Salt water pools offer a more convenient sanitization method over traditional chlorine. The reliable systems operate independently and are easy to maintain. Salt water chlorination produces clean, clear, silky-smooth water that’s luxuriously soft. Salt chlorination is a natural sanitization method, in contrast to using harsh chemical chlorine. Salt water offers a pleasant healthful swimming experience with fewer chloramines produced, eliminating the harsh chemical odor. Salt cells convert salt into active chlorine for a lower cost as compared to the traditional form of liquid or solid chlorine. Salt water pools reduce skin and eye irritation and greatly reduce the chlorine smell.
Salt Chlorinator Technology
If you’re thinking of building a salt water pool or converting an existing pool, you’ll want to become familiar with the technology behind salt chlorinators. Salt chlorinators convert salt into chlorine to sanitize pool water. The level of salinity is quite mild, at only 2,200 to 3,000 PPM (parts per million.) Pool owners are amazed to learn that less than a teaspoon of salt per gallon of water is needed to produce clean, clear pool water. This is comparable to the amount of salt in a human tear. Your pool water will not smell or taste salty either.
Simple, Reliable Saltwater Chlorination
The Jandy TruClear Salt System was designed from the ground up to be simple to own and maintain without sacrificing performance or reliability. Features include durable Jandy Never Lube Valve construction, a compact design for easy integration in most equipment pad configurations, and a transparent window for quick visual inspection of blades. The energy-efficient TruClear also works at extremely low-flow rates making it fully compatible with variable-speed pumps.
Here’s how TruClear salt chlorinator system works:
1. Add the proper amount of salt to your pool water where it dissolves.
2. Salt water enters the TruClear chlorine generator.
3. Power is applied to the TruClear to convert the dissolved salt into chlorine gas.
4. Water with fresh pure chlorine is returned to the pool for complete sanitization.
Saltwater Goods and Bads
Does your body absorb the salt in salt water pools?
The concentration of salt in the ocean is 10 times higher than in a residential pool, and in simple terms, the high concentration of salt in the ocean actually draws water out of the body, whereas our bodies have an even higher salt concentration than in a residential pool, so our bodies actually absorb the moisture.
Why do hotels have salt water pools?
Easier On The Clothes, Eyes, and Skin – Because of the way chlorine is generated in a salt water pool, the chlorine levels are generally much lower. … A salt water pool does not require large doses of Chlorine be stored on site which can greatly reduce the potential for environmental, health or legal concerns for owners.
What is the difference between pool salt and Epsom salt?
Epsom salt– is hydrated magnesium sulfate, a chemical identity that the other salts do not share. Table salt, kosher salt and sea salt are all at least 97.5 percent sodium chloride, though sea salt also contains minerals like iodine, magnesium and potassium.
Table salt (sodium chloride) is added to the pool water less than a teaspoon of salt per gallon of pool water is all that’s required. As the dissolved salt flows through the generator cell, it is electrolytically converted to pure chlorine, which is then distributed throughout the pool, sanitizing the water, keeping it fresh, clear and safe for swimmers. Unlike conventional chlorine additives that must be constantly replenished, the salt is recycled continuously, day after day, to further reduce pool maintenance requirements. The generator even keeps itself clean with an automatic reverse cycling feature that helps prevent scale build-up for longer cell life.
Salt water safer than a Chlorine pool?
Because they have lower chlorine levels, salt water pools are much gentler on the eyes and skin. Research indicates that salt water systems may be safer than chlorine pools, which force owners to store and handle unsafe chemicals.
Five great reasons to have a salt water pool.
1. Great for the Skin – Chlorine can leave our skin dry and itchy after a swim. Alternatively, salt water is actually good for the skin. It can leave your skin feeling smoother and softer, and studies have been done that prove how salt water can help with skin disorders like eczema, acne and psoriasis. Salt water also acts as a natural moisturizer and exfoliator, increasing our skin’s ability to retain moisture.
2. Anti-Stress Properties – The more stressed we are, the less our bodies are able to function properly. Salt water helps promote our body’s natural relaxation process leaving us feeling refreshed after each swim.
3. Alternative to the gym – Exercise is important to our overall health. A salt water pool allows us to workout in a more relaxed setting than that offered by a traditional gym. Swimming is a great workout because you’re resisting the flow of the water with every stroke, making your body work harder than it would if you were simply exercising using a piece of gym equipment, like a treadmill or elliptical machine. Swimming in a salt water pool also helps you concentrate on your breathing (you don’t have a choice, you can’t breathe under water), which is something we tend to forget to do when we’re trying to burn calories at the gym.
