My friend trying to decide chlorine pool or salt water

[geh]

I did not find a specific tutorial in pool school. Is there a good thread or something I missed to educate her on the differences to choose whether to build an in ground salt water pool or an in ground chlorine pool? She is starting from scratch in terms of knowledge. Her husband used to do a good job on maintaining their former above ground pool. They are doing extensive addition/renovation to their home and now deciding to put in a pool.

 

[PoolGate]

Both are "chlorine" pools. Saltwater pools simply have a device that creates chlorine for the pool so you do not have to add it manually. Saltwater pools generally maintain a 3 parts per thousand salt level while non-saltwater pools maintain 1 part per thousand. To put that in perspective, the ocean is 35 parts per thousand. Most cannot taste the salt in a saltwater pool. No new pool should be built that is not saltwater based.

 

[Texas Splash]

Hello! I think your friend misunderstands, but PoolGate already addressed the main points. The link below should help your friend.

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[geh]

Both are "chlorine" pools. Saltwater pools simply have a device that creates chlorine for the pool so you do not have to add it manually. Saltwater pools generally maintain a 3 parts per thousand salt level while non-saltwater pools maintain 1 part per thousand. To put that in perspective, the ocean is 35 parts per thousand. Most cannot taste the salt in a saltwater pool. No new pool should be built that is not saltwater based.

Thank you, it was my misuse of terms, I meant fresh water pool, or non-saltwater pool as you said. Regarding " No new pool should be built that is not saltwater based" can you expand on that and maybe some others chime in? Is it due simply to the cost savings of the chlorine generator, or other factors as well?

 

[Newdude]

Is it due simply to the cost savings of the chlorine generator,

The usual detractors are : (in no specific order)

1) misinformation

2) buying several years of chlorine in one shot

3) misinformation

4) misinformation

5) a coworkers neighbors dogs- cousin dogs owners- college roomate had problems with a salt pool. (Aka misinformation)

Have your friend join and we can answer any questions directly and quell any fears about either method.

 

[Wolfepack88]

I am brand new pool owner and I still don't understand the debate about this barring the cost of buying the SWG upfront (which I understand that money doesn't grow on trees), but if that is not a problem for somebody, then a few minutes of reading and its a no brainer.

 

[PoolGate]

The main people I see poo pooing SWGs are manufacturers of magic bean/emperor has no clothes systems AKA UV/Ozone systems.

 

[geh]

I have a non salt water pool and the only reason I haven't converted is I would have to buy a new pool heater and thus the conversion costs negate any savings. I am not against salt water pools, I was just relaying her question, because a few people have apparently told her to not go salt water. I encouraged her to join here to get educated. Maybe she or her husband will.

 

[Bperry]

I have a non salt water pool and the only reason I haven't converted is I would have to buy a new pool heater and thus the conversion costs negate any savings. I am not against salt water pools, I was just relaying her question, because a few people have apparently told her to not go salt water. I encouraged her to join here to get educated. Maybe she or her husband will.

I don’t think you need a new pool heater to use a SWCG, unless the heater is falling apart (like mine) in which case you’de need one anyway.

 

[an1vrsy]

No new pool should be built that is not saltwater based" can you expand on that

When building a new pool and deciding on pool equipment, a saltwater "chlorine" generator (SWG) is, in my opinion, the best piece of equipment to purchase in addition to a variable speed pump and a cartridge filter. Above 57 degrees water temp, the SWG can add/dose/generate chlorine (sanitize) your pool water. If you go on vacation, your SWG is adding/dosing/generating chlorine while you're away.

I had a pool at my previous home, I/we did not have a SWG. I added liquid chlorine daily. I knew when we bought our new home, I would add the SWG during the build. I love it. I easily rationalized if I am already spending $$,$$$ what is another $1,500 or less if it is a smaller SWG.

 

[geh]

I don’t think you need a new pool heater to use a SWCG, unless the heater is falling apart (like mine) in which case you’de need one anyway.

