Salt water system for a pool

[Viola]

Our pool guy was talking to us about going this route. I have been looking at some of the pros and cons to it, but I was curious if anyone here who has a pool had switched to one, and what they thought.

I actually have enjoyed how the water in the pool feels, although our chlorine level can fall between weekly pool maintenance visits, so maybe that is part of it. Will we find we have more chlorine in the pool over all now? If I hate the way softened water feels in the shower, will I hate it in the pool? I've also heard about rust or other kinds of degradation of equipment from the salt, and scaling from calcium build up. Also that the cell has to be replaced every few years, which is an added expense.

Anyone switch to a salt system and love it?

[beanma]

I don't know anything about it, but have also heard about ozone systems. If you're looking to move away from chlorine that might be another option to investigate.

[Viola]

Hmmm, an ozone system might be cool too. I know nothing about them.

[Irishmommy]

We have a salt water pool. It is the most awesome thing!!! No chemicals, no hassle, way less maintenance, no sore eyes, no bleaching of swimsuits. It's actually a pleasure to swim!

[sunnysandiegan]

I don't personally have a pool. However, we swim in a pool that has a salt water system and LOVE it!!! I don't care for showering in soft water, either. Yuck! However, I LOVE swimming in the salt water system pool.

[Sailor]

The community where we live (gated, condo) has a salt water pool. I know nothing about the maintenance, but I love it in terms of using it. I never use pools if they have chlorine in them - my skin reacts very badly. But, the salt water is a dream for me.

I don't have any preferences for my showers, though - soft, hard - eh, it doesn't matter to me. I've tried them all, and don't see that much of a difference.

[belovedofbast]

Salt water pools still have chlorine in them, but the chlorine is just generated from the cells (lectranators) and the salt in your pool. I'm not sure how you are chlorinating right now (probably pucks?) but it eliminates (in commercial applications) liquid chlorine sources (bleach) and gas.

Many people with chlorine sensitivities say that the salt generated chlorine is a lot easier on their skin, and your bathing suits will last longer (also try polyester suits, they last forever!!) Sore eyes may or may not be a problem, as it isn't the chlorine that hurts your eyes, it is the pH in your pool, although with a salt system, I find that maintaining the pH at an acceptable level is a lot easier. Also, it depends on what chemicals you use to maintain pH (at the pool I work at and most in my area, we use CO2)

As for maintenance and scaling, I don't know how much pool maintenance you are actively involved in, but there are products out there to help prevent the scaling, staining etc. Maintaining good water balance is essential in any system to ensure that things run smoothly. Pipes can get build up and rust and corrode away in any system, if the balance is far enough out of whack for a long enough time. Also, what kind of pipes do you have feeding into your pool, pump, filter etc.

If you have any more questions re: pool maintenance, feel free to ask

[Irishmommy]

Originally Posted by belovedofbast

Salt water pools still have chlorine in them, but the chlorine is just generated from the cells (lectranators) and the salt in your pool. I'm not sure how you are chlorinating right now (probably pucks?) but it eliminates (in commercial applications) liquid chlorine sources (bleach) and gas.

No they don't. There are electrodes in the salt cell at the equipment that breaks the salt down into sodium and chlorine. The water is cleaned there (yes, by cholorine), and when it leaves the salt cell it reverts back to regular salt. So no chlorine leaves the salt cell, and none goes in the pool, it's back to sodium chloride, ie. SALT.

[Irishmommy]

Originally Posted by belovedofbast

Many people with chlorine sensitivities say that the salt generated chlorine is a lot easier on their skin, and your bathing suits will last longer (also try polyester suits, they last forever!!) Sore eyes may or may not be a problem, as it isn't the chlorine that hurts your eyes, it is the pH in your pool, although with a salt system, I find that maintaining the pH at an acceptable level is a lot easier. Also, it depends on what chemicals you use to maintain pH (at the pool I work at and most in my area, we use CO2)

How on earth does a GAS maintain the pH level? We use granules of sodium hydrogen sulphate, not carbon dioxide.

Viola, if you need more info, please feel free to ask me here or pm me, I'm sure my pool boy, I mean dh, would love to help you.

[Viola]

Originally Posted by belovedofbast

Salt water pools still have chlorine in them, but the chlorine is just generated from the cells (lectranators) and the salt in your pool. I'm not sure how you are chlorinating right now (probably pucks?) but it eliminates (in commercial applications) liquid chlorine sources (bleach) and gas.

Thanks, that is a good point. Yes, we have been using the big pucks, in the past we have used gallons of the liquid stuff.

Many people with chlorine sensitivities say that the salt generated chlorine is a lot easier on their skin, and your bathing suits will last longer (also try polyester suits, they last forever!!) Sore eyes may or may not be a problem, as it isn't the chlorine that hurts your eyes, it is the pH in your pool, although with a salt system, I find that maintaining the pH at an acceptable level is a lot easier. Also, it depends on what chemicals you use to maintain pH (at the pool I work at and most in my area, we use CO2)

I don't usually get sore eyes, but we all wear goggles. I think the kids sometimes get red eyes. In general my pool can be fairly pleasant to swim in, but I think keeping it chlorinated enough is the big issue. I don't usually worry about that unless it is looking bad.

Also, what kind of pipes do you have feeding into your pool, pump, filter etc.

If you have any more questions re: pool maintenance, feel free to ask

Thanks for the info! We use a pool maintenance guy. My husband grew up with a pool and did the maintenance, but has no desire to do this whatsoever. Usually what I do is just skim the pool, maybe brush it down or add chlorine if asked. They've showed me in the past how to backwash and all that, but our equipment is old and not in good condition in the first place. This house was built in the late 80s, so it's probably 20+ years old. I think we just have pvc pipes. Our heater is on it's last legs, I do know that, but we've just been trying to keep stuff going as long as we can.

[Viola]

Originally Posted by Irishmommy

Viola, if you need more info, please feel free to ask me here or pm me, I'm sure my pool boy, I mean dh, would love to help you.

Ooh, does he take his shirt off when he works? Thanks. I'll PM you with more questions as they arise.

[belovedofbast]

Originally Posted by Irishmommy

No they don't. There are electrodes in the salt cell at the equipment that breaks the salt down into sodium and chlorine. The water is cleaned there (yes, by cholorine), and when it leaves the salt cell it reverts back to regular salt. So no chlorine leaves the salt cell, and none goes in the pool, it's back to sodium chloride, ie. SALT.

Perhaps that's true for a home pool system, but I can assure you that at the pool I am employed in, and at every salt water pool I've ever worked in, there is always always chlorine levels in the water. If not, we would have to shut down until there were. In fact, we test the pool water for chlorine 4 times daily.

[Irishmommy]

Originally Posted by belovedofbast

Perhaps that's true for a home pool system, but I can assure you that at the pool I am employed in, and at every salt water pool I've ever worked in, there is always always chlorine levels in the water. If not, we would have to shut down until there were. In fact, we test the pool water for chlorine 4 times daily.

Well I'm pretty sure Viola has a home pool, not a commercial public pool. My advice stands for a home pool.

[Irishmommy]

Originally Posted by Viola

Ooh, does he take his shirt off when he works? Thanks. I'll PM you with more questions as they arise.

Yup.

[texmama]

Just went swimming in my brother's salt water pool this weekend - it was wonderful! Did not hurt my eyes (the water must be naturally basic). My bro said it is WAY lower maintenance, just adjust ph once a week and that's it. My beginning swimmer kids LOVED it and were more comfortable in this pool than our neighborhood chlorine pool. Plus the buoyancy was greater in the salt water pool.