Let's talk about chemistry. Not pool water chemistry (yet), human chemistry.
Have you ever wondered why your body floats in the ocean?
It's from the extremely high salt density in the water. The salinity in the ocean is around 35,000 ppm. Some oceans, like the Dead Sea are much higher but, on average, that number is correct.
Your body has a certain amount of salinity also. It can be found in your saliva, your sweat and your tears. Your tears salinity is about 8,000 ppm.
This reason alone is a strong arguement for converting your pool to salt. When in a "fresh water" pool, there is little or no salt at all which brings your body out of it's natural comfort zone.
The salt in a "salt pool" refreshes your eyes and quenches your skin and hair. The salinity of a salt pool is around 3,200-3,600 ppm. It's not quite the same as your body but it's close.
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Salt Generators/Chlorinators:
Q: Is a salt pool like swimming in the ocean?
A: Not quite; There's a considerable difference between the salinity of the ocean (20,000-35,000 ppm) and a salt chlorinated pool (3,200 ppm). At 3,200 ppm, you genereally can't even taste the salt and, anything under 6,000 ppm is still considered "fresh water".
Q: Is the water still blue?
A: Yes, since the salt water system creates chlorine, the water is still blue and also very clear. The salt system gives your pool the water quality you have dreamed about diving into.
Q: Can a salt system be installed with my existing equipment?
A: Yes, since water is still considered fresh, it is compatible with all standard pool equipment including pumps, filters, heaters, pool sweeps, etc. It is advised that you check with the manufacturer of the salt chlorinator tp verify that you can use it with a stainless steel filter or a considerable amount of copper plumbing.
Q: Does salt "soften" the pool water?
A: Yes, this is one of the many benefits of the salt system.
Q: Will I save money?
A: The fact that you no longer need to use packaged pool chlorine will save you a significant amount of money in the long run. The most common reason people choose to install a salt system is because of the fantastic water quality and the effects it has on the bather's comfort level. Your body is in a more natural state with the salt.
Q: Will there be deposits left on the tile line?
A: Unless you are checking your pH levels on a daily basis, you will, unfortunately, experience some kind of buid-up. To help counter this, try some Scale-Tec. It will help break up calcium along the water line and tile. You should be scrubbing your tile line regularly already. If you keep up on this task, and maintain your pH, you will have no more work than normal.
Q: Will the pool be as sanitary as it would be with regular liquid chlorine?
A: Yes! Having a salt system means that you are manufacturing your own chlorine right in your own backyard. Not only are you creating chlorine in a cost effective way, you are constantly generating enough chlorine to keep your pool sanitary all the time. The salt generator is only converting salt to chlorine for as long as the pump is running. If you reduce the amount of time your pump runs each day, be sure to adjust the chlorine output accordingly.
I hope this article helps answer some of your questions about salt chlorine generators. If you have other questions, you can submit them as a comment and I will create a follow-up.
