Salt water pool VS Chlorine

[Rbcconst]

Getting ready to build a pool. Should it be salt water or Chlorine and why?

 

[Motor Boater]

I like salt. That said, I have chlorine. Salt generators typically aren’t sized big enough for the heat in phx so they got a bad name. Interested to see the responses here.

 

[Lunatic Fringe]

I'm running a salt system here in Phoenix and we like it.
I do have the variable speed pump set to run most of the daylight hours but at an rpm just high enough to trigger the flow switch and activate the chlorine generator.

We love the feel of the water and I like the easier maintenance.

 

[steamin rice]

I'm running a salt system here in Phoenix and we like it.
I do have the variable speed pump set to run most of the daylight hours but at an rpm just high enough to trigger the flow switch and activate the chlorine generator.

We love the feel of the water and I like the easier maintenance.

Same for me - The summer sun here in Phoenix requires me to increase the chlorine in the summer, but we have an oversized generator and it can keep up most of the time. Over the long haul, I think the cost is about the same between both setups. With chlorine, you just spend it a little bit at a time over the years vs a large expense every few years to replace the chlorine generator.

 

[stephenkatsea]

Our pool, in LHC, is about 20,000 gals. When we purchased the home the pool had a salt water chlorine generator. That unit produces chlorine only when the filter is running. Sufficent salt (NaCl) must be added to the water for the chlorine generator to function. The very hard water here already has over abundant suspended solids. The added salt becomes just another suspended solid. That and the fact the filter must be running for the chlorinating process to function, convinced me to remove the unit and begin using chlorine tabs. The summer sun/heat greatly decreases the effectiveness of liquid chlorine. Make me wonder how the summer sun treats the “Cl” the unit pulls out of the added NaCl? FWIW - We’re able to maintain a good chem balance with the tabs, while running the filter only about 5 hours per day. Works for us.

 

[GETBOATS]

55,000 gallons here, pool built in 2006, salt water pool. "had" chlorine gen when new, it quit a decade ago, never replaced it, pool guy adds chlorine weekly on his visits. Salt is still there and feels like it did when new. Pool guy does a great job, Stays in balance, I would have turned it green by now. LOL

 

[DWRAT]

Have you seen the price of a bucket of tabs in the last 2 years? $200.00 plus.
I personally would do salt next time around.

 

[rivermobster]

Getting ready to build a pool. Should it be salt water or Chlorine and why?

It's a personal preference. The salt system is more "automatic" but it is more costly, in the long run.

Also, don't be deceived....

The salt system "extracts" the chlorine from the salt, so it's still a chlorine sanitized pool!

If you wanna save money and avoid the extraction process and use straight chlorine. If money is no object, and you enjoy the auto pilot aspect, go salt.

Either way, it's the mineral content that really jacks up you pool, but that's a whole different topic.

 

[Dan Lorenze]

I guess I'm gonna be that guy.. I had a salt system, now happy with good ole Chlorine. A salt pool felt better for sure, but the amount you save on chlorine you end up buying muriatic acid to combat the rising PH levels in the pool that salt systems seem to have. Also, you've got to maintain the salt water generator, they get corroded, then they fail after a few years and they're not cheap. I'm happy with my simple Chlorine pool and spa. It's mostly watching the Chlorine and PH levels which I can manage quite easily.

 

[Spitfire]

Grew up will chlorine pool in Boston. Dad still uses chlorine Today. I put a pool in here in Charlotte 8 years ago, have chlorine generator, salt cell. love it. Has been great in this environment. Cell lasted 7 years , put new one in this year. Still way ahead versus clhlorine cost And I feel like the water feels more “silky”. I like the fact it is automatic. Of course you can get an auto chlorinator with chlorine too.

 

[mesquito_creek]

Assuming this is an AZ pool. Go chlorine and buy a submersible pump with the money you save. Drain and refill every other year and the water will feel great.

 

[DLC]

In Escondido we have salt system

Its easier on my wifes hair just in case she ever decides to color it….

 

[rivermobster]

Grew up will chlorine pool in Boston. Dad still uses chlorine Today. I put a pool in here in Charlotte 8 years ago, have chlorine generator, salt cell. love it. Has been great in this environment. Cell lasted 7 years , put new one in this year. Still way ahead versus clhlorine cost And I feel like the water feels more “silky”. I like the fact it is automatic. Of course you can get an auto chlorinator with chlorine too.

The silky feeling is because you have a "balanced" pool.

