Saltwater pool systems.

71T Targa · 07-13-2010, 09:46 AM

I am thinking about switching over to saltwater for my above ground pool. I've looked at the Intex system, but wonder if anyone has any real world experience with it. We've got a 16x32x4.5 above ground pool and use a 1.5 horse pump and sand filter.

Thanks.

sammyg2 · 07-13-2010, 10:06 AM

My pool is an in-ground style, 2 years old, so this opinion is based on it and may or may not apply to your pool:

A salt water pool does not save money. It wastes money.
It is nothing more than a convenience thing.
Chlorine generators are expensive. Up to $700 for the fancer ones, $300 for the cheaper ones. They often don't last that long. Maybe 3 or 4 years.

The cost of acid at least doubles with a salt water pool, plus you still have to buy some chlorine in the hotter months unless you want to pay $$$$$$ in electricity costs.
I have to run the pump at least 10 hours a day in the summer and still have to add a 3" tablet or two a month to keep up. To make all the chlorine it needs I'd have to run the pump at least 12 hours a day in the summer.
You end up paying more for the electricity than the chlorine would cost! Plus the chlorine it generates is not stabilized and burns off really easily.

I love my salt water pool, it's very low maintenance and the water is crystal clear and doesn't smell like chlorine. But it would be much cheaper if I just eliminated the generator and took care of it myself.

If you change to a salt water pool I bet you change back within 7 years. Everyone I personally know who had a salt water pool has had a generator failure and has changed back to a normal pool instead of paying $$$ to replace the gererator.

ODDJOB UNO · ODDJOB UNO's Garage

yes i have owned one. they work well butt heres the real low down. water and salt thru electrolysis make chlorine cheap. the downside is the other side. the caustic side which is the byproduct.

if you have kids both sides are hazardous. chlorine side if inhaled will knock a full grown man on his ass. ask me how i know. caustic side will burn the living hell out of yer skin badly. ask me how i know. went diving into pool to clean the stuff off after spilling some on me.

they lasted a few years and then lil electrodes in tub waste away and ya have to replace while cleaning out hazardous cells on each side.

me? i buy a 5 gallon bucket of 3" tabs from my pool guy amigo at his cost and drop 3 tabs in my skimmer each week for a 33,000 gallon pool. crack a cold one and get on with other tasks at hand.

i DO NOT MISS MY CHLORINE AUTO CHLOR!

71T Targa · 07-13-2010, 10:17 AM

Good information.

I already run my pump 24/7 so there wouldn't be any additional pump time. I may not need to do this, but it works for me.

The Intex system is $160 right now. Plus 350#'s of salt. So the investment to try wouldn't be too great. I can easily plum it in to my existing setup.

ZLP · ZLP's Garage

I have a CompuPool and its awesome. Their warranty is great too, sent a tech out to my house to replace a part no charge.

Jagshund · 07-13-2010, 11:51 AM

My FIL's 20K gallon pool has a salt system. It does simply seem to be a matter of convenience, though the catalysts can be found on ebay (even sold by reputable sellers there) for about $150-300 in my experience.

ODDJOB UNO · ODDJOB UNO's Garage

mine was a "UNICHLOR" was, as in past tense.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODDJOB UNO

yes i have owned one. they work well butt heres the real low down. water and salt thru electrolysis make chlorine cheap. the downside is the other side. the caustic side which is the byproduct.

if you have kids both sides are hazardous. chlorine side if inhaled will knock a full grown man on his ass. ask me how i know. caustic side will burn the living hell out of yer skin badly. ask me how i know. went diving into pool to clean the stuff off after spilling some on me.

they lasted a few years and then lil electrodes in tub waste away and ya have to replace while cleaning out hazardous cells on each side.

me? i buy a 5 gallon bucket of 3" tabs from my pool guy amigo at his cost and drop 3 tabs in my skimmer each week for a 33,000 gallon pool. crack a cold one and get on with other tasks at hand.

i DO NOT MISS MY CHLORINE AUTO CHLOR!

This is basically my method, except my hot-tub was getting a little algea, so I switched to a $10 chlorine tablet holder which sits in the hot-tub with 4 tabs in it. It keeps the level in the tub a bit higher and keeps the pool at a very good level. I add 4 tabs about every week. I add a gallon of HCL about every 2-3 weeks. And I shock the pool after there are a bunch of people in the pool.

I buy a 5 gallon bucket of 3" tablets and a 5 gallon bucket of shock powder. Costs about $200 per year and takes about 5 minutes a week.

I have several friends with Salt pools here in Houston. They all seem to have black algea problems.

Rloop · 07-13-2010, 01:25 PM

No experience with Intek, but I have a Zodiac system on a 14k gal pool. I like it, very low maintenance, add acid every few weeks and that is about it. Do have to clean the cell 1-2 times a year, but that isn't hard.

I have never operated a chlorine based pool so hard to compare, but my salt system is super easy.

Lou

Joeaksa · 07-14-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71T Targa

I already run my pump 24/7 so there wouldn't be any additional pump time.

Why in the world run your pump all the time? Unless you are running on solar power like I am that has to be really expensive...

M.D. Holloway · 07-14-2010, 02:29 PM

We run our pump only 6 hours a day. We add salt maybe twice a year but add acid weekly. The water is crystal clear and very easy on the skin. The system pulls the Cl from the NaCl and uses it to keep the water clean. The water is odorless unlike Chlorine tablet pools. We have an Pentair Intellachlor. You set the Cl level according to water temp. Lower temps require less % Cl. We swim round.

M.D. Holloway · 07-14-2010, 02:34 PM

I didn't see a reall big bump in the ut bill - maybe added $25 to $30 extra a month. The acide is $3/gal. I use maybe 1/2 a gallon a week if that. Yes, I know I will have to change the cl generator in a few years - $400. I will pay that glaidly for the ease of ownership and quality of the water compared to what my friends have with their cl tab pools.

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

I have the Intex system. I am very happy with it. No algae. Cl levels fine. Salinity easy on the eyes and skin.
Dew it.

boba · 07-14-2010, 05:26 PM

I am on my second house with a salt water pool. First was built in 1988 and used early generation system. Sold the house in 1997 after return from 4 years in Europe, during which time house was rented. No problems while we were living there nor for the renters.

Second house was built when we were coming home form Europe in 1996. 26K gal salt water pool. Have had no problems to speak of to date. We do not use any chemicals other than salt on a routine basis. Only time we have had to do any extra has been during periods of very heavy rain. I am talking about Hurricane storm rain periods when a lot of debris got blown into the pool, and pool was overflowing reducing salt %. Just had to run pool sweep and add lots of salt ($6.50 for 60# bag). Needed 10-12 bags and had to shock pool with chlorine to get it stabilized. This has occurred 3 times 1996-2010.

One benefit is that all our swim ware lasts a lot longer, does not get bleached by the chlorine, nor do you get a chlorine smell on clothes. No burning eyes either.