Any pool owner will tell you that pools are lots of fun but also lots of work. There’s a lot more to owning a pool than just skimming it for leaves and bugs from time to time. Shocking your pool with chlorine is a vital step in pool maintenance as it keeps your thousands of gallons of pool water swim-ready throughout the season.
But what if we told you there was a pool sanitation option that doesn’t involve using chlorine tabs? That option is filling your pool with saltwater?
First Things First: What’s a Saltwater Pool?
Many people have the preconceived notion that a saltwater pool is akin to filling up a pool with water straight from the ocean. If you’re one of these people, you’re not the only one.
Saltwater pools are unlike jumping and floating in the Dead Sea. The label “saltwater” comes from the equipment—i.e., a salt-chlorine generator—which turns regular table salt into chlorine that keeps your pool water nice and clean.
6 Benefits of Saltwater Pools
Now that we understand what a saltwater pool is, let’s take a look at X reasons why you should consider switching from traditional chlorine to saltwater.
1. No chemical odors
You can say goodbye to tingly sinuses if you switch to a saltwater pool. Since you don’t have to deal with chlorine, you won’t expose yourself or your family to the harsh chemical smells of pool chlorine.
2. Possible respiratory benefits
Good riddance to keeping your garage filled with boxes of chlorine tablets. Granted, these boxes are pretty tiny, but if they get in the hands or mouths of your children and pets, you’re looking at a pretty hefty hospital bill. Even though saltwater pools use chlorine to shock and sanitize the pool water, it does so through a chemical process that doesn’t expose you or anyone else to the potentially harmful substance. Basically, it’s one less thing to worry about.
2. Softer water
If saltwater is good enough to shower with, then you can be certain that it’s good enough to use in your pool. Compared to traditional chlorine pools, saltwater is a lot less harsh on your skin and doesn’t leave it feeling as dried out. Although there’s still a risk of eye and skin irritation after taking a dip in saltwater, the effects are much less pronounced and don’t last nearly as long as in chlorinated pools.
So, whether you swim in a bathing suit or in your birthday suit, you can rest assured that when you come out of your pool, your skin, hair, eyes, and clothing won’t suffer as much in saltwater pools.
Related Post: Pool Salt Calculator
4. Lower operating costs
Most of you are probably wondering which is the more cost-effective pool-sanitizing method. It’s true that a salt-chlorine generator is a pretty hefty investment, but over time, the device will end up paying for itself. Since you don’t need to stock up on chlorine tablets, you eliminate one of the more regular expenses incurred from maintaining your pool.
5. Possible respiratory benefits
Some research has shown that saltwater pools may be more beneficial for those who suffer from respiratory problems and allergies. This is especially true if you have an indoor pool, which bombards you with a harsh chemical smell upon opening the door to your pool. Long-term inhalation of chlorine can exacerbate and even cause lung damage. (Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5063681)
6. Just as effective as chlorinated pool water
But at the end of the day, how does salt-chlorinated water compare to traditional chlorine shocking? As long as the pool water is over 60 degrees, neither method has the upper hand.
Possible Downsides of Saltwater Pools
We feel that it’s fair to understand both sides of the coin. Here, we’ll quickly go over the potential downsides of saltwater pools.
1. Frequent maintenance
To get the best out of your salt-chlorine generator, you’ll have to check up on it frequently. A dysfunctional salt-chlorine generator won’t sanitize your pool as efficiently, thus increasing the risk of skin irritation due to exposure to harmful microorganisms. Make sure you get it frequently checked to maintain optimal salt chlorination.
2. Saltwater can accelerate erosion
As you can imagine, the salt content in saltwater, though minute, can lead to erosion over time. You might need to use zinc anodes to prevent saltwater from eroding any metal components in your pool.
3. Salt-chlorine generators are ineffective in cold water
As we mentioned earlier, salt-chlorine generators are only effective in water over 60 degrees. This virtually renders the salt-chlorine generator ineffective during colder seasons without a pool heater.