You can do the same thing with any pool, but most people just don't do it.

"I haven't changed my water in five years, and it's just fine!"

 

[EarpRider]

The silky feeling is because you have a "balanced" pool.

You can do the same thing with any pool, but most people just don't do it.

"I haven't changed my water in five years, and it's just fine!"

In Havasu?

 

[Rbcconst]

Does not seem to be a sure win answer. Seems about 50/50. Pool will be in the inland empire.

 

[Good Stuff]

Does not seem to be a sure win answer. Seems about 50/50. Pool will be in the inland empire.

Havasu is chlorine for the same reasons mentioned above regarding TDS (basically the water’s capacity to hold solids). Also costs about $200 including water and chemicals to drain and refill the pool there annually. I just went to salt in Murrieta and went from constantly struggling with high CYA that the chlorine tablets add to the pool while keeping the chlorine level high enough to fight back algae in 85 degree water to a pretty easy to maintain setup with the salt generator. I do run the pump 8-10 hours per day and actually had to dial the generator back to about 40% to keep it from making too much chlorine. I test the water every week or two and it’s always on point minus PH adjustments that I always had to make even with a chlorine only pool. Salt gets converted to chlorine and when the chlorine breaks down it turns back into salt so aside from rain overflow diluting the salt it should stay pretty maintenance free. 4 months in I’m pretty happy with it with no pool guy and just working it myself. No more constant algae blooms even with chemical levels being perfect for months on the old setup. I don’t know why some pool guys hate the salt systems so much.

 

[Rbcconst]

Havasu is chlorine for the same reasons mentioned above regarding TDS (basically the water’s capacity to hold solids). Also costs about $200 including water and chemicals to drain and refill the pool there annually. I just went to salt in Murrieta and went from constantly struggling with high CYA that the chlorine tablets add to the pool while keeping the chlorine level high enough to fight back algae in 85 degree water to a pretty easy to maintain setup with the salt generator. I do run the pump 8-10 hours per day and actually had to dial the generator back to about 40% to keep it from making too much chlorine. I test the water every week or two and it’s always on point minus PH adjustments that I always had to make even with a chlorine only pool. Salt gets converted to chlorine and when the chlorine breaks down it turns back into salt so aside from rain overflow diluting the salt it should stay pretty maintenance free. 4 months in I’m pretty happy with it with no pool guy and just working it myself. No more constant algae blooms even with chemical levels being perfect for months on the old setup. I don’t know why some pool guys hate the salt systems so much.

than you for the feedback. That sounds pretty easy. I am leaning towards Salt I just don't want to make a mistake so I am asking around to see what everyone's experience is with Salt.

 

[dirtslinger2]

I'm in the middle of a pool build right now, and based of off RDP, and others, I went traditional chlorine, and opted out of SWG.
I'm in Golden Shores/Topock BTW.

 

[rivermobster]

In Havasu?

Any water can be "balanced" if you're willing to take the time to do it.

ProTip: Pool maintenance guys Rarely get involved with it. Why would they? An unbalanced pool, just means more money for them.

 

[samsah33]

In the desert and originally had a Jandy salt system installed, it ended up costing too much in maintenance between the salt cell and the sensor, both of which seemed to fail annually if not more... That was on top of a pool guy. Now I just pay the pool guy.

 

[DC-88]

Does not seem to be a sure win answer. Seems about 50/50. Pool will be in the inland empire.

It isn't a deal breaker either way, but on ours after about 8 years of dealing with the salt and marinating that stupid chlorine generator cell in straight muriatic acid to clean it every few months when it quit working I trashed the whole setup and replaced it with a 90 dollar tablet stack chlorinator . The other thing was I had a nice cover pro recessed cover, and all the pool equipment in a nice room so there was corrosion to the metal components/fasteners etc similar to dunking your steel boat trailer in Marine Staduim. Not having the acid demand from the salt, or having to add salt after big rains or parties where water was lost was nice, but taking care of the salt pool did make me a better "pool guy" going forward. On mine having the good variable speed pump circulating at different rates and cycles for a lot of hours per day made it sparkle even after not looking at it for weeks

 

[Lumpy]

In the service and repair business for 35 years…ya thats a big negative. If I had perfect water I’d consider it. Contractors love to sell that shit but never consider testing the tap water first. Really depends on your water source…Ive got a couple unicorns out there that are perfect for salt but rare. Then there is the equipment to think about…does it tolerate salt water…seen a few heaters melt down in my time…salt is corrosive. Then there is the fact that you are making chlorine from the salt water. Really boils down to cost…if it was me…nope.

