Correcting My Pool

Comparing Saltwater & Chlorine Pools

Saltwater and chlorine pools are the two most common types of residential pools. Both make use of specific materials, salt and chlorine respectively, to keep the water in your pool clean. However, their use of different materials to do so confers a unique set of advantages and characteristics to each type of pool. Understanding the differences between saltwater and chlorine pools can help you choose the one that best fits your needs.

Saltwater Pools

Saltwater will not cause any sort of skin or eye irritation that can come with swimming in chlorinated water, and can prevent flaking or drying skin that can come with repeated exposure. Saltwater also does not carry the environmental impact of chlorine, which can help keep your home and backyard environmentally friendly.

However, saltwater is much more likely to cause corrosion to metal components in and around your pool, including deck chairs, pool ladders, and anything else that is made out of metal. Saltwater pools also tend to be more expensive to install, as they require the installation of specialized salt cells and a saltwater generator to maintain the cleanliness of the water. This makes saltwater pools the less than ideal choice for homeowners with restrictive budgets.

Further, the fact that specialized equipment is needed for saltwater pools to operate means that you will have to have a professional do your maintenance for you - which can drive up long-run costs.

Chlorine Pools

On the other hand, chlorinated water is much better at killing bacteria and other organisms that may be in your pool than saltwater is, which means that you are at a lower risk of experiencing algae blooms and other issues that can occur in saltwater pools, as long as your chlorine pool is properly maintained. You also do not need to contact a professional to maintain the chemical balance within your pool, and can use home testing kits and chemicals on your own to maintain a proper chlorine balance.

However, while you can perform the maintenance yourself, chlorine pools require much more work than their saltwater counterparts do, as the proper level of chlorine needs to be maintained. Pool vacuums, skimmers, and regular cleaning of the filter are needed in order to maintain cleanliness, and chemical readings have to be taken every week in order to add in or remove chlorine as needed. It's also important to note that chlorine can cause all sorts of irritation for those with sensitive skin, or after repeated and long-term exposure. 


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