SALT WATER vs. CHLORINE POOL: Which One Is Better?

SALT WATER vs. CHLORINE POOL: Which One Is Better? | Swim University

Рет қаралды 91,483

Күн бұрын

Which one is better: a salt water pool or a chlorine pool? Salt water pools tend to have gentler, smoother water than other pools. And you only need to add salt to your water once or twice a year to keep things sanitized. But you’re still technically swimming in water with chlorine. And salt water generators are expensive to buy and more complicated to maintain. So before you switch to a salt water system, here’s everything you need to know about salt water pools vs. chlorine pools.
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⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Salt Water vs. Chlorine Pools
00:48 - What is a Salt Water Pool?
01:27 - Benefits of a Salt Water Pool
02:48 - Downsides to a Salt Water Pool
04:36 - Is a Salt Water Pool Worth It?
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Пікірлер: 89

@SwimUniversity 2 жыл бұрын

We hope this helps you compare salt water pools vs. chlorine pools! A salt water system can be a great investment 👍 And if you need more help with pool maintenance, grab our free Pool Care Cheat Sheet at www.swimuniversity.com/cheatsheet

@billybrooks1 2 жыл бұрын

I'm having to clean my salt cell monthly due to excessive calcium buildup. Calcium hardness, PH, and chlorine levels are good. Any ideas why the heavy buildup is happening?

@bigal1337 2 жыл бұрын

Yes yes and yes to salt. I live in Florida so the rain does affect the levels but mostly just add a bit more salt and all good. I just get in the pool with the bag of salt and mix around myself, you cannot do that with chlorine! I also upgraded to the t-15 salt cell and that made a huge difference in generating chlorine for the pool. Of course a few other chems like calcium, stabilizer etc are added periodically throughout the year. Today I just got 100% on my chem levels for my water test! Local store said first one of the day! Great video!

@jackdawson3276 2 жыл бұрын

Great video!. I have a salt water hot tub. Phosphate and water hardness are also of heightened concen.. Definitely worth it for hot tubs.due to less water changes needed. There isn't any Cyanuric Acid in the chlorine which allows less changes i use regular chlorine with Pool Marvel Enzymes. Much easier. I can keep my chlorine lower

@DroidMastertaylor-gang-or-die 2 жыл бұрын

Hey , what’s up . I was going through youtube to find a video on how to choose the right pool pump & i’ve noticed you haven’t made that video yet. It Would be really helpful.

@paulbaratta1566 2 жыл бұрын

Love the ease of salt water pool.

@jonathanparker5375 27 күн бұрын

I never had my own pool but I swam in a salt water pool with my eyes open and my God. Best swimming pool experience I’ve had.

@SwimUniversity 27 күн бұрын

Isn't it??

@averagejoe112 2 жыл бұрын

Solid video as always.

@bertkutoob 8 ай бұрын

I love SW pools but my beef is the hidden costs... I guess this depends on where you live and what products are available at any given time. My experience is this.... Year 1 : Install unit at considerable expense including modifying pipework if retrofitting. Year 3 : Need to replace cell (yes - they DO wear out☹️). It will come as a shock to find that the replacement cell costs almost as much as the original entire unit. Year 4 : Need to replace cell again but find that that cell is no longer available and other cells are not compatible so you have to replace the entire system including modifying the pipework again. Repeat every 4 years or so.... Do the math before using long term cost as a motivating factor...

@Maria-vp1po 28 күн бұрын

Yikes!!! Thanks for the input. I’m staying with my original chlorine system.

