Salt water pool is getting more and more popular these days. A lot of pool owners across the world replace their regular chlorine swimming pool with salt water pool. This type of pool is very popular year by years.
Most people make mistake with salt water pool. They thinking that the pool is filled by ocean water. However, in most at-home swimming pools, salt water pools are not filled with ocean water. Do you know what it is? Keep reading because you will find the complete information about the salt water pool down below.
Especially for those of you who already have a saltwater pool, you will get interesting tips here. We have useful tips and guide for you to maintain your salt water pool.
Contents
Salt Water Pool Definition
Salt water pool is essentially a pool that does not have traditional chlorine for the sake of sanitizing. Instead, it uses the more advanced technology of salt chlorine generator. The generator changes salt particles into sanitizer. It makes the pool is still chlorinated but with less chemicals involved.
Advantages of Salt Water Pool
There are numerous advantages of salt water pool. Most of the advantages are related to the health benefits provided by the pool. Here is the full explanation of some of the most essential salt water pool advantages that people notice.
1. Easy to Maintain
Salt water pool is also easier to maintain. The generator basically operates automatically and independently and they do not have to be cleaned every day. Also, salt water pool costs you less than chlorine pool. Salt cells that need to be converted into chlorine is way cheaper than the price of liquid chlorine.
2. Better Water Quality
Salt water pool uses fewer chemicals, unlike traditional chlorine pool. It gives more convenient sanitation for anyone swimming in the pool. It is mostly because the process of salt water chlorination has the result of cleaner and clearer water. The water is more refreshing and velvety smooth on the skin.
3. Provides Natural Sanitation
The process of killing bacteria in the swimming pool and keeping them away from anyone swimming in the pool is called the sanitation process. Chloride is traditionally used for that purpose. However, salt water pool provides a better, more natural method for the sanitation. Salt chlorination is way better because it contains less harming, harsh chemical materials.
4. Does Not Contain Harsh Chemical Odor
Some people really dislike the harsh chemical odor of chloride when they are swimming in a pool. Indeed, the chemical odor cannot be eliminated if a pool is using solid chloride or liquid chloride to sanitize the pool. With salt chlorination, the odor is not going to be too harsh and noticeable. It will provide more pleasant and healthful experience of swimming.
5. Reduce Irritation
Salt water pool is not only full of chemically odor water but also safer water. With less chemical chlorine in the water, irritation, such as skin irritation and eye irritation, can be avoided. This is why swimming in a salt water pool is overall more refreshing and does not cause you any harms.
The Difference between Salt Water Pool and Chlorine Pool
The most common type of swimming pool or spa pool around the world is chlorine pool. However, with the invention of salt water pool, the usage of chlorine pool is not as dominant as it was before. What is the major difference between salt water pool and chlorine pool? Basically there are two major differences. First from the cost factor and the second is from health factor.
1. The Cost Factor
Talking about the cost of having salt water pool or regular chlorine, there is major differences here that make people tend to choose having salt water pool these days. Considering that chlorine is always needed to keep the pool sanitized, having to buy liquid or solid chlorine several times a year may cost a lot of money.
By using salt chlorine generator in salt water pool, the pool owners do not have to by the expensive chlorine. All they need to buy is the salt, which is generally cheaper. This is why seen from the cost factor, the comparison between salt water pool vs chlorine pool is won by the former.
2. The Health Factor
Chlorine is a standard chemical found in every pool. However, in traditional chlorine, numerous chemical are in there. It does have the power to keep the harmful bacteria away from anyone when they swimming in the pool, but it also contains harsh chemicals that may be even more harmful for human.
It causes irritation and exposes people swimming in the pool to toxins as well. Salt water pool uses salt and salt generator to produce less harmful chlorine. The salt-generated chlorine is safer and does not have the strong harsh smell.
Seen from the health factor, of course salt water pool comes more healthy than the chlorine pool. It is the type of pool that does not overexpose human to chemical and toxins.
Common Problems with Salt Water Pool
Even though salt water pool seems to be very great and tempting to have, but there are still several problems with this type of pool. If you are considering to have a salt water pool at home, it is better for you to understand the common problems with salt water pool.
Some of the most common problems with this type of pool is chemical balancing, complicated draining requirement, and galvanic corrosion. However, all of them can be prevented and fixed in relatively easy way.
The chemical balancing is not going to be a real problem if the measuring and the composition of the salt water and other chemicals used for the process is done properly. The draining requirement can be tricked by creating a drainage that does not end up in public places or public woods. The galvanic corrosion can be avoided by cleaning the pool regularly, especially on the metal parts.
Step by Step to Maintain Salt Water Pool
In order to keep the salt water pool clean and healthy for anyone to swim and soak there, maintenance is constantly needed. Thankfully, the maintenance of salt water pool is quite simple. Here is the step-by-step to maintain the pool that you can do easily by yourself.
1. Test the Pool Chemistry Once a Week
The first step that you need to do to make sure that the salt water pool you own is going to last longer is by checking the pool chemistry at least once in a week. The things to check out are including the pH level of the water as well as the amount of the free chlorine. To do this, purchase a liquid pool test kit. It is very useful and relatively inexpensive.
2. Check the Salt Cell Regularly
One of the major parts of salt water swimming pool is the salt cell. It is basically the main ingredients to be turn into chlorine to sanitize the pool. The salt cell is located by the salt generators. The salt cell needs to be changed every two or three months.
If you do not have the automatic salt generator that alerts you when the salt cell is running out, check the salt cell regularly to make sure that the salt cell does not run out completely. Besides the salt cell, do not forget to check the alkalinity and calcium levels on the water to prevent the risk of scaling and excessive algae in the pool.
3. Make Sure the Filtration System Clean
There is no way that you are going to get clean and clear water in the pool if the filtration system in the salt water swimming pool is dirty.
You need to make sure that you clean the tool regularly, at least a couple of times a month. You do not want any buildups or debris to block the filter or getting past the filter.
Clean everything with high-pressure hose. If the filter is covered by calcium buildups, which resembles thin chips, clean them, too, by using plastic tool.
Soaking Salt Water Pool
Besides maintaining a salt water pool, you also need to know how to soak the pool. Soaking a pool, also known as super chlorinating, is basically adding multiple amount of chlorine to the pool in order to raise the chlorine level.
This procedure is done for some purposes, including killing algae that start growing in the pool. To start soaking the pool, you need to set the chemistry right. After that, measure the right dosage of the soak you need to add. Then, add the soak, leave it for several minutes and then test the chlorine level. If it is high enough, let it does its job before you drain the pool and replace the water with the new one.
Everything you need to know about salt water pool is basically explained above. Now, if you have the plan to occupy your backyard by creating a salt water pool on it, you already know what to do. You know the advantages, you know its common problems, and you also know how to maintain the salt water pool.
Considering that this type of pool is heavily demanded these days and many people are aware of its health benefits, it is very wise to choose building salt water pool on your back yard.
