If you’re reading this article, you’re probably thinking about getting a pool.
And, honestly, you should be. Turning your backyard into a heavenly oasis will significantly increase the value of your home. Plus, the memories that you’ll make with family and friends will be priceless.
There are many decisions that have to be made when building a pool. One of the most common questions is, which is better; saltwater or chlorine?
Today I’ll tell you the pros and cons of both.
Saltwater
Pros
- gentle on skin, eyes, and lungs
- simple maintenance
- fewer chemicals
- less chemical smell
Cons
- costly initial set-up
- repairs are expensive
- salt corrodes equipment
- uses more electricity
Chlorine
Pros
- easy to maintain
- easy to repair
- chlorine kills bacteria
Cons
- chlorine is expensive
- harsh on skin and body
- chemicals take up space to store and could be dangerous to children
Saltwater Pools
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty information about saltwater pools. Saltwater pools are currently the more popular choice among homeowners. 90% of new pool installs are saltwater.
On top of that, many homeowners with chlorine pools have converted them into saltwater pools. Yes, that’s actually a thing.
What you may not know is that saltwater pools do still have chlorine; they just have less of it. That is why people say the chemical smell is less strong with saltwater. Because it is.
That information goes hand in hand with saltwater being gentle on your skin and lungs. We all know that chemicals are not great for our bodies. The fewer chemicals that are in contact with our bodies, the better it is for us.
Another cool benefit to having a saltwater pool is that the salt required costs much less than the chemicals needed for a chlorine pool.
One downfall, of course, is that over time corrosion of equipment may occur. So, while the primary investment and any repairs needed will be very pricey with a saltwater pool, that does not seem to be deterring people from choosing saltwater over chlorine.
Chlorine Pools
If you’re on a strict budget, you might want to opt for a chlorine pool just because the initial investment is much less. Chlorine pools are more traditional and what we all think of when we think of pools.
Maintenance and repairs for a chlorine pool are cheaper and more straightforward than they tend to be with a saltwater pool.
Another advantage of a chlorine pool is that chlorine kills bacteria. That’s good to hear anytime, but especially during a pandemic. If properly maintained, your pool will always be clear and clean. You want your levels to be high enough to disinfect, but not so high that they fade swimsuits and pool toys.
Final Thoughts
There are many perks to building a pool. Exercise is a big one and it couples with fun times with family and friends. Research shows that being near or in water boosts happiness and lowers stress and anxiety levels.
You can’t go wrong with adding a pool. Saltwater and chlorine are both great options for different reasons. At the end of the day, you’ll decide which type of pool is best for you and your budget.
“One downfall, of course, is that over time corrosion of equipment may occur” – I partly agree. I think it’s worth making a few clarifications here.
One of the biggest concerns is that saltwater could lead to corrosion. However, because the salinity level in saltwater pools is less than 10% of the salinity of the ocean, corrosion is not a concern. The reality is that high chlorine levels and imbalanced pH and LSI levels typically do more damage to pools than low salt levels ever could. In fact, if your pool has a vinyl liner, salt pools reduce the amount of wear on your pool. That’s because salt pools eliminate chloramines, which are the caustic, corrosive particles present in traditionally chlorinated pools that can make the vinyl discolored and brittle.