What to Know When Choosing Between a Salt Water or Chlorine Pool

Owning a backyard pool offers plenty of opportunities for fun and relaxation, but it also comes with a responsibility to keep the pool clean and safe. One of the main considerations which pool owners have to wrestle with is which type of sanitizing system to use. Two of the most popular systems out there are salt water and chlorine. This brief article will explore some of the main differences between the two systems to help you determine the one that’s right for you.

Salt Water System Pros

Salt water pools use a process known as chemical electrolysis to convert salt into chlorine to keep a pool clean. This process requires the purchase of a salt water generator. If you decide to go with a salt water pool, you won’t need to keep buying chemicals on a constant basis like you’d need to do with a chlorine pool. Many pool owners love the fact that salt water pools keep the overall chlorination level of the pool minimal.

As a result, salt water pools aren’t as hard on the skin, hair, eyes, and bathing suits as chlorine tends to be. They also don’t put off as many strong chemical fumes as chlorinated pools do. Another advantage is functionality. Salt water pools are generally easy to maintain because the generator will automatically run to keep the pool’s chemical levels regulated. This leads to a more consistently clean pool with less hassle for the pool owner.

Salt Water System Cons

One of the major drawbacks to this system is the high upfront cost of salt water generators. If you decide to keep the system for several years, however, you could make up for that initial cost of the generator with the money you save by not having to purchase so many pool chemicals over time.

Another potential disadvantage to a salt water system is the cost of running the generator. During pool season your energy bill could go up significantly if you have a pool with a salt water generator running all day long throughout the swimming season. Also, if you choose to go with a salt water pool you’ll need to make sure that your pool’s liner, lights, and other pool features are all salt water-friendly. If not, they could face a higher amount of wear and tear than they would with a standard chlorine pool system.

Chlorine Pool System Pros

The main benefits of chlorine pool systems are economic ones. They don’t cost as much, especially in the beginning, as salt water pool systems. Another advantage to chlorinated pools is that they’ve been around for such a long time that most pool materials, liners, and accessories are designed to be compatible with them.

Chlorine Pool System Cons

The major downsides of chlorine pools are related to comfort and maintenance. Many pool owners dislike the strong odors, eye irritation, and drying of hair and skin that pool chlorination can tend to cause.

When it comes to maintaining a chlorine system pool, the constant need to check and manually regulate the pool’s pH balance by adding more chemicals can be a real headache for pool owners. It’s also a hassle and added expense to constantly have to buy chlorine tablets.

Hopefully, this information has given you some insight into the advantages and disadvantages of salt water and chlorine pool systems. The good news is that both systems are effective for creating a cool, refreshing oasis in your own backyard!

Lyon Financial

Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.