made up of chlorine and sodium. Within the salt water system is a unit called a salt-chlorine generator, which uses electrolysis to generate chlorine by separating the sodium and chlorine molecules in the salt you add to the pool. As the generator unit separates out the chlorine, it’s returned to the pool, where it keeps the water clean and
sanitary. If you maintain chlorinated pool, however it’s not enough to dump chlorine in periodically and let the pool fend for itself. There are other chemicals to add too, as well as regular testing to keep an eye on water quality. For example, you must make sure there is enough free available chlorine, meaning chlorine that is active, in the water to keep up with sanitizing the water. This is usually done with the use of weekly chlorine tablets. Another important aspect of this maintenance is the PH levels-the acidity of alkalinity of the water. If the PH gets too high, the chlorine in the pool isn’t able to work efficiently. However, if the PH drops too low, the water quickly becomes too acidic to swim in comfortably. Keeping the PH at the right level is somewhat difficult, because the range at which it’s just right is very narrow and many factors, including rain, affect this. By choosing the salt water pool system over a liquid chlorine system there are far more advantages. The pool is maintained with fewer chemicals and therefore makes it safer. The amount of time it takes to maintain your pool has now been greatly decreased. The system has an automatic process that manufactures chlorine as its needed rather than on a continual basis. The salt system may be a bit pricey in the beginning, but the benefits of the safer quality of water and less time involved on maintenance make it well worth it.