T
Träumerle3 Apr 2021 12:55Hello,
who has a saltwater pool and would like to share some experiences?
- Advantages / disadvantages?
- (Conversion) costs?
- Ongoing expenses?
- Sensations while swimming / diving (smell / stinging / ...?) --> children?
- Cleanliness and manual regulation options
Our pool is made of concrete, lined with a membrane. The ladder / outlets for the circulation system and counter-current may be aluminum, I need to take a closer look when we "unpack" it soon. Those might need to be replaced?
I look forward to your recommendations / concerns and wish you a pleasant Easter weekend!
who has a saltwater pool and would like to share some experiences?
- Advantages / disadvantages?
- (Conversion) costs?
- Ongoing expenses?
- Sensations while swimming / diving (smell / stinging / ...?) --> children?
- Cleanliness and manual regulation options
Our pool is made of concrete, lined with a membrane. The ladder / outlets for the circulation system and counter-current may be aluminum, I need to take a closer look when we "unpack" it soon. Those might need to be replaced?
I look forward to your recommendations / concerns and wish you a pleasant Easter weekend!
I have no knowledge of the technical or financial implications. But when I spent a few months in Australia, we had a saltwater pool and I really liked it. You don’t smell like chlorine, if you are blonde your hair doesn’t turn green (not my issue, but my sister’s), and it is also better for the skin. If I had enough space for a pool, I would only get one with saltwater.
Why do you want to switch?
A chlorine pool does not smell. If it does, the water chemistry is off. It also does not bleach hair; the concentration is too low.
In a saltwater pool, the chlorine concentration is the same. The difference is that the chlorine is generated from the saltwater. In a traditional chlorine pool, it comes from bottles.
Only chlorine tablets are problematic because their breakdown products accumulate in the water and can only be controlled by water replacement.
Electricity consumption is significantly higher with saltwater systems. The cells also do not last forever.
You only need salt. The salt concentration in the water is much lower than in the sea.
If you want to convert, you have to check all components for resistance (pump, nozzles, ladder, etc.).
I wouldn’t do it. Better to have proper pH and redox monitoring with automatic dosing.
A chlorine pool does not smell. If it does, the water chemistry is off. It also does not bleach hair; the concentration is too low.
In a saltwater pool, the chlorine concentration is the same. The difference is that the chlorine is generated from the saltwater. In a traditional chlorine pool, it comes from bottles.
Only chlorine tablets are problematic because their breakdown products accumulate in the water and can only be controlled by water replacement.
Electricity consumption is significantly higher with saltwater systems. The cells also do not last forever.
You only need salt. The salt concentration in the water is much lower than in the sea.
If you want to convert, you have to check all components for resistance (pump, nozzles, ladder, etc.).
I wouldn’t do it. Better to have proper pH and redox monitoring with automatic dosing.
T
Träumerle5 Apr 2021 13:38Hello, thank you for the responses!! :-)
My considerations so far have only come from online research, as I don’t know anyone who owns a saltwater pool. The motivation was mainly better skin and environmental compatibility. Especially if swimming with open eyes feels more comfortable, that would be great, since I have two little water lovers.
On various websites, I read that the swimming experience is significantly more pleasant. A friend of mine also enthusiastically reported that about a hotel pool. So I wanted to ask about practical experiences, especially long-term ones. (And I would also like to understand the theory behind it.)
I was also aware that chlorine is produced during electrolysis. But I don’t understand why it feels different.
Regarding costs: A common argument in favor of saltwater pools is a reduced filter running time, which can save electricity. Also, the salt is cheaper compared to the other pool chemicals usually needed. Besides chlorine, we also used a pH regulator and occasionally a flocculant before vacuuming. On the other hand, there are higher initial investment costs and the salt system requires electricity to operate. I would be interested to hear from real-life experience how this balances out.
My main concern is actually the red eyes. If the costs are similar or not significantly higher, I would probably consider it worth it.
So those are my current questions. ;-)
My considerations so far have only come from online research, as I don’t know anyone who owns a saltwater pool. The motivation was mainly better skin and environmental compatibility. Especially if swimming with open eyes feels more comfortable, that would be great, since I have two little water lovers.
On various websites, I read that the swimming experience is significantly more pleasant. A friend of mine also enthusiastically reported that about a hotel pool. So I wanted to ask about practical experiences, especially long-term ones. (And I would also like to understand the theory behind it.)
