Salt water pool - Are there different kinds?

klanel · Oct 24, 2021

I was talking with a neighbor about our pool and he asked if we were having a salt pool or just using salt to generate chlorine. Then he warned if it were a salt pool that metal fixtures would be eaten up from the salt.

I will be using salt to generate chlorine but do some pools just contain salt water? Is there some difference or are they one in the same? I am new to this but this has aroused my curiosity.

jark87 · Oct 24, 2021

The quick answer is that they are one and the same. The vast majority of what are called salt water pools have a SWCG, like yours. Some people add salt to soften the water for feel. Interestingly, all pools have some level of salt because chlorine contains salt. Last, SWCG typically require salt levels around 3500 ppm, which is not corrosive to metals. Ocean water has salt levels of roughly 35,000 ppm.

Salt - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Jimrahbe · Oct 24, 2021

K,

Your neighbor has no clue what he is talking about...

Any metal that will rust will rust no matter what kind of pool you have..

What metal fixtures do you plan to have in your new pool?

You will have a Saltwater Chlorine Generator or SWCG. For it to work, you will have to initially add a small amount of salt to your pool water. The SWCG will use the salt in the pool water to generate the chlorine your pool will use. As noted above, the water is only slightly salty at 3,500 ppm, while the ocean is about 35,000 ppm.

I have three saltwater pools and have not had any corrosion of any kind.

Thanks,

Jim R.

klanel · Oct 24, 2021

Jimrahbe said:
What metal fixtures do you plan to have in your new pool?

I don't know what/if anything will be metal. I'll have an umbrella holder on the sunshelf, maybe some deck spouts, and whatever the fittings are made of for the drains/returns/blower connections. I'd say standard things.

YippeeSkippy · Oct 25, 2021

In 10 years the only corrosion I've seen was on the end of the legs of a very cheap table set we also bought 10 or more years ago. It looked like aluminum....so destine to fail pool or no pool. Nothing in my pool has rusted or discolored due to salt.

Maddie :flower:

BowserB · Nov 15, 2021

Jimrahbe said:
Your neighbor has no clue what he is talking about...
Jim R.

Jim, I'm not sure his neighbor isn't in the majority. I know two pool owners with SWCG for chlorine. Neither of them have any idea that the salt is there to create chlorine. They both are convinced that salt is an alternative to chlorine and that their salt pools are just like ocean salinity. Now, I could be wrong and most people know better. These two are people who use a weekly pool service. One even declares the day the pool guy comes to be "chemical day" and no swimming allowed until the next day. She has no idea what "chemicals" are being added to the pool, if any, or why they should not swim that day. I asked if the pool guy told her that. No, it's just to be safe.

Jimrahbe · Nov 15, 2021

Bill,

Unfortunately, you are correct... I suspect that about 70% of all reported cell failures are really just pool owner failures, as they do not have a clue how a saltwater pool should work..

They are routinely taken advantage of by Pool Stores, Pool builders, Pool maintenance guys, and Pool Service companies..

Sigh!!

Thanks,

Jim R.

Mdragger88 · Nov 15, 2021

BowserB said:
Jim, I'm not sure his neighbor isn't in the majority. I know two pool owners with SWCG for chlorine. Neither of them have any idea that the salt is there to create chlorine. They both are convinced that salt is an alternative to chlorine and that their salt pools are just like ocean salinity. Now, I could be wrong and most people know better. These two are people who use a weekly pool service. One even declares the day the pool guy comes to be "chemical day" and no swimming allowed until the next day. She has no idea what "chemicals" are being added to the pool, if any, or why they should not swim that day. I asked if the pool guy told her that. No, it's just to be safe.