Saltwater swimming pools

About a saltwater swimming pool

What is a saltwater swimming pool? Well, here we are going to look at saltwater swimming pools and how they are different from chlorinated swimming pools. As you may mistakenly think- that’s great, there is no chlorine, however, this is not the case, there is just less of it! To get you started, here is a video of salt water vs chlorine pools…

How does it work?

In a saltwater pool, salt (sodium chloride) is added through a process called salt water chlorination. It is converted into chlorine with the use of a salt chlorine generator machine. The benefit of this is that the chlorine produced via this method it much purer with fewer by-products (chloramines). Chloramines react with ammonia and urea that enter the pool through the various secretions of our body and other biologicals. And it is this that mainly contributes to the chlorine smell in chlorinated pools due to larger amounts of chlorine being added. A saltwater pool generator uses electrolysis to manage chlorine levels. So instead of manually adding chlorine to the pool, the generator regulates this at a consistent level, meaning the chlorine levels are lower. This is a massive pro to installing a saltwater pool

The result equals more big pros

The result of this is that the water is far less irritating to the skin and eyes. And as a result of the electrolysis, which dissolves minerals and alkali the water is much softer to swim in. It is likened to the feel of swimming in fresh water or the ocean minus the briny smell. As well as this, your hair is not stripped of its natural oils and your skin is left feeling supple and moisturised rather than itchy. Plus, you don’t get those horrid burning eyes! And believe it or not, the water does not taste salty. The salt content is far less than that of seawater.

The cons

While there are many pros, as previously discussed for saltwater swimming pools there are always some cons. So let’s discuss these…

They do require more specialised maintenance, which is more costly, and they do have higher start-up costs than a chlorinated pool. Plus, the salt cells need replacing every few years. Additionally, the presence of salt means you need to take corrosion into consideration. So think about your metal components. For anyone with implanted cardiac devices it is not advised for them to swim in a saltwater pool. The electromagnetic current used in the chlorination system can interfere with them.

Another thing you need to think about is the storage of the salt, as this can be bulky and requires space. Also, the salt cell needs to be cleaned every few hundred hours using a hazardous chemical, muriatic acid. You will also have the electric costs of running the generator. And, the generator cannot work in cold temperatures. Finally, you still need to manage the water with regular pool maintenance checks, including pH levels.

Conclusion

As with everything in life there is the yin and yang. But we here at Firtree think it is a cool system. Although the costs and maintenance between a chlorine and saltwater pool can be much of a muchness the swim experience is far greater in a saltwater pool. The benefits of the quality of your swim and a more positive effect on your body make your swim far nicer than in a chlorinated pool. So why don’t you come and make your own mind up? Come along and hire our pool for your very own exclusive hour. Then let us know what you think. For more information, contact us here.