Learn About Saltwater Pools

Posted April 13, 2015

Learn About Saltwater Pools and See Why They May Be Better Than Traditional Pools

As a FishHawk Ranch homeowner and Florida resident you probably use your pool most of the year. Saltwater pools are safe and low-odor pools that are gaining in popularity.

The Growth of the Saltwater Pools

The market for saltwater pools has been growing rapidly. It is estimated that over 50% of all new pools are now installed with saltwater pool technology. In addition to the new installations, there are a large number of existing pools being converted to saltwater pools.

How Saltwater Pools Work

Freshwater pools are dependent on chlorine to maintain a safe swimming pool environment, disinfect water and keep it free of algae, bacteria, and other harmful organisms. Traditionally, liquid chlorine has been used to introduce the necessary chlorine agent into a pool system. While liquid chlorine works well functionally, it has a lot of negative side effects on hair, skin, eyes, and clothing.

Saltwater pools rely on an electrolytic chlorine generator or automatic sanitizer systems. The generator separates the salt in the pool water into its two primary elements, one of which is chlorine. The chlorine is then circulated into the pool to sanitize and disinfect the water. The system can perform the same function as chlorine but without the negative effects. The big advantage is that the process doesn’t produce chloramines, an irritating byproduct of the store-bought chlorine. It’s the chloramines that give swimming pools that chlorine smell and sting eyes.

How Salty Are Saltwater Pools?

Saltwater pools are about 1/10th as salty as the ocean. Seawater has concentrations of salt of about 35,000 parts per million (ppm) and saltwater pools have about 3,000 to 5,000 ppm. The saltwater pool water has similar characteristics to that of a teardrop and therefore, doesn’t irritate your eyes like a chlorine pool.

Saltwater Pool Benefits

Low Maintenance: We live in FishHawk Ranch and the sunny state of Florida so we are power pool users. The low maintenance of saltwater pools is a huge advantage over traditional pools. All you need to do is add a few hundred pounds of salt to the system, turn on the generator and let it do its thing. There is no measuring, testing, or continuously dumping chemicals into the water. You will probably need to add more salt a few times a year but that is easy!
Cost Savings: Once the system is installed, a salt chlorination generator makes chlorine at about $1 per pound. Compare that to store-bought chlorine that sells for about $2 to $4 per pound. You will save between 50% – 75% per pound.
Constant Chlorine Levels: The electrolytic chlorine generator automatically keeps chlorine levels fairly constant. This eliminates having to test chlorine levels as frequently as chlorine pools. It also eliminates the need to buy, transport, and add chlorine.
The Water Feels Nice: Saltwater pools feel more natural, the water feels silky, and does not sting eyes or discolor hair like the water in freshwater, chlorine pools can.
Selling Your FishHawk Ranch Home: If you have your FishHawk Ranch home that is for sale, having a saltwater pool is a better selling feature than a traditional chlorine pool.

Drawbacks of Saltwater Pools

Hey, nothing is perfect! There are a few drawbacks of saltwater pools, they are.

A High Startup Cost: The largest expense is the electrolytic chlorine generator. Depending on where you live the cost ranges in price from $600 to around $2,000.
Cell Replacement: The salt cell inside the electrolytic chlorine generator should be replaced periodically. In FishHawk Ranch and the rest of Florida, you can expect to have to replace these about every 4 to 5 years. For people that don’t use their pools year-round these cells could last up to 10 years. The cost to replace these will run in the neighborhood of $300 to $700.
Corrosion Effect of the Salt: Saltwater can corrode anything in or around your pool that contains metal, like lights, heaters, screws, diving board attachments, and patio furniture. Even though there is not a high concentration of salt, it still does have the tenancy to corrode metal.
Salt Stains: Saltwater, when splashed on brick pavers or on the pool deck, can leave stains. To alleviate this problem rinse the surface with fresh water and apply a sealant.

Saltwater Pool Care Video

Here is a nice saltwater care video to assist you with the pool care.

Enjoy Your Pool

Now that you have the water in your FishHawk Ranch pool sparkling and clean, grab your sunscreen and enjoy!

Homeowner Related Real Estate Information

Salt Water Pool Maintenance via Saltwater Pool and Spa

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About the author

The above FishHawk Ranch real estate article “Learn About Saltwater Pools” was posted by Jeff Gould.

Jeff is a top-selling, nationally recognized REALTOR® and local FishHawk Ranch real estate expert. You will find him selling homes in Tampa Bay, Florida, and surrounding areas. Some of those areas include FishHawk, Lithia, Riverview, Valrico, Apollo Beach, Brandon, and Tampa.

If you are looking to sell or buy a Tampa Bay area home, Jeff is your local and trusted professional.