If you have been shopping for an inground pool, chances are you have come across someone extolling the benefits of a saltwater pool. This type of pool has been rapidly growing in popularity in recent years and many pool owners have even switched over from a traditional pool to a saltwater pool. There are a lot of pros and cons associated with this type of pool and whether or not it is the best option for you will depend on your budget, preferences, and desired outcomes. In this brief guide, we will discuss what all the fuss is about and go into some of the basics that are involved with the care and maintenance of a saltwater pool.
What’s the Big Deal About Saltwater Pools?
Most people think of the ocean when they think of saltwater – basically, the imagine water that will taste salty if it gets in your mouth. This is not what a saltwater pool is at all. It is a different means of keeping the water sanitized. Rather than using liquid chlorine to keep a pool clean, there is an electric generator that is attached to a salt cell that initiates a chemical reaction that creates chlorine salt, which is then circulated into the pool as how the pool maintains its sanitation properties and is thus safe to swim in. The cells are long-lasting, but they do occasionally need to be replaced.
One of the main reasons that people like saltwater pools is that the water feels less harsh than in a traditionally-chlorinated pool. In general, swimmers find this water softer than traditional chlorination. Saltwater pools do not cause skin and eye irritation or problems with drying out hair that often plagues traditional pool owners. The water is also less corrosive, meaning it doesn’t cause damage or bleaching to pool components, toys, or swimming gear. Many people feel that it is easier to maintain the chemical balance in a saltwater pool than it is with traditional bromine or chlorination methods. They do not have to handle or find a place to store harsh chemicals like chlorine since the system generates it.
Saltwater Pool Maintenance
Though a big selling point is that a saltwater pool may be easier to maintain, it should be noted that this is concerning chemical balance. A saltwater pool still requires most of the same regular care and maintenance that a traditional pool requires. You will need to skim and brush the pool at least twice a week and vacuum the pool about every other week unless you have a lot of debris for some reason. You will also want to make sure and check your pump basket regularly and empty it when it gets filled with debris.
You will also want to make sure that you do regular water tests. We harp on this a lot in our various pool guides and for good reason – it is the most important part of pool ownership. Water testing is how you ensure that your chemicals are in proper balance and that the water is safe to swim in. Regular testing can alert you to potential problems before they become big issues. There are tons of different options for testing your water, from litmus strips, DPD reagent kits, and even digital continuous testers. Which will work best for you will depend on your confidence and budget.
Ideally, you will want to keep your chlorine levels between 7.2-7.6 in a saltwater pool. The free chlorine test should read between 1.0-3.0/ppm. Free chlorine refers to “active” chlorine that is available in the water for sanitation. If these levels are out of whack, you will need to adjust your chlorine generator accordingly. If you need to dramatically raise your chlorine level, it may be a good idea to shock the pool (we have an easy-to-follow guide for how to do this).
About monthly, you will want to check the salinity of your water. Though each cell generator will have its specific ideal range, you will generally want your salinity to fall between 2700-4500/ppm. You will need to check your specific model to see what the ideal level is for your system. If salt levels are too low, you will want to recalibrate your system to increase the level. It may even require you to manually add salt. It is important to take a lot of caution when doing this as it is easy to overdo it. If it is too high, you will want to dilute the water a little to bring it back into the proper range.
Salt Cell Management
About every three months, you will want to do a detailed inspection of the salt cell that is a key component of the generation system. You will want to turn off the salt cell and open it up, keeping a close eye out for any build-up. Remove any that have accumulated with a brush or even a high-pressure hose if it is stuck. Sometimes even this won’t work and in that case, you will want to use muriatic acid to soak the cell. This will loosen any remaining debris which you can then rinse off. Even if it hasn’t built up any mineral or debris deposits, it is a good idea to give it a thorough rinsing before putting it back together.
If you live someplace where the temperatures drop in winter, you will also need to take special care to properly winterize your saltwater system to avoid any damage during the cold months. You will want to check your owner’s manual for specifics on how to winterize your model. Some units need to be fully drained, others only partially. Sometimes the unit will be detachable and this is ideal. If your unit can be detached, simply do so and store it inside over the winter to protect it from the elements. This will help increase the longevity of the system as well.