@georgeascione8861 Жыл бұрын

So much false information about salt water pools. First of all the salt water generator produces an extremely high concentration (super high) of chlorine as the water passes through the cell. This serves to super sanitize the water. As the water passes over the cell the electrical charge disassociates the NaCl to produce Sodium and Chlorine ions (over simplified but good enough for this post). These free ions don't exist in this state permanently and in most cases much of the Cl has already recombined with available Na ions even before it finally returns to the pool. Yes, some chlorine makes it back to the pool. Most test kits measure chlorine levels in the pool water and are a throw back from chlorine dosed pools where you need to constantly maintain chlorine levels. My pool has barely detectable levels of chlorine in the pool. The reality of a salt water pool is that you really don't need to maintain stabilizer levels or total chlorine in the pool. The water will constantly be sanitized as it flows through the cell where there is truly deadly levels of chlorine present, nothing will survive. My recommendation from experience and chemistry knowledge, use a salt water generator and maintain as low as possible chlorine levels in the pool while still having the cell working. My cell rarely operates above 30%, and is only boosted when the pool is first opened for 24 hours. I also highly recommend a UV pool water system to further sanitize and kill bacteria and virus. Forget about stabilizer, you don't need it. Also if you are getting algae forget about chlorine to fix the problem, adding enough chlorine to kill algae will not be a good swimming experience. Take it from a salt water aquarium hobbyist, if you have algae you have phosphates in the water. Use a good phosphate remover regularly and you will remove the food algae needs to survive and you will not have algae. Do not waste money on expensive algae treatments or super chlorinate your pool, unless of course you open it up "green". My pool has run crystal clear for years and years and I ignore chlorine and stabilizer.

@NwoDispatcher Жыл бұрын

Isn't the actual active ingredient that kills microbes in a salt water pool the micro bubble oxygen produced by electrolysis?

@nathanmannpiano5621 Жыл бұрын

@@NwoDispatcherelectrolysis will also produce chlorine gas

@Reuldonniedah Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your experience👍😁

@nathanmannpiano5621 Жыл бұрын

To add a correction: the NaCl dissociates to Na ion and Cl ion upon dissolution in water. All of the salt dissolved in your pool is already split into its ions. The chloride ion is very bad at disinfecting, however chlorine is a good disinfectant because it wants to react with things to form the chloride ion, which is very stable and unreactive. The electricity will oxidize the unreactive chloride ion to reactive chlorine (and also reduce the water in the process but that's not important). This chlorine then hydrolyzes with water to form hypochlorous acid and hydrochloric acid. Hypochlorous acid is the best disinfecting agent form of hypochlorite and is what is doing the main disinfecting of most pools, of any type of chlorine.

@EweKnowWho Жыл бұрын

So do you have recommendations about whether or not a SWG is safe for the metal parts in a pool? My pool has an aluminum frame.

@samanthamarasca8864 8 күн бұрын

I live in the northeast so the winters are cold. How different is the opening and closing process for a pool?

@Jrbrass 2 жыл бұрын

Had a Salt Water Generator when first got the pool, 1992. After about 1 or 2 years, generator broke down. Never replaced it, went with chlorine going forward. Since the price of chlorine has really gone up, been thinking of going back to a Salt Water Generator. Could you do a video of the top Salt Water Generators or tell us which one is the best or you prefer? Thank you, always love your videos.

@Jasheon 2 жыл бұрын

Hayward is the best and longest lasting

@SwimUniversity 2 жыл бұрын

We'll probably have a post with recommendations up soon on our website! But Hayward is definitely a very reliable brand.

@bludika Жыл бұрын

Circupool RJ series is great and longest warranty in the industry

@scottH18370 Жыл бұрын

I had both and I vote salt water

@HotSauceStain 2 жыл бұрын

Considering all this, I’ll stick with chlorine. Nice video!

@aussiegolfdoctor 2 жыл бұрын

Hey SU, great video! I was wondering if we could get your opinion on "freshwater"/ copper/silver ion managed pools...a breakdown of the pros and cons like in this video would be magic 👌

@jhc82681 Жыл бұрын

I second this.

@Jasheon 2 жыл бұрын

Salt water pools by far especially Hayward

@jmb3d Жыл бұрын

I hated kepping up with the chlorine with our old pools. This year we are switching to salt water based on reviews and people I know that have one.

@iamwooth1729 2 ай бұрын

Did you ever switch over to salt water? How did u like it?

@jmb3d 2 ай бұрын

@@iamwooth1729 We love it. There's no chlorine smell and you skin feels better. I'm trying a solar copper floater this year. Supposedly you can run you pump less with it. Right now I'm running my pump 24/7 because I'm running my solar water heater. When it stays warm I'll start running the pump less.

@MrLickMyBallz 2 жыл бұрын

Can you please do a video on UV sanitizers please 😃

@failzgamer Жыл бұрын

Those are only needed for indoor pools. If you don't have one, you don't need it. PERIOD.

