What Are The Pros And Cons Of A Saltwater Chlorinator?
Whether you’re buying your first pool or already know the joys of swimming in your own backyard, the decision to go for saltwater is one being taken more and more often by owners.
There are many sound reasons for choosing a saltwater chlorinator, so if you haven’t considered one before, it is definitely worth investigating.
Swimming Pool Smell
Traditionally, most swimming pools are filled with fresh water which is kept safe and clean with the regular addition of chemicals. The distinctive ‘swimming pool smell’ is chlorine, a powerful disinfectant, which is the basis of most granules and solutions used in pools.
Adding chlorine means that you won’t get algae or dangerous microbes in your water, but the chemical compound can be very irritating on the skin, redden your eyes and, if you’re very unlucky, can even give blonde hair a greenish tinge. Chemically-chlorinated pools can also be irritating to babies and asthma and hay fever sufferers.
Your Own Beach Scene
An alternative that is growing in popularity is a saltwater pool. You don’t need to live on the beach to enjoy the feel of a saltwater swim.
Installing a saltwater chlorinator can be done to a new or existing pool, and it works by adding salt to mains or tank supplied water. This leads to a more natural chlorine that is gentler on your skin, your eyes and your hair.
No Irritations
The salt (sodium chloride) is broken down to chloride, in a process known as electrolysis. This reaction creates a stable flow of chlorine that avoids the freshly-chlorinated spike in irritants that regular swimmers notice after the weekly chemicals have been added.
There is no weekly measuring and adding of chemicals to a saltwater pool – just replenish the salt on an annual basis.
Less Work, More Play
In fact, maintenance is a whole lot simpler with a saltwater system, leaving you with more time to enjoy your pool.
Adding a saltwater chlorinator to your pool set-up can cost around $1000, but after that initial outlay, you will start to make savings straight away.
Your shed won’t be cluttered with tubs of dangerous chemicals, so there will be more room, and it will be safer, and your maintenance costs will be cheaper by about 80 per cent. Self-cleaning units are available that don’t even require basic attention.
No Metal, No Rust
There are a few things to be aware of, however. If you are changing your existing pool to a saltwater chlorinator, you’ll first have to replace any metal fittings such as ladders with plastic, because salt is corrosive to metal. Salt deposits can also build upon the pool surfaces and discolour or damage it over time.
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You will save on chemicals, but you will have to run your chlorinator almost all the time, so your pool power costs may go up. Once you enjoy natural, healthy saltwater pools, it’s very difficult to go back to chemically chlorinated.
At Barrier Reef Pools Perth, we can help you with any maintenance queries about fibreglass pools. Whether you are in the Northern or Southern suburbs of Perth, we can fit and install your pool in time for Christmas, so come and visit one of our showrooms today.
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