Is A Chlorine Pool Better than a Saltwater Pool?

Having your own swimming pool beats going out to use a public pool at any time. It is also more hygienic. When buying one, you will have to carefully consider what to get between saltwater and chlorine pools.

If you intend to get your daily cardio workout, install a swimming pool. It can be an above-ground pool, an in-ground pool, or any other.

Most people will swear by the saltwater pools over the traditional pools that are maintained with chlorine. Some people think there are no differences at all.

Here, we are going to find out which is the better investment between the two types of swimming pools.

We are also going to see the difference between the two types of pools, which is easier to maintain, and hopefully that will help you make a decision.

Saltwater vs Chlorine Pools Differences

You probably know about the chlorine water pool because it is more common. What most people do not know is that there are saltwater pools.

Now that you know there is a salt pool, you might want to know what makes it different from the chlorine one.

The name alone can tell you that it has salt water, but just how much salt is in the water? That is what we are going to find out in this post.

However, if you think that a saltwater pool tastes and feels like swimming in the ocean, you are very wrong.

The experience does not also come anywhere close to what you would get when swimming in the Dead Sea, or in the Great Salt Lake.

What is a chlorine pool?

The main difference between these two types of pools is that in the traditional chlorine pool, you are going to add chlorine tablets, powder, or liquid to the pool.

Chlorine cleanses the water. It does this by killing bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Since bacteria and viruses thrive in either acidic or alkaline environments, the chlorine that you add to the water will maintain a neutral pH environment.

What is a saltwater pool?

When saltwater swimming is mentioned, the ocean comes to mind. However, the saltwater pool is different. It does not.

To have a saltwater pool, you do not need to be close to the ocean. Rather, this kind of swimming pool uses a salt generator to maintain the salt levels that you require. In this type of pool, you do not add chlorine. You add salt, and then the generator turns it into chlorine.

Definitely, this means you have to buy a salt chlorine generator. Therefore, it means spending more money because these generators cost anywhere from $1500.

However, the main benefit is that, in the long run, these pools are cheaper to maintain than their chlorine counterparts.

After pouring the salt into the water, it goes into the generator as a solution of sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid.

Once this water gets inside the generator, it passes over low-voltage electrodes, which create small bubbles of chlorine.

This chlorine is then passed out to the other end of the generator, where it mixes with water to make a hypochlorous solution.

Who should get the saltwater pool?

This pool is for just about anyone who can afford the initial installation cost of the generator. However, it is also more suitable for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

Chlorine in the water may create faint fumes and smells that will aggravate allergic reactions. If you have someone with a respiratory condition, turn your traditional pool into a saltwater one.

Chlorine and saltwater pools differences

Apart from the products used to clean these two pools being different, there are other outstanding differences between the two. Here are some of them:

1. Saltwater pools are best for health

A saltwater pool is recommended for health, especially for people with respiratory conditions.

Research has shown that chlorine in the pool can produce by-products that can irritate the respiratory tract. These by-products can cause asthma flare-ups.

Chlorine pools are not only bad for people with asthma. Rather, the by-products of chlorine can inflame the soft tissue that lines the airways of children.

Read this article on WebMD to see how swimming pools can cause breathing trouble.

Saltwater pools are the safest for children and people with respiratory issues. Besides, you are also not going to experience the irritation that chlorine pools cause.

If you have an indoor chlorinated pool, the chloramines (forms from ammonia and chlorine) do not dissipate, so you are likely to find it more irritating than an outdoor pool.

2. Maintenance needs and cost

Which is easier to maintain: a saltwater or chlorine pool? The answer you will get to this question depends on whom you ask. Chlorine pool owners will swear by their chlorinated pools. The same applies to people with saltwater pools.

Saltwater pools: The initial cost of installation and buying equipment is higher. However, the maintenance cost is cheaper. In summer, you require about $30 worth of salt for the entire swimming season.

Chlorinated pools: The initial cost of installation is lower. However, in the summer season, you will spend up to $180 on chlorine.

So, you can see which is easier to maintain between the two pools. The chlorinator generator for the saltwater pool is a hard piece of equipment. It is not going to break down easily.

3. How they affect swimwear

We imagine that you will be swimming a lot in the summer. In fact, some people take a dip in the cold water daily to escape the punishing heat.

Thus, your swimwear will see a lot of use this season. But did you know swimming pool water can affect its quality?

Chlorine makes even the best swim wear fade easily. Sometimes, you might not be able to wash the swimwear daily, so the chlorine keeps “eating” at the colors.

Saltwater is better for swimwear. It does not make it fade.

4. Electricity cost

The chlorinator generator of the saltwater swimming pool runs on electricity. Therefore, you might notice an increase in your bill during the summer.

