The Advantages & Disadvantages of Salt Water Pools

On the surface, there’s nothing particularly different about a salt water pool. After all, they look almost exactly the same as any other pool you’d come across. The difference comes in how the pool runs.In order to make pools more hygienic and easier to keep clean, chlorine is used in almost any pool you’ll ever find, but what differentiates salt water and regular pools is the type of chlorination system involved. While a normal pool will typically require direct chlorine addition, a salt water pool uses a salt water chlorine generator that uses dissolved salt as a store.

Advantages of a Salt Water Pool

• The system is actually easier to maintain than the more traditional chlorination methods you’d find in normal pools.

• Swimmers often remark that the salt water actually feels better than fresh water, and is definitely softer at least.

• Your chemical bills are also due for a pretty nice drop after implementing a salt water chlorination system. Over the course of a year, the average homeowner can save roughly 40 percent, which equates to about $60 per year on average.

Disadvantages of a Salt Water Pool

• The drawback to saving moving on your chemical bills is a much higher initial expense to actually install the salt water system. This startup cost is almost always in the range of $2000.

•  Salt water systems need to be repaired about every three years on average, with the cost of these repairs usually around $600. The system is also due to start breaking down more often as the years go by, which can be particularly worrisome for homeowners. When the chlorine system breaks down, it could be a while before anyone is aware of it.

• Needless to say, salt water can be highly corrosive. Over time, the water will erode your concrete decking and flagstone as well as discolor your pool tile. Equipment you have running in the pool will also start to corrode and develop leaks. Replacing these items could cost anywhere from $500 to $3000.