Saltwater pool or chlorine? And why?

Question

Saltwater pool or chlorine? And why?

Answer 1

well, chlorine ruins your hair and dries out your skin. saltwater leaves one of the worst tastes in your mouth imaginable. chlorine is easier to maintain. pick your poison.

but it's ok, because those are just the cons. the pros are that hey, either way you get a pool right?

Answer 2

I prefer a chlorine pool. Salt water pools have a horrible taste if you get the water in your mouth.

Answer 3

If I had to choose between the two to swim in I'd go with salt water because it is healthier. If I was building a pool, chlorine because it is easier to maintain.

Answer 4

They're actually the same in a way. My preference would salt.

They're the same because that salt water pool is still a chlorine pool, just not such a high concentration.

"Wait a minute, how is it still chlorine?", you're probably asking.

Saltwater generators use normal table salt and through electrolytic action, turn it into chlorine. That chlorine oxidizes an organic ( algae, bacteria etc) it then turns back into normal salt again. Chlorine is a form of salt. It sits on the chemistry periodic table right smack dab in the salt section along with Bromine, another pool sanitizer.

The process is then repeated. Recyclable chlorine in a nut shell and at a low, constant dose.

Why would I choose salt?

1/ After a couple of seasons, the unit will have paid for itself by it's low operating costs. There's simply less other chemical to buy to keep that pool sparkling and salt is dirt cheap. You usually only go through a bag or two per season at 20 bucks a bag.

2/ Your water chemistry stays pretty stable using a salt system. Again...saves you money on chemicals you don't need to add to balance it.

3/ The salt concentration is actually so low, you can't taste it ( unlike Julia Child who answered here saying she can, which is wrong) The concentration is usually between 2500-3200 ppm. That's 1/300th the salinity of a human tear. Two grains of salt added to a cup of water. I can't taste that, could you?

4/ The water is softer. It's far easier on eyes and skin. NOBODY has a problem with a salt generated pool. Some have issues with chlorine though.