 

[CoolCruzin]

I have a pool in California and it has been chlorine for 25 years
Just built a pool in Havasu and its chlorine.

My Nieghbor in Calif has a salt water pool .
He on his third chlorine generator.
Heater was replaced . Some pipes had to be replaced. The pool I think is 15 years old .

For me keep the water balanced and you will not have a chlorine smell or hair turning green .

 

[Big B Hova]

Chlorine is cheaper. Salt generators only last a few years. Shit all the pool equipment only lasts a few years.

 

[Angler]

I Love my salt pool. Water chemistry is the key to either pool.
Chlorine to use is expensive these days.

Pool equipment matters too. My pool 16 years, changed out 2 filter motors and one waterfall motor.
Switched from 4 cartridge Filter to DE.

 

[Lumpy]

God I love pool owners who think they know more than me…I’m just a dumb pool guy.

 

[BingerFang]

My dad has had a saltwater pool for 20+ years. A much better swimming and jacuzzi experience overall. If I was to put in a pool I would go saltwater 1000%

 

[Lumpy]

My dad has had a saltwater pool for 20+ years. A much better swimming and jacuzzi experience overall. If I was to put in a pool I would go saltwater 1000%

Tap water analysis please

 

[JB in so cal]

One thing: when a salt pool goes south it stops making chl immediately. Unless you're consistent in checking, big surprise. Can go from good to bad in a day or two

 

[BingerFang]

Tap water analysis please

Come over anytime! He’ll gladly give you a beer and probably cook you a steak.

When my parents moved in, the pool was chlorine and my mom hated it, wouldn’t swim in it. He switched it all over to salt shortly after. That was probably in 1999.

 

[Dan Lorenze]

Here's the good news... You can always start with one or the other and convert later if you like. A salt system just adds one more complication to the mix, not like it's a big deal but there's more involved. If you're going to have a professional maintain your pool then a salt system would be nice. But for guys that maintain their own pools an old school Chlorine pool is a little more straight forward.

 

[Melloyellovector]

Depends on location.
IE Ca I’d say yes salt
OC we still do salt, but many request ozone or uv or combo of both instead of salt
havasu hard water, it’s 50/50. I have on both pools, also have service guy to maintain pools. Never had any issues with salt on my own or customers. The few calls I do get are owners that hired a shitty pool guy that don‘t understand salt, controls, vs pumps etc.

Cost comparison chlorine to salt is nearly a wash over 5 years ( life exp of cell at 100% longer if output lowered )

On a new pool, the only area of concern for corrosion is the pool heater. Pumps, filters, valves, plumbing, lights, conduits, float autofill valves, etc… are all plastic so no concerns w salt

couple options or combo of both. Order pentair hd heater or any manufacture asme version that has cupro nickel exchanger. Also they make automated valve bypass kits for heaters when not in use. That actually helps with flow and eliminates salt water cycling thru heater.

most common reason salt pools screw up heaters is owner or service guy put way over the needed salt ppm. Next is owner or pool guy dumps gallon or more of acid every week to combat ph levels. But in turn making the water corrosive for 4+ of the following days of adding, so next week it’s near leveling off and they dump again and start it corrosive all over again. Never ending weekly F up

the water feeling silky is the salt in water, same as water softener on house. Salt does get converted to chlorine, dies and back to salt, never ending cycle. The only true benefit is can keep a consistent low level, with ability to max output and raise level after party’s etc

versus liquid, spike when service guy comes and drops through out week. Not a problem if your pool is serviced thur-fri, but if your serviced on Mon or Tuesday usually by weekend when you use pool it’s nearly depleted for bather load, come Monday your pool guy hates you for destroying the pool.

tabs build up conditioner so water has to be dumped to lower every year or 2

They all have draw backs and addl steps to maintain.
Select the one that makes you feel like it’s the easiest for you.

 

[DrunkenSailor]

My cya levels are stupid and I'm changing water every two years. Seriously considering salt or just going to liquid chlorine. Following along.

 

[NIKAL]

My pool is salt water. My daughter struggled with Eczema, snd she still gets flare ups a few times a year. Was told the Salt system was not as hard on your skin. Also I think it feels better on your skin, and I notice our bathing suits & towels don’t have that chlorine smell like our pools did growing up.