I was also aware that chlorine is produced during electrolysis. But I don’t understand why it feels different.
Regarding costs: A common argument in favor of saltwater pools is a reduced filter running time, which can save electricity. Also, the salt is cheaper compared to the other pool chemicals usually needed. Besides chlorine, we also used a pH regulator and occasionally a flocculant before vacuuming. On the other hand, there are higher initial investment costs and the salt system requires electricity to operate. I would be interested to hear from real-life experience how this balances out.
My main concern is actually the red eyes. If the costs are similar or not significantly higher, I would probably consider it worth it.
So those are my current questions. ;-)
pH and occasionally flocculants are also needed. You save on liquid chlorine, but you still need salt, the electrolysis cell, and electricity. The filtration time does not change. Water should and must be circulated. Some people think that the feeling on the skin is more pleasant. It is important to have an automatic controller so that sufficient disinfection is achieved with low concentrations. Then, regardless of the system, there are no problems.
P
Poolerbauer5 Jul 2021 13:58For a saltwater electrolysis system, you should expect initial costs between 1,000 - 3,500 EUR, depending on the size of the pool and the equipment (additional modules) of the system. Ongoing costs for salt should also be considered (25 kg costs about 10 EUR). The expensive part is when the electrolysis cell needs to be replaced. According to manufacturers, depending on the model, the lifespan is 5,000 - 7,500 operating hours. Replacement costs range between 400 and 1,000 EUR. If you have additional controls like pH and redox sensors, expect the probes to need replacement every 2 years (about 150-200 EUR per probe, if they are original from the manufacturer). There are also electricity costs. For a pool with 45m³ (approximately 1,590 cubic feet), the system requires about 150 watts. With 8 hours of filter runtime, that’s 1.2 kWh per day. Over 5 months, that adds up to 180 kWh or around 61 EUR (assuming 0.34 EUR per kWh). Pump run times remain the same, whether using regular chlorine treatment or saltwater electrolysis. Other pool chemicals, such as pH decreaser, cannot be saved on either.
10 kg of chlorine tablets can be bought cheaply online for about 55 EUR (50 tablets of 200 grams each). This amount is enough for approximately 3 months for a 45m³ pool. Assuming you use about 80 EUR worth of chlorine tablets per season, initial costs for a properly sized saltwater system for a pool of this size start at a minimum of 1,400 EUR. In terms of initial equipment costs alone, you could disinfect the pool with tablets for 17.5 years. This does not even include the ongoing costs of the salt system (see above). Therefore, a saltwater system is definitely significantly more expensive than traditional chlorine tablets. If websites claim that a saltwater system is a cheap alternative, this is an indication of how seriously those sites should be taken.
It is also important to mention that manufacturers tend to underestimate capacity ratings. The chlorine level drops significantly in warm water (30°C / 86°F) and under sunlight. If the manufacturer specifies a system for up to 60m³, you should choose one rated for 120m³ or better yet 200m³. This will help you avoid a green pool in midsummer—as happened to me. Additionally, the cell is not maintenance-free, even if it is labeled "self-cleaning." You must regularly check for scaling and, if necessary, clean it with diluted hydrochloric acid.
10 kg of chlorine tablets can be bought cheaply online for about 55 EUR (50 tablets of 200 grams each). This amount is enough for approximately 3 months for a 45m³ pool. Assuming you use about 80 EUR worth of chlorine tablets per season, initial costs for a properly sized saltwater system for a pool of this size start at a minimum of 1,400 EUR. In terms of initial equipment costs alone, you could disinfect the pool with tablets for 17.5 years. This does not even include the ongoing costs of the salt system (see above). Therefore, a saltwater system is definitely significantly more expensive than traditional chlorine tablets. If websites claim that a saltwater system is a cheap alternative, this is an indication of how seriously those sites should be taken.
It is also important to mention that manufacturers tend to underestimate capacity ratings. The chlorine level drops significantly in warm water (30°C / 86°F) and under sunlight. If the manufacturer specifies a system for up to 60m³, you should choose one rated for 120m³ or better yet 200m³. This will help you avoid a green pool in midsummer—as happened to me. Additionally, the cell is not maintenance-free, even if it is labeled "self-cleaning." You must regularly check for scaling and, if necessary, clean it with diluted hydrochloric acid.
Similar topics