Switching pool from chlorine to salt system?

Question

I need to know the pros and cons of changing from chlorine to salt system. My pool is fiberglass. Costs - initial and long run. How does it change the water? IE Smell/taste/how it affects your skin. Maintenance?

Answer 1

Salt on the whole, is mostly a pro. The only real con is the initial price of the unit but that can be offset by your reduced operating costs after about 3 years or so.

The only significant change to your chemistry is that the pool water is a little more salty than it is now ( chlorine is a salt) but even at the higher salinity, you won't taste it.

You see, going salt doesn't mean that you're doing away with chlorine. It just means that the dosage is more constant and at a lower dose. Less skin and eye irritation is the result as well as less other speciality chemicals to help control your water balance and clarity.The salt generator just turns normal salt into another form of salt (chlorine) that then oxidizes an organic and reverts back to normal salt. It goes through the cell of the salt generator again and turns back to chlorine. Recycling, if you will. That's a large portion of where the reduced operating costs come in.

Answer 2

My neighbor has a saltwater pool, and I like it much more than a chlorine pool. You can open your eyes, and you skin doesn't get weird or anything.

And it doesn't turn blonde hair green.