Salt Water Pool Vs. Chlorine Pool: Which Is Right For Your Home?

Unsure, which swimming pool is right for you?  The size and depth are not much of an issue, but one of the biggest determinations when it comes to pools is whether to use saltwater or chlorine. And that have their strengths and weakness on their own.  In the case of salt water pool where sustainability is an issue of concern, the traditional chlorine pool has better statistics regarding costs and easy maintenance. So, what do you prefer a salt water pool or a chlorine pool? The following is a closer look at each of the pools and will certainly make your decision easier.

Table of Contents:

• What are Salt Water Pools?
• The Pros and Cons of Salt Water Pools
• How to Add Salt to a Pool With a Salt Water Chlorinator
• How to Look After a Salt Water Pool
• What Are Chlorine Pools?
• The Pros and Cons of Chlorine Pools
• Which Pool Type Is Best for You?
• Final Splash: Choosing Your Perfect Pool

What are Salt Water Pools?

Salt water pools contain saltwater with a concentration of 3000 ppm, which is almost ten times lower than the sea at 35000 ppm.  That doesn't stop it from giving you the natural ocean-like feel, that's much more gentle on the skin and eyes than chlorine pools.  Like chlorine pools, salt water pools also rely on chlorine to keep them clean, but it's much lower than the traditional ones and the mechanism is quite different.

How Does a Salt Chlorine Generator Work?

You can't have a salt water pool without a chlorinator.  The device works alongside a pump to split the salt in the water into sodium and chloride through electrolysis. This creates free chlorine that reacts with water to form an acid that breaks down bacteria and algae.  Despite the automated process, you still need to check salt levels, at least weekly, so that chlorine levels remain optimum.

The Pros and Cons of Salt Water Pools

Before opting for a salt water pool, it's best to look at the pros and cons.

Advantages of Salt Water Pools

Salt water pools have a distinct advantage over chlorine pools regarding safety and comfort. The low chlorine levels keep the water gentle on your skin, hair, and the environment. Thanks to the automated chlorination process, you are also saved from handling a lot of chemical products that you manually add into chlorine pools. The initial costs are worth it for many, as they cut down on the products you'd frequently need to buy for chlorine pools.

Disadvantages of Salt Water Pools

The upfront cost of the salt chlorine generator makes salt water pools inconvenient for many people thinking about getting a new pool for their house.  The cell of the chlorinator needs to be cleaned occasionally and might need replacement along with other components if corrosion occurs due to high salt levels. This makes the maintenance process not only hectic but also expensive.

How to Add Salt to a Pool With a Salt Water Chlorinator

The salt used in salt water pools is much purer than table salt and comes in the shape of granules and crystals for you to handle easily. Ensure you are using good quality pool-grade salt for your pool since the bad ones have impurities that can damage your equipment. Properly adding the salt is also important, so here's how you can do it.

1. Test the salt levels of the pool using a testing kit or strips.
2. Use the results to calculate the amount of salt you need to add.
3. Add the salt to the shallow part of the pool, spreading it evenly.
4. Turn the pump and chlorinator on and keep it running for 24 hours.
5. Recheck the salt level of your pool.

Don't add more salt than necessary, as it can damage the generator, but also make sure it's not below the optimum level to keep the chemistry of your pool balanced.

How to Look After a Salt Water Pool

Looking after a saltwater pool is fairly simple if you have got the basics right.  Clean the pool as usual, perform regular salt level tests, and shock your pool every week, especially during peak season or a rain storm. Some robotic pool cleaners are still able to work in salt water pools, among them is the Aiper robot. Also, don't forget to clean the cell of the chlorinator every 2-3 months if you want it to keep running smoothly.

What Are Chlorine Pools?

Chlorine pools are the kinds that have been around for decades and are still the most common pools that you'll see around. These pools have chlorine added to them manually in the form of tablets, liquids or powder to get the levels of free chlorine high in the pool, which helps keep it clean.  The addition of chlorine to the pool is not only safe but highly recommended. If the step is skipped, it can result in a large amount of bacteria and algae buildup, making any healthy person extremely sick.

How Do Chlorine Pools Work?

After adding chlorine to the pool, the chemical reacts with the water to form hypochlorous acid, killing bacteria and algae by breaking down their walls, making the water safe to swim.  The chlorine can also react with organic products like sweat and urine, forming chloramine, which makes the chemical dysfunctional to kill any more bacteria, gives the pool its strong chlorine odour and causes irritation to the skin and eyes.

The Pros and Cons of Chlorine Pools

Chlorine pools may sound like all fun and games till now, but there are a lot of pros and cons that you might be interested in before opting for the pool.

The pros of chlorine pools

Chlorine pools are comparatively a lot cheaper to set up than salt water pools, and their maintenance is much easier due to accessibility of the products and familiarity among consumers.  Their safety has been proven through long years of usage behind us, making them a reliable choice for many people considering getting a pool for their home for the first time.

The cons of chlorine pools

Although they are cheaper to set up than salt water pools, chlorine pools require frequent additions of chlorine and other chemicals to keep the pH balanced, since the levels fluctuate quite often within the pool. This not only makes the chemical concentration higher, effectively leading to the hardening of the water but also adds up to the maintenance costs in the long run. A small accident can lead to a big loss in the mishandling of chlorine pool equipment, so it's important to keep it out of reach of children and pets to avoid such fallacies.

Which Pool Type Is Best for You?

What's easier for you? A relatively high initial investment that may result in a surge in the resale value of your property or ongoing maintenance costs that you think you'd be able to manage? The best kind of pool can't be determined by anyone other than you; you need to consider multiple factors, including your budget, convenience, and long-term goals.

Final Splash: Choosing Your Perfect Pool

Even though chlorine is present in both pools, the way they are added greatly impacts their properties and maintenance, as we have already seen. The amount of free chlorine in the salt water pool is quite less than in chlorine pools, making it gentler on skin, hair, and the environment. However, at the same time, it increases upfront costs by installing a chlorinator. Comparatively, chlorine pools are easier and cheaper to install and maintain but add to the long-term costs and can be hazardous to human health if not maintained properly. So whether you prefer sustainability and a luxurious pool experience or something more familiar that also saves you a few bucks, the choice is entirely up to you.  What's your experience with salt water pools vs chlorine pools? What do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below!