As far as the salt cell generator. A good pool plumber or whoever helps set up your pool equipment. Should know your pool volume, and go one size up on your generator. Also whoever is servicing your pool, needs to know how to maintain the bal, like any pool, but if they keep it consistent, you might only need to service & clean the generator 2-3 times a year. It’s a tricky balance as you clean it with muriatic acid, which can wear the plates out too. So more is not better.

My pool is 4 years old and I’m still using the same original salt cell generator. I asked the last time it was serviced, how did it look and they said great. BTW I don’t maintain my pool, I have a company that maintains it weekly. They did my pool start up and have been taking care of it ever since. I have zero interest or motivation to want to service it.

 

[Rbcconst]

Depends on location.
IE Ca I’d say yes salt
OC we still do salt, but many request ozone or uv or combo of both instead of salt
havasu hard water, it’s 50/50. I have on both pools, also have service guy to maintain pools. Never had any issues with salt on my own or customers. The few calls I do get are owners that hired a shitty pool guy that don‘t understand salt, controls, vs pumps etc.

Cost comparison chlorine to salt is nearly a wash over 5 years ( life exp of cell at 100% longer if output lowered )

On a new pool, the only area of concern for corrosion is the pool heater. Pumps, filters, valves, plumbing, lights, conduits, float autofill valves, etc… are all plastic so no concerns w salt

couple options or combo of both. Order pentair hd heater or any manufacture asme version that has cupro nickel exchanger. Also they make automated valve bypass kits for heaters when not in use. That actually helps with flow and eliminates salt water cycling thru heater.

most common reason salt pools screw up heaters is owner or service guy put way over the needed salt ppm. Next is owner or pool guy dumps gallon or more of acid every week to combat ph levels. But in turn making the water corrosive for 4+ of the following days of adding, so next week it’s near leveling off and they dump again and start it corrosive all over again. Never ending weekly F up

the water feeling silky is the salt in water, same as water softener on house. Salt does get converted to chlorine, dies and back to salt, never ending cycle. The only true benefit is can keep a consistent low level, with ability to max output and raise level after party’s etc

versus liquid, spike when service guy comes and drops through out week. Not a problem if your pool is serviced thur-fri, but if your serviced on Mon or Tuesday usually by weekend when you use pool it’s nearly depleted for bather load, come Monday your pool guy hates you for destroying the pool.

tabs build up conditioner so water has to be dumped to lower every year or 2

They all have draw backs and addl steps to maintain.
Select the one that makes you feel like it’s the easiest for you.

Thank you for the detailed info and suggestions. I will hire a pool service for sure, not sure how to know i have a good one. Salt seems to be a good way to go but hard to maintain if someone doesnt know what they are doing.

 

[johnner58]

Both of my pools are salt, wouldn't have it any other way, I swim in the pool daily.

 

[j21black]

Ours is Salt - New liner going in next spring - Switching to chlorine.

Wife says we spend a lot more money on Salt then we would using chlorine.

 

[rivermobster]

Thank you for the detailed info and suggestions. I will hire a pool service for sure, not sure how to know i have a good one. Salt seems to be a good way to go but hard to maintain if someone doesnt know what they are doing.

The only pool guy you can trust is the one in your bathroom mirror. No one will do a better job than him.

A lot of the drawbacks Tim mentioned are easily avoidable if you do it yourself.

And Tim will tell you straight out ...

I'm the Only one he knows that uses one of these things!

HASA Liquid Feeder New Liquidator Automatic Chlorine Feeder 8 Gallon | 96300 https://a.co/d/6aN9pDM

This, and non stabilized tabs and shock, make life easy, for me.

 

[DirtyWhiteDog]

Vegas, chlorine I maintain it myself using liquid chlorine and acid, and tabs with the floater closed to ⅛" . Check levels once a week and add chemicals as needed. All bathing suits get a water only rinse and dry to keep the soap out. We drop the water about ¼ every spring and refill through a charcoal filter.

 

[McKay]

We have salt. Went the first two summers without an intellichem system so was adding acid and adjusting the chlorine generator often. Now with the acid injector it’s made life a lot more simple. Am using way less acid now as the intellichem controls the PH level perfectly and the chlorine generator. There was a month of a learning curve but happy with it now.

 

[hawgty55]

Depends on your pool guy

 

[Melloyellovector]

Thank you for the detailed info and suggestions. I will hire a pool service for sure, not sure how to know i have a good one. Salt seems to be a good way to go but hard to maintain if someone doesnt know what they are doing.

