Saltwater Chlorinator: a New Tool for Pool Maintenance

For decades, chlorine was the only way to keep bacteria from taking over a pool. It comes in liquid, granular, or tablet form. But, chlorine products are toxic, caustic, and stinky.  They can irritate the eyes and make hair turn an odd shade of green. In some situations, chlorine can even affect a swimmer's lungs. But, more pool owners are renovating their pools and one of the top renovations for swimming pools is a saltwater chlorinator.

How a saltwater chlorinator works

Salt is safer for kids, both in the pool and stored around the home.

By using electrolysis, a saltwater chlorinator changes salt into chlorine. The control board controls the electrical portion of the chlorinator, and the cell is where the change actually takes place. 

The control board hardly ever needs to be replaced as long as it isn’t compromised by a power surge, such as lightning.  A cell needs to be replaced every 3-7 years.

While a saltwater chlorinator doesn’t totally eliminate the need for other forms of chlorine to be added to the pool, it cuts out almost all of the added chlorine requirement because it’s created by the saltwater chlorinator.

Salt doesn’t dissipate

Unlike chlorine, salt in the pool water doesn’t dissipate.  The difference to swimmers is that instead of irritation caused by chlorine, the salt is actually beneficial and a healthy medium in which to swim. The best thing to compare it to is something like Epsom salts or bath salts. 

Plus, since the salt mostly stays in the pool, when more salt needs to be added, it isn’t a lot, maybe a bag or two at the most for the whole season.

Pros and cons

Some people don’t want to make the switch. Said one customer, “First I buy the chlorinator and then I have to keep replacing the cell. For $700 a year, I can buy a lot of chlorine!”

We don’t know how she came up with that figure or why. But, she’s obviously not on board with the idea of switching.  

In all fairness, whether you switch to a saltwater chlorinator can depend on how much you use your pool and who is swimming. If you have a lot of people swimming in the pool, a saltwater chlorinator makes sense because people bring bacteria. People with circumstances in which a lot of contaminants entering their pool (we think: neighbor with a deciduous tree) have a more vested interest in a system with lower maintenance requirements. Others are those who are away quite a bit or are tired of fighting green pool problems.

So, while a saltwater chlorinator can be very convenient in some circumstances, every situation is different. If you want to know more or have questions, talk to your pool care professional.

Flawless Image Pool Service is a veteran-owned and operated residential pool maintenance team for Hillsborough County. Our Certified Pool Operators provide top-notch pool maintenance, 20 years of experience and reliable service. Call 813-536-3941 today!