0T: Anyone have experience with a saltwater pool?

[ekoroknay]

My wife and I are looking for a new home and saw one with a saltwater pool. I know nothing about them, are they better?

 

[bmullikin1]

supposed to be better, just add salt to maintain, easier on the skin and eyes.

 

[CuzzA]

I wouldn't have a pool unless it was saltwater. It is literally almost maintenance free compared to normal chlorine pools. I add a couple bags of salt every 3-4 months. About a cup of muratic acid once a month to keep the ph down and flush my di filter every few months. Run the auto vaccum as needed. Occasionally I'll shock it with the powdered chlorine, especially after heavy rains that last for days or during spring when temps rise and there is a lot of pollen. That's it. I don't test anything. My Jandy controller does give me a probe reading of the salinity. You'll be very happy with it. The kids swim with their eyes open and never complain of it burning.

 

[ChadRaay86]

I have a normal pool and all I do is add two chlorine tabs every month. Plus my three big dogs swim in it weekly. I guess it just has to do with the specific application...

 

[viper12775]

a saltwater pool will normally have a chlorine generator that takes the saltwater and converts it to chlorine so no need to add shock or tabs

 

[4Hummer]

a saltwater pool will normally have a chlorine generator that takes the saltwater and converts it to chlorine so no need to add shock or tabs

Partly True.

No need to add tabs, Might still need to shock once and awhile, The Chlorine Generator makes very little chlorine per day, After a Pool party with tons of kids/people peeing in the Pool I always manually shock chlorine

 

[risin]

I have a saltwater pool and have found troublefreepool.com to be a good resource. The size of generator compared to the size of the pool is important. I can keep my chlorine stable at 30% on the generator so it's pretty flexible.

I haven't had a pool long but have found that if there is heavy rain and/or a lot of activity in the pool it will get to the point of needing a shock.

 

[TampaSnooker]

A customer's new pool service insisted on installing a salt generator at the company's expense for the duration of their service contract. I can't think of a better testament to their ability to reduce maintenance.

 

[blackwagon]

I use to do a 140 pool route. Saltwater pools hands down are easier to maintain pool for pool. If it's not a super old system they usually tell you what they need. IE it will say if its low on salt on the panel.
Splash in some muriatic acid weekly, keep the salt up, and generator clean is basically all you need to do to the pool. It would take me 4 minutes to do a saltwater pool compared to 10-15 for a regular chlorine pool.

 

[NanoDrummer09]

turn it into an open reef.