Manual chlorine dispensing is the most common way to sanitize a pool, however it is no longer the only option.
As approved alternatives, there are several options for a healthier and safer pool, including salt water chlorinators, and the more popular ionization.
Pros Of Salt Water Pools
The pros are easy.
Salt water eliminates the need to handle chlorine on a daily or weekly basis, because the salt chlorinator converts sodium chloride (salt) into liquid chlorine on an ongoing basis.
If you have young children or have sensitive skin and eyes, you will be able to appreciate the soft feel of the water.
Cons of Salt Water Pools
The cons are a little more complicated, because of the various misconceptions surrounding salt water pools.
One major misconception, is many people assume a salt water pool is a non-chlorine pool. It is in fact the opposite.
- The chlorides manufactured by the chlorinator are so high that a lot of cities will not allow the water from these pools to be pumped into lakes, rivers, and even the storms sewers. This is because of the corrosive nature of the product and the damage it can do to the ecology.
- This water must be either de-chlorinated or hauled away by the ministry of the environment approved haulers.
- The properties of this water and chlorides is so corrosive, in fact, that certain types of pool equipment (such as heaters) have their life expectancy cut by two thirds by the use of the product.
- A lot of manufacturers of certain pool types and equipment void their warranty if a salt chlorinator is used.
Another drawback to salt is the cell, which has to be replaced every few years, and is expensive. This makes sanitizing a pool with salt chlorination the most costly of all sanitizers.
Exploring Other Pool Sanitization Options
So what are your options, other than using regular chlorine?
If you are unsure if you want to use salt in your pool, there are other options that we know and trust.
Ionization
An ionizer is an environmentally safe solution to a high chlorine count in swimming pools.
- The device will assist in controlling bacteria and algae in pools and spas by augmenting the bactericidal and algicidal activity of primary disinfectants such as chlorine or bromine.
- This reduces the chlorine level to the minimal required, and the cost is less than half that of a salt system.
Since copper is what helps keep the pool clean, there still needs to be a minimum amount of chlorine in the pool to meet government regulations. A puck in the skimmer weekly usually satisfies this requirement.
With ionization, the water is cleaner, more pure and feels nicer to the touch than salt water.
The Verdict
So what should you choose for your pool?
Only you will be able to determine whether or not to go with a salt water chlorinated pool, ionization, or traditional chlorine.
If you’re interested in getting more information about this type of pool sanitization, talk to our pool experts. We’ll be happy to help you weigh the pros and cons of the various methods of pool sanitizers.