@gettingthatlove419 Жыл бұрын

Question: you say the salt water pool has water that is smoother/silkier and gentler on the skin, but I don’t think you say why? If saltwater pools and chlorinated pools are both kept clean by chlorine, why is it one is smoother/gentler/silkier?

@NwoDispatcher Жыл бұрын

Because of the effects of reverse osmosis on your biology in water that is devoid of dissolved ions and water full of ions

@aaronjarmstrong 7 ай бұрын

@@NwoDispatchercan you elaborate on this? I’m not sure I understand

@NwoDispatcher 7 ай бұрын

@@aaronjarmstrong your cells have a certain level of ions in the tissue. If you bathe in water without ions, osmotic pressure will pull those ions out of your cells, which dilutes them.

@cutoats 17 күн бұрын

I have heard You can actually just put some salt in a non swg pool if you want the feeling

@richboutin4044 2 жыл бұрын

Still have to add chlorine if the salt generator can’t keep up with the sun burning off the chlorine produced by the generator. I have to use tablets to subsidize my salt gen.

@SwimUniversity 2 жыл бұрын

How's your CYA levels? Most salt water pool owners need to keep theirs higher at 80 ppm.

@seanmorgan4715 Жыл бұрын

You are also adding cya(stabilizer) through tabs. Clean your salt cell.

@Jasheon 2 жыл бұрын

Hey man, i am having an issue and no one seems to know whats going on. Brand new 40k gallon CMP salt cell, and brand new aquarite board. All working fine except when system shuts off for the night and pool gets back on, it will read low salt 2200 CHECK salt light is red and INSPECT cell is red. I reset the system by going from auto to off a few times. System reads 3000 salt, stays that way until system turns off for the night then comes back on, back to 2200PPM. This is my 3rd salt cell I have tried and my 2nd aquarite board. Something is going on and i have no idea what it is. Next step is to contact a local Hayward rep, but have you ever experienced this issue before? Thanks.

@SwimUniversity 2 жыл бұрын

Dang, that's frustrating. Without seeing it, sounds like you'd need to contact Hayward :-(

@ccrx2640 2 жыл бұрын

Chlorine all day..!! Run Borates@40 and Salt@1800 😎Smooth as Silk 😎

@executiveinvestments Жыл бұрын

yeah chlorine is as smooth as silk. Another guy that cant afford a swg.

@traviswright5073 2 жыл бұрын

Hey swim university im new to pool owning just wondering how many chlorine tablets for a 24x52 round pool plzz help

@seanmorgan4715 Жыл бұрын

3 to 4 tabs a week . Add or reduce with temperature change.

@louisfain Жыл бұрын

I think PoolRX is more worth it than a salt system. I keep my chlorine levels low and the water is crystal clear.

@executiveinvestments Жыл бұрын

and you still have water 10x harsher than a salt pool. And that chlorine smell. Enjoy.

@louisfain Жыл бұрын

@@executiveinvestments try it out before you post ignorant non-sense

@poolmonkey7479 6 ай бұрын

Indeed…he is a know-nothing

@Eluiciq 4 ай бұрын

@@executiveinvestments, the chlorine smell is from combined chlorines. Salt water pools also have...wait for it...chlorine. Combined chlorines are going to happen with any chlorine system, you just have to correctly manage the chlorine of whatever system you have to keep those combined chlorines from climbing and causing the harshness and smell which you seem to think are inherent with a "chlorine" pool.

@executiveinvestments 4 ай бұрын

@@Eluiciq salt water pools are also…wait for it….much softer on the skin and have NO chlorine smell. You will ALWAYS get chlorine smell in a chlorine pool. You will never get chlorine smell in a ……..wait for it……salt pool. Next time actually know wtf ur talking about before you try and troll.

@Antdogg566 Жыл бұрын

Salt water is no where near as hard to maintain a pool... it takes care of its self ... test chlorine once week and adjust generator as needed... add salt when needed depending on amount of rain or fresh water you need to add .... I don't even use any other chemicals and it does its own thingb

@NoMasksNoJabs4Children 9 ай бұрын

can you please tell us which generator brand you use? I am looking for one withOUT a digital screen to mitigate need for Chinese part replacements. Thank you

@poolmonkey7479 6 ай бұрын

They are all unreliable, just don’t.

