The Benefits of Salt Vs. Chlorine in Pools

Safer Chlorine

• The first thing to realize about chlorine generators is that they generate chlorine. So a salt-water pool still has chlorine in it, it's just a milder form of chlorine. The generators work by breaking water down into its constituent elements of hydrogen and oxygen which, with a small amount of added salt, then produce Hypochlorous acid---that is, common chlorine. This chlorine is enough to keep already-clean water clean and it does not cause eye and skin irritations.

Fewer Chemicals

• Not only do you not have to deal with chlorine itself, but a pool that uses a chlorine generator does not need so many additional chemicals to balance its water chemistry. You can have the stability of your water tested less often and do not have to worry about its alkalinity or calcium hardness. Sometimes it may be necessary to add extra chlorine to "shock" the water after a storm or after an excessive number of swimmers.

Not Very Salty

• The idea of saline water conjures up comparisons to ocean water, which not only irritates eyes but also leaves you feeling crusty when it dries. Salt-sanitized pools, though, are not even salty enough to taste. Most pool generators operate at levels of 2,500 to 4,000 parts per million of salt; that's one tenth the saltiness of the ocean, which is about 400,000 PPM. It can have corrosive effects on your equipment, but they are minimal.

Convenient

• There is no doubt that it's convenient to have a pool that makes its own chlorine, instead of having to frequently buy and add large amounts of the stuff. Chlorine generators are not completely maintenance free but they are easily cared for. The salt itself usually only has to be topped off a small amount one or twice a year. In most cases you will not have to run your pool equipment more than usual, but you should be sure to find out from an expert just how much time your particular pool needs. It's important to purchase a chlorine generator that's an appropriate size for your pool.