Pools - switching from chlorine to saline
 

Anyone here do or know about it? I know nothing... so hoping folks here can offer advice/opinions.

I've heard the salt is tough on the pumps??? But, I'd really like to loose the chlorine.

Thanks,
Skip

boobs switched to saline... why not swim in it?

Saline kills algae and other bacteria? Oceans have algae, so salt alone wouldn't stop it, IMHO.

Don't own a pool, my salt goes into the water softner.

Didn't stay at a holiday inn, but I used to work for a pool equip manufacturer.

Salt systems are great, set them and go. Water stays crystal clear and you don't have to buy chlorine.

Thing to watch out for is how high you set the salt level, too high and you will strip all the chrome off the metal parts in the system.

Watch the pump and other plumbing. If the pools is more than a few years old and starts to leak, you prob needed to replace it anyway.

I switched from liquid chlorine to chlorine tablets this summer and it's cheaper, easier and the water is very clear with the tablets. The chlorine stabilizer in the tablets causes the acid level of the water to increase, so we have to add base (sodium carbonate) about once a week, but the tablets produce a much more constant chlorine level and nobody gets eye irritation.

John,

How much trouble is it to change from one to the other system? How is it like if you have to leave town for a while? Costs and so on? Equipment changes?

TIA,

Joe

I have used a salt based chorine generator for the last 12 years or so- once set up they work great. Get one that automatically cleans the electrodes- they may all do that now. Tried a copper/silver system before the salt generator- that worked pretty well as well.
Makes a pool almost maintaince free.
Gary

Best thing I ever did (almost). My saline pool is virtually maintenance free, I just have to check the Ph every couple of weeks and add a cup of acid or so.

Joe, most of the pool stores we dealt with don't like to sell them because they loose the chemical sales. Install is easy, one section of pipe and a box on the wall. Haven't looked at prices for a while, but you may find $500 to $1000 depending on the size of the pool you have. Leaving it for a few weeks is no issue, just have to make sure the water level stays up, otherwise, set it and forget it till you get back.

I put one on every pool I install. you might need to buy 3-4 bags of salt a year ($4.50 bag) depending on how much you backwash vs $$$ Chlorine tabs every month. very easy to install. cut return line, install element and flow meter, install and wire box on wall, connect cables, dump in a little less than the correct amount of salt and adjust in a few days. try America's Best Pool Supply onlne. I get mine there. it's a couple hundred less than they charge at the pool wholesale companies. $740 online / $1000+ at pool supply chain store

My parents had saline for a while. It's lightyears better than chlorine.

Educate me. Is the water actually salty like the ocean, or is this like a water softener whereby the salt is a consumable but doesn't actually produce salty water?

It's slightly salty. Not nearly as much as the ocean, but it is salty. It doesn't burn your eyes like the ocean or chlorine, but you do float better.

Thanks guys. I have been out of town for six weeks now and there are times where I am away 2 months, but its rare. I need something that is "stand alone" so to speak.

I have several friends who stop by and take care of the place but the less work the better so may have to switch to this when i return.

Thx,

Joe

http://www.poolcenter.com/poolcare.htm

Joe, it won't be 0 maintenance, but it will be nearly so.


What size pool (gallons) do you have? Is the Spa in the same system?

It is slightly salty, but better yet it is softer. THe water feels better, you won't regret changing.

I had my first salt water pool built in 1988, it was great. No problems, after checking the chemistry every week for a few months I went to once a month than every other month.

In 1996 I built a new house and again a salt water pool. The technology had gotten better and the price was lower. Same no hassle operation.

In 2006 a lightning strike near the house took out equipment as well as TV's, stereo, computers. Replacement salt system had improved and was again cheaper than previous.

Only maintenance is to add salt 40-80# a few times a year. Mostly caused by heavy rain or a lot of kids splashing water out of pool over time.

Benefits:
Reduced chemical cost,
Swim wear does not fade due to chlorine,
No chlorine eye burn,
Almost no maintenance,
No service needed when out of town for extended time,
No chlorine smell.

Wow. I didn't expect this to be so one sided.

Does it matter if the pool & spa (& heater) are on the same system?

Thanks,
Skip

No. Both of my systems were.

Regards,
Bob

Joe, you're still making chlorine so not much to do but install equipment, add salt, turn on. it takes a few days to get an accurate reading of salt level. add just a little too much and the level jumps way up. only way to lower salt level is take out enough water until level drops. I add less than required amount, run a few days and check again. one morning after adding salt it can be 2600ppm and that afternoon 4500ppm. 28-3200 is good on the systems I use. too low it stops producing, too much same thing. a recent install owner told me he did not have to add ANYTHING for 3 months, and then just some salt from backwashing loss. you will get more staining, but metal remover and asorbic acid will take those off in a day or two.repeat when needed, (6-10 weeks depending on metals in city water) no equipment changes other than adding the unit. takes me about an hour to install, but that's while I'm plumbing everything so I lay it out so I have room. the system I use needs 16" straight run for the flow meter, but the 12" unit can be used before the flow meter. you may have to re-plumb to get that length, but it's just PVC. the chlorine level is a trial and error thing. run a few days/week, check level and adjust output level. every 3 months check element light comes on. remove unit, check for scale, wash with 10-20% muriatic acid and water, reinstall. 15 minutes. one customer left his at 100% for a month or two. took 3 months with unit off for cholrine level to drop. yes, pool stores hate chlorine generators. chlorine prices have doubled since last year.. so it shouldn't take too long to recoup investment

A tip for monitoring pool level when gone.

Get a toilet bowl tank float and rig it so a garden hose can hook up to it. You can make a brace out of wood or PVC pipe for it.

Adjust it to come on when the pool is too low and off when the pool is the right height.

I saw a pool company use one to fill a customers pool, this way they could leave and not have to monitor the hose filling the pool.


I thought it was a brilliant idea and want to make one for my pool. I am going to hook it up to my well so when my sprinklers come on, if I need water in the pool it will do that at the same time.

Salt Chlorine generators are where its at, I am switching over to one soon as well.