The difference between saltwater and chlorine pools isn’t as obvious as you may think at first. A saltwater pool isn’t a swimming pool with bags of salt dumped into it. It still uses chlorine to disinfect the water. With a saltwater pool, chlorine is produced at a steady rate from salt run through a generator. Remember that table salt is sodium chloride! When you have a chlorine pool, you or your pool person has to add chlorine tablets or chlorine liquid every week. Saltwater pools are considerably more expensive to install, but the water has what’s described as a silky feel and is gentler on skin, hair, and mucous membranes. Also, the salt cell only needs to be replaced every few years, though it needs to be cleaned at least once during the season. Both are jobs for your pool technician. Here are some other differences in how the pools are maintained.
Maintaining Saltwater Pools
Though they’re more expensive upfront, saltwater pools are considered easier to take care of, mostly because you don’t have to keep buying chlorine to keep the water fresh. However, you or your pool expert still have to regularly test the water, especially after you’ve thrown a pool party or there’s been a heavy rainstorm. This means checking the alkalinity and the pH.
One thing about a saltwater pool is that the pH tends to be higher than it should be, which is about 7.4 but no higher than 7.8. Though the titanium salt cell can go for years without being replaced, replacing it is expensive; it can run as much as $1500. Also, though the amount of salt is only a fraction of what it is in the ocean, it’s still enough to cause some corrosion. Metals that aren’t stainless steel and natural stone are at risk, so you’ll need to make sure the water’s balanced. You’ll also need to clean out debris with a net or a pool vac, cover the pool in the off-season, and check the filters and pumps.
Maintaining Chlorine Pools
The big difference between a saltwater and chlorine pool, besides the cost of installation, is that you need to measure, add, and keep an eye on chemicals every week during peak swimming season. But one of the benefits of a chlorine pool is that it’s easier and far less expensive to repair and swap out equipment, and if the chemicals are kept at the right levels, the risk of corroding your pool’s hardware is pretty low.
Whether you have a saltwater or chlorine pool, it needs maintenance to keep it sparkling clean and healthy to swim in. When you need pool maintenance services in Vineland, NJ, contact Landi Pool Service.
