Regarding chemicals used in salt water pools, it isn’t difficult to find people online writing things like:
- “Salt water pools require fewer chemical products than other pools.”
- “Salt water pools use less chemicals than other pools.”
- “You don’t need to buy chlorine when you own a salt water pool.”
- “You don’t need to store dangerous chemicals at home with a salt water pool.”
- “Salt water pools are easier to maintain than other pools.”
Each of these statements sounds promising but really they’re either not entirely true or are inaccurate at best.
Below, we’ll discuss each of these statements are why on the surface they aren’t correct. We’ll then discuss the reality of each.
Salt water pools require fewer chemical products than other pools
Not true.
This statement seems to suggest that in terms of sheer number, fewer chemical products are required in a salt water pool than say a regularly chlorinated pool. In general terms this isn’t true because salt water pools obviously require salt, something that other pools don’t require.
Not a chemical per se – although NaCl (salt) is on the periodic table.
It’s not overly expensive – you can probably pick up a decent sized bag of appropriate pool salt for $10 – $20 depending on the size – but it is still something you do need to buy, add and maintain (i.e. maintain a proper salt level of between 2700 ppm – 3400 ppm).
Salt water pools also require you to manually add cyanuric acid, also known as CYA or stabilizer. Stabilizer helps to protect chlorine in your pool from the harmful rays of the sun which prematurely kills off chlorine. Most quality chemical chlorine products have stabilizer added so those pool owners don’t need to add it themselves.
But the salt chlorinator in your pool doesn’t produce stabilizer, ergo we have to add it manually.
So there are two chemicals/additives that salt water pools owners need to buy separately that other pool owners don’t.
Plus, from time to time salt water pools require many of the chemicals to resolve the same problems that regularly chlorinated pools have: Algae, low pH, high pH, alkalinity problems, high metals, low calcium, etc.
Truth: Really, salt water pools don’t necessarily require fewer chemical products than other pools in terms of the number of products that you may need to keep on hand. Plus you have to purchase salt and stabilizer. NOTE: Good quality chemical chlorine products (pucks, shock, crystals) often come with stabilizer added already.
Salt water pools use less chemicals than other pools
Partially true.
In this case, we’re talking about the actual amount of chemicals added to the water as you use the pool. This is at least somewhat true.
On the one hand as we spoke about above, you will need to add salt several times per pool season which you obviously never need in a non-salt water pool. You also need to manually add cyanuric acid to a salt water pool.
You may also find that with a salt water pool, you need to use a pH reducing product like muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate as pH tends to drift higher due to the salt chlorinator than you would find with other pools.
However one of the perceived benefits of a salt water pool is that your chlorinator system better manages the various aspects of pool chemistry and keeps each factor in range better than other pools. Regularly chlorinated pool owners do tend to spend more time adding chemicals to balance pool water.
And these pool owners are well aware that sometimes when you try to fix one aspect of pool chemistry by adding a chemical(s) it might throw another factor out of whack!
Truth: So let’s give this statement a qualified YES. In general terms, salt water pools do consume fewer chemical amounts than other pools.
You don’t need to buy chlorine when you own a salt water pool
Not true.
This is definitely wrong. You will use chemical chlorine in your salt water pool from time to time.
Typically you will need to manually add chlorine to your salt water pool during the following events:
- When opening your pool in the spring and perhaps upon closing it in the autumn.
- During periods of heavy pool usage in the summer i.e. before a pool party of other event where chlorine requirements are elevated.
- After a period of heavy rain when the chlorine can be diluted.
- After draining water from the pool i.e. after back washing the filter or draining water when the level is too high.
If there is a chlorine shortage during the middle of the season, you won’t be in a bind should the need arise.
As a salt water pool owner, it’s always good to have chemical chlorine of some type at your house in case of emergency or when it’s needed.
Which brings us to the next point…
You don’t need to store dangerous chemicals at home with a salt water pool
Definitely wrong.
You will typically use the same chemicals in your salt water pool over time as other pools. Additionally you will need salt of course and stabilizer (cyanuric acid) which is basically like sunscreen for your chlorine.
You may not need large amounts of chemicals stored in your home but I found that over time I had various chemicals required to deal with certain events in my pool. Specifically, I usually have some chlorine along with half used buckets of pH up/down and some acid that the previous home owner had used when we first bought the house from her.
I also have a bottle of clarifier that gets squirted into the water in small amounts and thus tends to last for several seasons.
And I have to occasionally purchase algaecide, filter cleaner and phophate remover as the need arises but I typically use the whole bottle in one go so there is nothing to store.
Truth: You typically store the exact same chemicals as other pool owners albeit perhaps in smaller amounts. A good salt chlorinator system does tend to keep various water measurements in check better than doing it manually which can reduce your chemical usage. That much is true.
Salt water pools are easier to maintain than other pools
Generally true.
I’m not a big fan of absolutes where you say with 100% certainly that something is definitely true. In my experience, the Hayward AquaRite chlorinator that we use in our pool does a really good job of keeping the water balanced in our pool.
Then again, I routinely check the various measurements (salt level, water flow) on the chlorinator and also do weekly pool strip checks to ensure things are in line. I find out about problems early and I deal with them right away.
Not every pool owner does that.
Granted, it also took me a few seasons to experience things like algae and high phosphates to the point where I was able to quickly diagnose the problem and in some cases, address it myself without needing the help of my pool company.
Again, not everyone can or wants to do this.
If you have a quality chlorinator, pay attention to things and deal with problems the moment they arise. You can certainly find that the pool requires perhaps less “work” than other pools.
Of course, salt water pools also need to be vacuumed and brushed and skimmed just like any other pool! That’s work you’ll have to do regardless.
Truth: A good salt water chlorinator with pump timer, instant salt reading, water temperature reading and flow monitoring (among other features) goes a long way to reducing the time and effort you spend maintaining your pool.
As you learn about the quirks of your pool and understand the system as a whole and in parts, you’ll be able to troubleshoot and solve problems quicker which in turn reduces your costs and time spent maintaining it.
