Salt chlorine generators are an innovative product that reduces the hassle of maintaining a pool. The salt chlorine generator works by taking salt and mixing it with water. This mixture produces chlorinated water that will kill bacteria, reduce algae, and keep your pool clean and sparkling!
Want to gain the most out of your swimming experience? Then it would help if you had this in-depth explanation of salt chlorinators. It covers everything you need to know about how it works and reasons to switch your pool to saltwater, as well as how much and how long they last.
How Do Salt Chlorine Generators Work?
Saltwater chlorine generators take salt and electrolytes (sodium and potassium) and convert them into chlorine. This is a chemical that kills bacteria, algae, mold, and viruses in the water.
The generator uses an electrolytic cell to add sodium chloride and potassium chloride into the pool water during circulation. Those two substances react with an electrical current to produce pool chlorine that sanitizes the water.
Benefits of a Salt Chlorine Generator
There are various benefits to owning a salt chlorine generator:
- A salt chlorine generator will take all the work out of maintaining your swimming pool.
- It also produces natural chlorine in a healthy environment that protects your family from the harsh chemicals found in store-bought pool cleaners and water treatments.
- Salt chlorine generators also make it easier for you to maintain the temperature of your pool so that you can enjoy warm and cool water all year round, or at least during those seasons when you want it!
You’ll never have to worry about scaling or corrosion in your pipes again with this maintenance-free product. All you have to do is change the salt monthly, and that’s it!
5 Reasons to Switch Your Pool to Saltwater
Saltwater pools are increasingly popular because of the number of benefits they offer. And as always, “life is cool by the pool” – Anonymous
Now that we understand how the basics of how salt chlorine generators work, let’s take a peek at five reasons why you may want to switch your pool to saltwater.
No Need to Frequently Add Chlorine – And Way Less Chlorine Usage
Pool owners who do not have a saltwater chlorine generating system rely on liquid chlorine or tablets to maintain the sanitizing levels in their pool.
While chlorine is useful, we know that purchasing, transporting, and storing is not fun. For example, liquid chlorine is highly volatile, rapidly loses its strength, and is hazardous to the skin, eyes, and lungs.
While a saltwater swimming pool’s chlorine level may need to be manually adjusted occasionally, this can typically be accomplished using a tablet or granular forms of chlorine, eliminating the need for liquid chlorine.
More Savings on Pool Chemicals
Salt is the primary component used by salt chlorine generators to produce chlorine. Because salt does not dissolve in water as other pool chemicals do, the initial amount of salt you add to your pool will remain there throughout the season.
You can only reduce the salt level in your pool by physically removing the water.
During a typical pool season, you may need to add a single bag or two of salt to top off your system and maintain a salt level of at least 3,200 parts per million (ppm). Even in the following year, you may only add one or two additional bags to begin the season.
Salt Water Swimming Pools Are a Lot Softer on Swimmers Eyes, Skin, and Hair
Saltwater swimming pools are a lot softer on swimmers’ eyes, skin, and hair. They also provide the same health benefits as chlorine. It is easier to maintain saltwater pools than chlorine pools.
We have our own salt water system in our pool, which means we don’t have to buy heavy jugs of chlorine when it was a chlorine pool. The only reason I changed it over to saltwater was that my youngest daughter has sensitive skin, and she didn’t like how drying the chlorine would make her feel.
I know that some people prefer the smell of chlorine, but they’re more expensive than what you pay for the pool chemicals for a saltwater system.
Also, people who suffer from skin conditions or swimmers who are sensitive to chlorine will notice the huge difference in saltwater systems. If you’re accustomed to swimming in open chlorinated pools, you’ll feel less redness in the eyes, less itchy and irritated skin, and less bleaching of bathing suits.
Less Chlorine Smell
Another common complaint about chlorinated pool water that we often encounter is the chlorine smell, which persists long after you’re done swimming.
While this odor is really caused by a buildup of chloramines in the water, saltwater pool owners report that the chlorine smell is much reduced after swimming in saltwater pools.
Less Pool Chemical Use
Utilizing a salt-chlorine generator may significantly reduce the time required to balance and maintain your swimming pool’s water.
This is mainly because the sanitizer is automated via the saltwater system, leaving you to only worry about calcium hardness, pH balance, and total alkalinity under normal conditions.
Because the chlorine (which is generally responsible for pH and total alkalinity fluctuations) is automated and delivered into the system with modest, consistent dosages, you’ll notice fewer changes in pH and total alkalinity levels, making the water much simpler to maintain.
How Much Do They Cost?
The first question most people ask themselves before they decide to buy a salt chlorine generator is how much it will cost them. It’s just like many other products on the market today. It depends on the type of unit you want to buy.
The least expensive option is a manual chlorinator that plugs into an outlet and requires you to push a button every 1-8 hours to add the salt chlorine to your water.
They don’t stop working when you go to bed at night, and they will need you to recharge them from time to time when they run out of salt or while you’re away from home for a few days. They are not recommended for people who want more convenience than this.
The most expensive option is an automatic chlorinator. The automatic salt chlorine generator senses the water level and temperature then produces the exact amount of chlorine level healthy for your pool. You don’t need to do anything at all!
One of the best things about this type of system is that it will only use the salt you need during the day and stop after you have reached your pre-set limit. It will not continuously add salt into your pool as some cheaper models are prone to do. It will also automatically recycle the old salt built up in your plumbing system to be used as fresh salt for sanitizing later on.
How Long Do They Last?
The longevity of your swimming pool chlorinator will depend on the quality of the model you choose. The cheaper models can last a few years, while a more expensive model could last for 5-10 years. However, most units have a warranty ranging from 1-5 years.
Bottom Line
While salt chlorine generators can help you reduce the time and work spent on pool care, they do come at a somewhat higher cost than standard chemical-based systems.
Nonetheless, if you’re searching for a chlorine substitute, this is one of the greatest alternatives out there. So why not give a salt chlorine generator a go? You might discover that it is more convenient for you, your pool guests, and your pool.
These articles provide tips and tricks for keeping a swimming pool healthy. I’m sure you’ll find it useful!
