Should I convert my pool to a saltwater system?

[Josh_Is_Me]

I've been using a traditional chlorine pool for over 4 years. With calcium hypochlorite powder and a pool robot, it’s super easy to maintain. However, I've noticed a trend toward saltwater pools lately. Is it a wise move to join this trend and convert my pool to a saltwater system?

 

[TinFoilHat]

Yes, it is. The long term savings over buying any other chlorine beats it hands down.

 

[SJPoe]

I love my SWG. It's not quite 'set it and forget it', but it's pretty darned close. I think I had to adjust my output maybe 3 times this last season, once late spring as the weather got nice, once again as the summer sun started to really beat down, and then one last time when the early fall came along. Other than that, I haven't lugged-a-jug since opening day when I added a gallon on LC to boost the FC up after the winter closure.

My wife says she prefers the feel of the salt water, although I couldn't tell the difference if I'm honest.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Josh,

I have three saltwater pools and would rather fill them in with dirt rather than have them be standard chlorine pools..

Just to make sure we are on the same page... A saltwater pool is a chlorine pool.. Instead of adding chlorine manually, the Saltwater Chlorine Generator (SWCG), just makes the chlorine that your pool uses each day..

What kind of pump do you have, and how long do you run it each day?

The pump and SWCG needs to run long enough to make the chlorine your pool needs.. This is not much of an issue with a VS pump, but it you have a single speed pump, it could be..

The initial cost of a SWCG is like buying 3 or 4 years worth of chlorine all at once.. More if you have to have someone else install it.

If what you are doing is working for you now, why do you want to change?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Josh_Is_Me]

Yes, it is. The long term savings over buying any other chlorine beats it hands down.

Ok, thanks! Indeed, in the long run, a saltwater pool system may reduce the frequency of purchasing chlorine products.

 

[Josh_Is_Me]

I love my SWG. It's not quite 'set it and forget it', but it's pretty darned close. I think I had to adjust my output maybe 3 times this last season, once late spring as the weather got nice, once again as the summer sun started to really beat down, and then one last time when the early fall came along. Other than that, I haven't lugged-a-jug since opening day when I added a gallon on LC to boost the FC up after the winter closure.

My wife says she prefers the feel of the salt water, although I couldn't tell the difference if I'm honest.

Nice! I’ve been thinking about getting an SWG too. Sounds like it’s pretty low-maintenance. My wife is the same way about the saltwater feel. I guess it’s a placebo effect or something.

 

[Josh_Is_Me]

Josh,

I have three saltwater pools and would rather fill them in with dirt rather than have them be standard chlorine pools..

Just to make sure we are on the same page... A saltwater pool is a chlorine pool.. Instead of adding chlorine manually, the Saltwater Chlorine Generator (SWCG), just makes the chlorine that your pool uses each day..

What kind of pump do you have, and how long do you run it each day?

The pump and SWCG needs to run long enough to make the chlorine your pool needs.. This is not much of an issue with a VS pump, but it you have a single speed pump, it could be..

The initial cost of a SWCG is like buying 3 or 4 years worth of chlorine all at once.. More if you have to have someone else install it.

If what you are doing is working for you now, why do you want to change?

Thanks,

Jim R.

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I understand now that a saltwater pool still uses chlorine, it just generates it itself.

Yes, I have a VS pump and I typically run it for about 10 hours per day.

I was thinking about switching to an SWG because of the convenience and potential health benefits of saltwater. However, I’ll definitely weigh the initial cost and ongoing maintenance.

Thanks again for the information!

Best,
Josh

 

[Homebrewale]

I have had a SWG since 2006. There have been no downsides that I've experienced over the years.

 

[sande005]

We don't know anything about your pool (gallons, what kind of Cal-Hypo you use, etc.), but for mine, if I was to use it - every pound of 70% used would raise FC by 3.6 ppm, Calcium 3 ppm, and salt by 4 ppm. Guessing for a pool season, perhaps 150 lbs. So calcium would be at least 450 ppm by fall. Maybe hugely more depending on how much carried over from other seasons. May not be an issue with a very simple vinyl pool, or a huge issue if there are items that can be damaged by scaling.

One source (Leslie's) pegs the cost of that 150# at $1,050 for the season. And one has to monitor and add it at least every 2-3 days.

A DIY install can be done for as little as $1,000-$1,500, of course greatly depending on your specifics. Double that if you need more modifications to go with and are hiring a guy.
Sized properly, the cells can last easily 5 years, and up to 10.

Testing and adjusting chem levels for me dropped to less than 15 min. per week. Day after day, I got twitchy looking at the perfect pool that had previously required hours each week. It just stayed perfect. That "not-having-to-mess-with-the-pool" factor was worth far, far more in $$ than any savings in chems.
All I ever need on a routine basis is some acid to keep pH in line, and not much of that. TOTAL chem expense for me for the year didn't break $200 for everything. Including the test kit refills. No need, ever, to "shock" the pool. No algicides, no clarifiers, no other pools store "magic" chems. I bought 8 gal of liquid chlorine this spring, just in case. I still have 6 (used 2 when I closed the pool), and will have to throw it out next spring as it degrades over time.

Finally - as others have done, I was able to turn my pump down to run very slowly 24/7. That slashed my electric bill to where it was an insignificant part of my energy spending.

And BTW - the math above is the same for the current salt level - you may be pretty close to having a salt water pool already, depending on how much built up over the years.

 

[Josh_Is_Me]

I have had a SWG since 2006. There have been no downsides that I've experienced over the years.

Got it!

 

[wireform]

To me it's a no brainer. I tell all my clients to get on the queue as I won't keep them for long any other way. Non have ever complained after the fact and usually raving reviews except for the usual few which can't pinpoint what exactly isn't right.

 

[Josh_Is_Me]

To me it's a no brainer. I tell all my clients to get on the queue as I won't keep them for long any other way. Non have ever complained after the fact and usually raving reviews except for the usual few which can't pinpoint what exactly isn't right.

Thank you for your recommendation! However, I'm a bit concerned. Could the salinity of a saltwater pool potentially cause damage to the pool's materials?

 

[wireform]

The short and long answer is no. A salt pool is the same as a chlorine pool except for the way its administered. A salt pool has salt added and the salt water cell converts it to chlorine where as a chlorine pool your adding it manually. I have seen many chlorine pools have more then 60% of the salt it would need to convert the pool. A well balanced pool will have no affect to damage and that's the same wether it's a salt or chlorine pool.

 

[Josh_Is_Me]

The short and long answer is no. A salt pool is the same as a chlorine pool except for the way its administered. A salt pool has salt added and the salt water cell converts it to chlorine where as a chlorine pool your adding it manually. I have seen many chlorine pools have more then 60% of the salt it would need to convert the pool. A well balanced pool will have no affect to damage and that's the same wether it's a salt or chlorine pool.

Got it! Thanks a lot.