The chlorine pool is easier on the electricity. Even when you shock the pool, you just need to pour the chlorine in to cleanse the water.

Running the swimming pool filter is not going to use too much electricity.

5. Durability

Salt affects the lining of the pool more than chlorine does. Therefore, a saltwater swimming pool might need a new liner sooner than a chlorinated pool.

Another thing that you might want to worry about is the exposure of the metal parts of your pool to the salt water. It will definitely have an effect.

If you have an above-ground swimming pool made of metal or metal and resin, you might want to use chlorine instead of salt.

How to tell if a pool is saltwater or chlorine

We have seen the differences between a saltwater pool and a chlorinated one, but we looked at that from the perspective of the owners of the pool.

If you are a swimmer, you might want to know how to tell if a pool is saltwater or chlorine, especially if you have respiratory issues.

In the chlorine pool, there are chloramines, which stay close to the surface. If you experience irritation when breathing in the pool, that is a chlorinated pool. This is not going to happen in a salted pool.

Salt pools require a generator to create pure chlorine, which is then released into the water. Usually, the generator is installed at least 10 feet from the walls of the swimming pool. Therefore, you can check if you know what it looks like.

Another good way to tell a saltwater pool from a chlorine one is to ask the people in charge of maintenance. If it is at a resort or a hotel, ask what type of pool it is.

The truth about salt water pools

There are many myths about saltwater swimming pools. Some think these pools have more disadvantages than others, and so on. Here are some truths you need to know about these installations:

It is not ocean salt.

Saltwater pools have about 1/10 or 1/9 of the saltiness of the ocean water. If you have ever swum in the ocean and taken a gulp of the water, you know how salty it is.

This isn’t the same level of saltiness you will find in the pool. We do not recommend you go tasting pool water with your mouth to find out how salty it is. In fact, we recommend you teach your children how to avoid swallowing pool water when they are swimming. Do the same too.

Saltwater is healthy

In fact, chlorine water is unhealthier than saltwater pools. The chlorine levels in the water can bleach your blonde hair slightly.

You could argue that both pool types run on chlorine. That’s true. However, the chlorine levels in the chlorinated pool are higher than in the salt pool. Besides, the liquid, powder, or tablet of chlorine contains other chemicals.

Salt pools are not likely to aggravate respiratory problems. That is why they are considered safe and healthier for kids.

When it comes to killing bacteria, both pools work in the same way.

Saltwater pools do have chlorine smell

Well, this is not entirely true. What happens is that these pools have a low level of chlorine, so they have a lower smell. Therefore, if you are very sensitive to smells, you will definitely notice a chlorine smell from the water.

You can heat these pools

Many people ask: Can saltwater pools be heated? And the answer is a big yes. You can heat these pools in the same way that you heat the chlorinated pools. If you have an indoor salt pool, heat it up and swim in winter.

It is not okay to pee in the saltwater pool

It is okay to pee in the ocean because the marine environment will take care of everything. However, in the saltwater pool, pee is going to lower the chlorine levels. Do not pee in the saltwater pool. It will have the same effect as it would on a regular pool.

Chlorine vs saltwater pool cost

The other truth is that the saltwater pools are considerably easier on the pocket, but only in the long run. While they will cost more to install, including the salt generator and all, in 5 to 10 years, you are going to save money. However, in the short run, it might seem as if the chlorinated pool is winning when it comes to cost.

Saltwater vs chlorine above-ground pools

If you do not have an in-ground pool, you might go for an above-ground pool. Now, many people wonder what they should choose between a saltwater pool vs chlorine pool above ground.

Because of corrosion, it is preferable to use chlorine water in the above-ground pools. Even when the metal parts of the pool are coated, they will eventually sustain corrosion because the coating wears away over time.

However, using salt water in a metal above-ground pool is going to cause faster corrosion and shorten the lifespan of the pool.

If your above-ground pool is made of resin or carbon fiber, perhaps you might use salt water. However, it is just preferable not to since you will eventually use aluminum, steel, zinc, or other metal in the support or other parts of the pool.

Conclusion: Saltwater vs Chlorine Pools

The question ringing in your mind right now is: What is better between chlorine vs saltwater pools?

There is no direct answer to this. However, if you do not have much money for the installation of your pool, go for a chlorinated water pool.

If you can afford the high installation cost, go for a saltwater one. If you live in the tropics, where the warm seasons are longer, a saltwater pool would be better because salt costs much less than chlorine.

For the other places, you can choose either, for real, that is, unless you have kids who are too sensitive to chlorine.

For an above-ground swim pool, choose chlorinated water for the preservation of the metal parts.