Pentair changed their website and dumbed it down, so you cant see specs and construction info, they want you to call a dealer. I have a Mastertemp 200, and as I recall, the saltwater would corrode the pipes in mine. There is a different unit for saltwater, only a couple hundred bucks different in price, that has the metal that won't corrode. Maybe they make it all in that material now, but my heater would need to be replaced, as I recall from my research a few years ago.

I don’t think you need a new pool heater to use a SWCG, unless the heater is falling apart (like mine) in which case you’de need one anyway.

 

[mknauss]

There is a different unit for saltwater

Sorry, but that is not correct. They try to upsell you to a cupro-nickel exchanger. It is not needed. Proper water chemistry protects the heater.

 

[PoolStored]

Regarding " No new pool should be built that is not saltwater based" can you expand on that and maybe some others chime in?

That is an OPINION. You can either use liquid chlorine or a SWCG to generate chlorine. Both have pros and cons. Really depends on you.

I haven't converted is I would have to buy a new pool heater

Here is the manual for your heater. Page 60. Salt can be up to 5000ppm. Good to go!

https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/nam/pentair-pool/residential/manuals/heaters/mastertemp/Manual-MasterTemp-472592-English.pdf

 

[proavia]

Pentair changed their website and dumbed it down, so you cant see specs and construction info, they want you to call a dealer. I have a Mastertemp 200, and as I recall, the saltwater would corrode the pipes in mine. There is a different unit for saltwater, only a couple hundred bucks different in price, that has the metal that won't corrode. Maybe they make it all in that material now, but my heater would need to be replaced, as I recall from my research a few years ago.

A chlorine pool IS a salt water pool. Test your pool water for salt content. Chances are your salt content is over 1000 ppm if you haven't done a drain/refill in a few years. Here in the desert southwest, where we don't get enough percipitation, salt accumulated with additions of liquid chlorine and acid. In a year, my salt content would climb 1000+ per year.

The biggest issue with a heater is the pH. If you don't correctly manage pH, you will dissolve the heater exchanger core.

 

[Newdude]

That is an OPINION. You can either use liquid chlorine or a SWCG to generate chlorine. Both have pros and cons. Really depends on you.

Says the guy who switched to salt.

But, jokes aside. They are all the same as said above. How you prefer to add chlorine is fine either way and the pool never knows.

 

[geh]

Sorry, but that is not correct. They try to upsell you to a cupro-nickel exchanger. It is not needed. Proper water chemistry protects the heater.

Thank you. That was the term. Glad to hear. Maybe converting to saltwater with a SWG may be more feasible than I thought.

 

[pmoney2311]

I installed my SWG just over a year ago and I can say a couple of things: While everybody was running around looking for liquid chlorine that wasn't there anymore on the shelves of Walmart, Lowes, etc. then reverting to trichlor tabs as they started to become scarce, all while prices raised, I was sittin' there like Kermit the Frog sipping my tea (except I'm less green and the tea was a beer).

The only PIA was buying/hauling 400 lbs of salt bags and brushing them into the pool for startup. That equaled out all the times I had to make a chlorine run, buying a bunch of gallon jugs while worrying they were 3-6 months old. Lowered my TA a tiny bit and PH creep hasn't been a problem.

Before SWG when I went on vacation, I had to heavy dose my pool with LC, puts some pucks in and/or have my mother-in-law stop over and add more chlorine while we were gone. Last year, before leaving, all I did was ...well nothing.

 

[Nikilyn]

In addition to all the above reasons, it’s also so much nicer on your skin. You don’t feel like you need a shower ASAP when you get out. Also, if any family members has eczema, it helps to not make it worse. That was one of our reasons for getting it. We debated back and forth and now I wonder why. It’s so nice to not have to worry about the chlorine every day. I get bad migraines and if I’m down for a week, no biggie, the pool still looks good . The price is really a drop in the bucket in the big scheme of things.

 

[geh]

This is great to hear, now you all have me wanting to convert mine to salt water. Equipment-wise, all I have to add is a SWG? About how much does a conversion cost?

 

[jeffchap]

I have had a Mastertemp 200 with a SWG for 5 years so far - no problems. And it wasn't new when I bought it, so I have no idea how old it actually is.