In addition to considering the maintenance factors of a salt chlorinator, it is also important to realize that salt is a corrosive mineral. As such, use of a salt system may lead to the deterioration of certain materials if salt levels exceed the manufacturer’s limits. This includes, but is not limited to, natural stone (including flagstone, cultured stone, marbella, travertine, etc.), concrete (including Kool Deck, exposed aggregate, etc.), clay tile, grout, some metals, and some equipment components. Any damage to the pool and/or equipment resulting from salt is not covered under warranty.
Salt is a corrosive mineral
- Thread starter dieselman
- Start date
Water is extremely corrosive, it wears down mountain ranges. But this takes millions of years (or longer). Many of the points you make about salt are similar, true in a technical sense but not important on human time scales, while others are more immediately relevant.
Some natural stone is indeed at risk. But concrete is not vulnerable to salt at typical SWG salt levels, nor is most tile, grout, or any of the metals and equipment a pool owner normally needs to worry about. SWGs are very popular and nearly all pool equipment manufacturers long ago switch to materials that are fine with SWG levels of salt. Likewise, there are some warranties that do not allow/cover SWG salt levels, but most warranties these days do cover SWG levels of salt.
Some natural stone is indeed at risk. But concrete is not vulnerable to salt at typical SWG salt levels, nor is most tile, grout, or any of the metals and equipment a pool owner normally needs to worry about. SWGs are very popular and nearly all pool equipment manufacturers long ago switch to materials that are fine with SWG levels of salt. Likewise, there are some warranties that do not allow/cover SWG salt levels, but most warranties these days do cover SWG levels of salt.