It’s not hard to maintain. Just people have the perception it is. Because of cell replacement cost they get sticker shock and say F that thing. Meantime they ran an undersized cell at 100% on a system that was likely running 50-75% of needed filtration time. So it was never going to keep up and pool looked like shit
They switch back to tablets, liquid and shock etc and think it works better. There’s no better product to sanitize pool then chlorine, regardless where it comes from, salt, liquid, granule, tablets, gas the list goes on. Doing UV, Ozone, pool rx, frog canisters, copper, silver, magnets, all still require chlorine to sanitize

FYI liquid chlorine dies and leaves salt in the pool. A salt system is literally a small version of the exact process done at chlorine plants to produce chlorine

You add salt 1 time, only way salt leaves pool is splash out, overflow from rains, or a leak. add a bag or 2 a year to maintain level. Anyone saying salt costs more then chlorine, their math ain’t mathing right for sure. A 40k cell is under 1200, should last min 5 years anytime beyond that is bonus years that actually lower your avg cost, that works out to 19.76 per month, liquid chlorine is 34 per month If only adding 1 gl per week and summer time usually more.
Acid use is higher with salt but on avg 2-3.5 gl a month, versus 1-2gl per month w liquid chlorine. it’s min diff, adds about 10-15 more to maintain acid. It’s literally a wash.

Only thing you do is maintain PH levels, and clean cell as needed, 3, 4, or mine I do every 6 months when filter gets cleaned. Depends on water hardness will determine how fast cell plates build up and need cleaning.

You could also add a intellichem, chemtrol etc for acid feed. Then you or service guy literally just refill feed tank as needed. The chems will virtually maintain themselves with very little input needed from anyone.

 

[DrunkenSailor]

The only pool guy you can trust is the one in your bathroom mirror. No one will do a better job than him.

A lot of the drawbacks Tim mentioned are easily avoidable if you do it yourself.

And Tim will tell you straight out ...

I'm the Only one he knows that uses one of these things!

HASA Liquid Feeder New Liquidator Automatic Chlorine Feeder 8 Gallon | 96300 https://a.co/d/6aN9pDM

This, and non stabilized tabs and shock, make life easy, for me.

Where do you get non stabilized tabs?

 

[Hardly Satisfied]

We have salt system here in Riverside

 

[caribbean20]

My situation very different, so not a good data point (i.e, we are in CO, pool only in use about 1/2 year). But, FWIW, we have a small 10k gallon fiberglass pool with a salt system. Very easy to maintain, I do it all myself. I would choose salt again every day and twice on Sunday.

Further to what another has said, I’ve got a salt cell rated for 45k gallons and only run it at 20%. Getting many years from my salt cells, but, again, this is only for 1/2 year use.

 

[rivermobster]

Where do you get non stabilized tabs?

Any legit pool store? You can order em online too.

I honestly only use em when the liquid chlorinator can't keep up. (Days like today).

Supposed to be 108 here in SoCal!

 

[Melloyellovector]

Any legit pool store? You can order em online too.

I honestly only use em when the liquid chlorinator can't keep up. (Days like today).

Supposed to be 108 here in SoCal!

Non stabilized tablets are calcium hypochlorite. Be very careful handling. no greasy hands from wrenching on shit. cal hypo can and does react and explode.

 

[rivermobster]

Non stabilized tablets are calcium hypochlorite. Be very careful handling. no greasy hands from wrenching on shit. cal hypo can and does react and explode.

Interesting...

What do they do in a campfire?

Asking for a friend of course.

 

[Melloyellovector]

Interesting...

What do they do in a campfire?

Asking for a friend of course.

Way way way back, I had a small bucket of what I thought was conditioner in bed of truck, the side blew out of bucket.
didn't want it all over bed of truck, so I tossed in trash can. On top of oily rags. Went inside house.
minute later I hear fireworks going off. Cal hypo not conditioner. Was exploding and lit trash can on fire.

in a camp fire, I think you should try and report back

 

[rivermobster]

Way way way back, I had a small bucket of what I thought was conditioner in bed of truck, the side blew out of bucket.
didn't want it all over bed of truck, so I tossed in trash can. On top of oily rags. Went inside house.
minute later I hear fireworks going off. Cal hypo not conditioner. Was exploding and lit trash can on fire.

in a camp fire, I think you should try and report back

I may do just that. We have definitely done worse "experiments" like that before!