Salt Water

 

 

Serving the Anniston area for more than 28 years.

“Everything for your pool!

SALT WATER INFO:

             Over the last few years, salt generator systems have become a very popular means of sanitizing pools in our area. But they are not new to the pool industry. Areas such as Florida and California have been using salt generators for decades. Many people ask us our opinion about whether they should change their pool to salt. That opinion is different for every situation. We will try to give you the pros and cons about salt water and dispel some of the misinformation that is out there among homeowners and pool builders alike.

 

             A SALT POOL IS A CHLORINE POOL!!

A salt water generator sounds like the best way to go when talking to your neighbors who have one or even to some pool builders who are trying to push a sale. Most people think it’s an effective alternative to chlorine. What they do not realize though is a salt water generator actually turns salt into chlorine. So if you are trying to move away from using chlorine, changing to salt is not the answer. If you don’t mind your pool still being chlorinated, the only advantage to salt-generated chlorine is not having to handle chlorine tablets and shock on a regular basis. Notice it says “on a regular basis.” At times, such as Spring start-up or when you have algae (yes, salt pools still have algae!!), you will still need to shock the pool with regular chlorine shock.

 

             A SALT POOL IS NOT CHEAPER OR LESS MAINTENANCE!!

 Salt water generators may also seem cheaper in the long run to most people because they see
that they will only need to purchase salt for their new system. But there is a hidden truth to this. Salt is
corrosive. The people who own a pool with certain types of rock do not learn this until the damage is done. Salt eventually erodes metal parts around a pool. Diving boards, metal fixtures, ladders, handrails, metal parts in your pump and filter….all will show signs of eroding over time requiring the pool owner to replace these parts of their pools. These parts can be costly to replace. Anyone living near an ocean can attest to the damage salt causes over time. Backwash from salt water generators or splash-outs can also cause harm to decorative rock formations, not to mention killing any nearby vegetation. In fact, splash-outs of chemically treated pool water from salt water generators have been known to damage the soil enough so that a living organism won't be able to grow in that spot again.

Another myth is that salt is the only thing the water will need. After testing and balancing salt pools for several years now, we can tell you that this is not true. Salt pools require balancing more often than any other system. Why is this? First, salt has a very high pH. Pool owners constantly have to add pH decreaser or muriatic acid to keep the pH in the proper range. Secondly, since stabilized chlorine tablets are not being used, granular stabilizer must be added frequently to keep the salt generator from over-working itself and burning out prematurely. And thirdly, the minerals in salt often stain pool surfaces, resulting in a costly stain-removal process that is not guaranteed to work or prevent future stains.

Pool owners must also take into consideration the initial investment of the salt water generator, which can run from $1,000 - $2,000 for the equipment and installation, not to mention purchasing a replacement cell for about half that price every 3-7 years. For what you spend on the initial cost of the system, you could run your pool on regular chlorine for about 2-4 years, depending on the size. And by the time you’ve recouped that money, you’re going to be purchasing a replacement cell.

 

ADVANTAGES

Swimming in a mild saline solution is much like taking a shower in soft water. Generally, when people swim in a traditionally chlorinated pool, they feel like their skin dries quicker upon exiting the pool. They may feel and/or see a whitish residual, chlorine flaking, on the skin. In a salt-water pool the water feels smooth, your skin feels smooth and many people feel more refreshed.

A chlorine generator's main function is to produce chlorine for the pool so you do not have to buy it, store it or handle it. Chlorine generators, when functioning correctly, produce chlorine constantly (when the pump is running) with most units. This keeps a residual of chlorine in the pool that prevents some types, but not all, algae from growing. The secret is keeping the cell free of calcium and mineral deposits--the cell itself is made up of precious metals-it must be maintained so it can continue to make chlorine.