Do you have a pool or are you thinking of buying one? To maintain and disinfect your pool water, you can choose between two treatments: chlorine or salt. These two types of maintenance are very popular. Each one has advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we'll go over each maintenance so you can choose the option that's best for you, based on your personal preferences and how often you use your pool.
Salt treatment
Salt water is an easy and inexpensive way to obtain chlorine to maintain your pool. Salt is transformed into chlorine in the following way: it is first broken down through an electrolysis system and then, once transformed into chlorine, it is added to the pool during the filtration process. Chlorine occurs naturally in salt, so salt water still contains chlorine, but in smaller amounts than water treated with chemical chlorine. A saltwater pool contains only about a tenth of the ocean's saltwater level. This is enough to keep the pool fresh, free of algae and bacteria.
The benefits of salt
The salt water filtration system is easy to set up. Electrolyzers operate using a pump with a timer. Thus, everything can be configured automatically to ensure good daily filtration.
When installing your saltwater system, the setup will be done with a base level of salt in the pool. From there, you need to ensure that the salt/water ratio is always maintained. Salt never disappears or evaporates from the water. You have to manage the salt ratio when the water level changes due to rain, sun or simply a drain.
Salt is generally cheaper to purchase and requires only minimal maintenance. Therefore, maintenance products are less expensive.
Cleaning your pool with salt water also means you won't have as many harsh chemicals in your yard.
Salt does not sting the eyes and is gentler on the skin and hair. This is especially beneficial if you have small children. Its smell is not as strong as that of chlorine. Salt is also less aggressive than chlorine for swimsuits and other pool utensils. Colors wash off less. Saltwater pool colors do not fade.
The disadvantages of salt
The initial cost of a saltwater pool can be high initially. You are going to have to invest in a salt water generator. This can cost between 500 and 2000 euros. But once the investment has been amortized, the annual maintenance cost of a saltwater pool is lower. In a few years, you will therefore save money on pool maintenance.
Although chlorine pools require more regular maintenance than saltwater pools, the latter still require maintenance. Salt is a corrosive substance. It can damage your stainless steel staircase or soft stone pavers. The solution to this problem is to add zinc anodes to the pool and replace the soft stone pavers with pavers that resist the corrosive attack of salt.
Chlorine treatment
If you want to treat your pool water with chlorine, the main task will be to purchase chlorine tablets from a specialty store and add them to the filtration system.
The benefits of chlorine
Chlorine is extremely powerful: it kills mold and bacteria faster than salt in a saltwater pool. The water is very clear, clean and safe for swimming.
The initial investment of a chlorine treatment is less expensive. Additionally, chlorine pools consume less electricity.
The disadvantages of chlorine
Chlorine maintenance requires more work and the cost increases over time because you have to purchase and add tablets to the water regularly to maintain the pH. Chlorine should be added to the pool regularly, especially in the summer when temperatures rise and bacteria proliferate rapidly.
Bleach should be used and stored carefully and should not be accessible to children and pets.
Chlorine pools are known to make the eyes red. Some people develop skin irritations from swimming in chlorine pools or the skin may dry out. Chlorine can also discolor hair if not rinsed properly. Some people are also allergic to chlorine.
Chlorine or salt? Now it's up to you to carefully weigh the pros and cons of saltwater and chlorine pools.