4. Better on the Joints – Swimming in a salt water pool is better on the joints and muscles than a traditional chlorinated pool. Salt water contains bromide, a mineral that helps relieve those everyday aches, pains and soreness we all feel deep within our joints and muscles. Furthermore, people who are recovering from an injury will find it easier to move within a salt water pool as the bromide helps their muscles and joints recover.
5. No Side-Effects – Some people are sensitive to chlorine and have trouble breathing when they’re swimming in an over-chlorinated pool. Also, chlorine can make your eyes red and irritated from the chemicals within. However, salt water pools won’t leave your eyes red and your lungs irritated.
Anybody that’s owned a pool knows that it can be difficult to choose between a salt water pool or a chlorine pool.
There are pros and cons to each, and while either will do on a hot summer day, filling your own pool for the season requires that you make a decision. So which is the right way to go? That depends entirely on your preferences and values as a pool owner. If you haven’t read a lot about salt water systems, there are a couple of facts that may surprise you:
1. Despite the name, salt water pools aren’t anywhere near as salty as seawater (they have about 1/10 the salinity). So, if you think swimming in a saltwater pool is like swimming in the ocean, think again. The ocean averages 35,000 PPM of salt, and the use of the Jandy Truclear salt generator only needs @ 2000 – 2500 PPM
2. Truly speaking, salt water pools are not chlorine free. Rather, these systems create their own chlorine using salt through a process called electrolysis. The real difference is that you don’t have to add chlorine directly to the water. With those two myths busted, let’s move on to the case for, and against, salt water chlorination.
Advantages of Salt Water Pools
Here are some of the benefits of salt water systems that seem to be driving their popularity:
Gentle on Eyes and Skin. Chlorine levels are generally lower with a salt generator. People who are sensitive to chlorine often report fewer irritations when using these pools.
Safer Than Chlorine. In tablet or liquid form, chlorine can be dangerous to store and transport. Studies have shown that chlorinated water may also pose a long-term health risk, which may not apply to salt water systems to the same extent (on the other hand, they do still produce the same disinfection byproducts as traditional pools).
“Soft Water” Feel. If you have a water softener in your home, you know that the addition of salt makes water feel smooth and silky to the touch – like rain water. Most people prefer this to the sometimes-abrasive feel of chlorinated water.
Less Maintenance. Pool maintenance is more “hands-off” with a salt water system, as the salt cell simply produces chlorine as needed. That said, you still have to monitor chlorine levels periodically to make sure everything is working okay.
Disadvantages of Salt Water Pools
Given those advantages, it would seem that salt water chlorination is the perfect solution to the many hassles of chlorine. Not so fast. Here are some qualities of salt water swimming pools that might make you think twice:
More Expensive. A salt water system requires a hefty initial investment, which may total $2,000.00 or more. Of course, with the money you’re saving on chlorine, the system will pay for itself in a few short years. But, as we point out, any potential savings are theoretical and dependent on a lot of factors. In other words, it’s quite possible that you will recoup your money.
More Complex. If you have a sanitation problem with a typical swimming pool, the answer is often to add more chlorine (or some other chemical). With modern electronic salt water systems, any problems that crop up are more likely to require the help of an experienced technician.
Potentially Damaging to Pool Accessories. There are reports of salt water systems damaging fixtures, heaters, liners, underwater lighting, and even masonry work. However, some of this information is outdated or apply only to older equipment. Also, as with any system, a lot depends on whether it is properly installed and maintained.
So, what’s the verdict?
Judging by their soaring sales numbers, a whole lot of people find the advantages of salt water pools to outweigh the negatives. Once confined to luxury hotel pools, these systems are now popping up in the backyards of average pool owners all over the world. If you can afford the steep initial cost (keeping in mind that it’s offset at least somewhat by the money you save on pool chemicals), it’s hard to argue against the virtues of a salt water pool. That said, if you’re adamant about ditching chlorine, a salt water pool might not be what you’re looking for. Instead, you may want to think about a less-established alternative, such as AOP, a UV/ozone system Of course, all options have their own pluses and minuses, which just underlines the fact that nothing is simple when it comes to making decisions about your pool.