@naruto-dk5mt Ай бұрын

😮

@LivingWithCTE 9 ай бұрын

I have a 11000 gallon salt water pool . I keep fighting with high ph levels . I am putting in half gallon acid and it’s still not enough once a week . Any suggestions

@patrickdelcher177 5 ай бұрын

That's one of the downfalls of salt systems. You have to handle the harshness of muriatic acid which will corrode metal or spend too much on the powder form. You will tend to fight the ph constantly. When your ph starts to climb in the 8+ range, your chlorine works less effective and have to increase your chlorine output, which makes your system work more leading to replacing your cell earlier. Saying that, i have a salt pool too, lol.

@davidclark39 4 ай бұрын

Do you have to add water frequently? I was blowing through acid and salt until i found out I had a leak in one of the skimmer baskets. I had an auto refill valve so never had to manually add water and found out when i shut off the auto valve the pool level dropped a fair amount in one night. Fixed the leak and fixed a lot of the problem. Still i have an automatic acid feeder because salt systems I am told will always battle high ph levels a bit. ill be curious to see what you found.

@phillipchristensen3202 Ай бұрын

Turn the salt generation down. My guess is your chlorine levels are high too. You have to play with it until it consistently holds 3-5 ppm of chlorine and needs to be tested regularly. Get a quality test kit like Taylor. You also need to monitor the other key chems in the pool. Too many folks just worry about chlorine and ph and NEVER look at cyanuric acid (stabilizer), calcium, or alkalinity. Those are very easy to maintain and only adjust significantly with heavy rain. Check ph and chlorine levels weekly and the others only really need to be looked at monthly. If you get the 5 of those dialed in, the water will be pristine, smell better, your eyes won't burn at all, and there will be less scaling and discoloration to walls and accessories. There are plenty of videos on how to take care of all of that and it's not hard. It becomes second nature pretty quick. I typically only ever have to add a little acid to bring ph down and some baking soda here and there because the acid lowers alkalinity. Don't waste your time with the overpriced "alkalinity" stuff at the pool store or warehouse center. It's literally baking soda. Buy arm and hammer baking soda in big bags at Walmart for cheap (they even keep it in the pool section).

@shroommcfanta2020 4 күн бұрын

What surface has your pool.. if it is concrete (ish) improve the sealant

@enviedasmr5287 2 жыл бұрын

Is it safer for health to have a salt pool ?

@seanmorgan4715 Жыл бұрын

@executiveinvestments Жыл бұрын

yes it is.

@poolmonkey7479 6 ай бұрын

Lmao…🤡

@VinMaida Жыл бұрын

No mention of still adding shock every week or two with salt. I think people should know you will still need to add it.

@seanmorgan4715 Жыл бұрын

Clean your salt cell .

@andrewmoore1536 Жыл бұрын

Most salt systems have a button to push to superchlorinate your pool

@executiveinvestments Жыл бұрын

I NEVER add shock. Only when I open i add NON chlorine shock.

@poolmonkey7479 6 ай бұрын

🤣

@drivebyquipper Жыл бұрын

Saltwater.

@ryanc6811 2 жыл бұрын

Salt water generators are quite cheap. Chlorine is like dumping Clorox in your pool!

@daradiant1 2 жыл бұрын

Basically

@bubbabubbie1 2 жыл бұрын

Major health hazard

@samclark3651 Жыл бұрын

Salt water is such a pain. I regret so much ever doing it.

@executiveinvestments Жыл бұрын

lol. Yeah such a pain. Explain what is so much of a pain about it?

@samclark3651 Жыл бұрын

@@executiveinvestments 50 year old concretr block exposed to sun all day 20k gallons florida weather. Makes the pool a pain

@executiveinvestments Жыл бұрын

@@samclark3651 still can’t explain why. All newer pools in Florida are salt and have no issues.

@executiveinvestments Жыл бұрын

@@samclark3651 let me guess you have a 15 or 20k generator?

@ni_wink84 Жыл бұрын

You guys over complicate everything, you still have to add chlorine!!!!

@bertkutoob 8 ай бұрын

Absolutely... One heavy rainstorm and you're running off to buy some "shock"....