Lower Chlorine Levels – A saltwater pool requires less free chlorine since it is creating chlorine around the clock. Traditional pools require chlorine to be added manually and in order to stay above safe levels, a higher amount of manufactured chlorine is needed. A salt water pool creates chlorine as needed and only when needed.
Controlled Stabilizer Levels – In the past, chemical stabilizers are utilized in order to make sure the manufactured chlorine maintains its effectiveness. With a salt system, stabilizer is added only as needed and at a minimum resulting in more effective chlorine. Also county code requires the pool to be drained if and when the stabilizer level exceeds 100 ppm. The salt system avoids this problem.
Superior Algae Control – Saltwater pool systems virtually eliminate algae problems. This is because the chlorine in the pool is not inhibited by high stabilizer levels.
Safety – A salt-water chlorinator makes chlorine in the pool water, automatically and continuously, so you no longer have to buy, store or handle dangerous chemical liquid or chlorine tablets. Personal injury risks associated with the storage of chlorine are eliminated, as are the other risks of potentially harmful situations where accidental contact with these dangerous chemicals by swimmers or maintenance staff can occur. When using salt water chlorination, pump equipment failures no longer create a potential health risk.
Swimmer Comfort – Studies show that over 95% of swimmers prefer swimming in salt water pools to any other type of sanitized pools. Salt has a softening effect, just like a water softener, so hair and skin feels soft and silky rather than dry and brittle as with manufactured chlorine. The other very important factor is that when the water flows through the salt water chlorinator electrodes (see right caption), the chloramines (dead chlorine) that cause a strong chlorine smell and stinging eyes are destroyed thus leaving the water in pristine condition. Salt water pools are popular because some people who consider themselves “sensitive” or “allergic” to chlorine are not actually reacting to the chlorine at all. This problem arises from the use of manufactured chlorine due to additives contained in the chlorine. The same swimmers, who claim allergic reactions to chlorine, typically experience no problems when they are in a salt-water pool. The answer isn’t the absence of chlorine. Salt systems generate their own chlorine on-site! The answer is the absence of the by-products present in manufactured chlorine.
Environmentally friendly – Salt is a safe and naturally occurring element. A salt-water chlorinator recycles the salt over and over so there are no by-product wastes added to the environment. Due to high efficiency of the technologies used, on-site chlorine generation requires a far less energy consumption when compared to commercial chlorine plants. Reduced handling of chlorine means less environmental damage due to accidental spillages.