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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,160
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,160 |
I really appreciate the feedback I got on riding mowers for our potential new house. Everything is on track for us to get this house but I didn't realize, until our inspection, that it was a saltwater pool. I've cared for a traditional Chlorine pool for the past few years but have zero experience with saltwater.
I see people either love them or hate them for millions of reasons but was curious if anyone has ever had experience with them. If working properly I know they reduce the amount of chemicals needed in the pool but I also know there are more things that can potentially break as well.
Any advice or words of wisdom about them?
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,697
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,697 |
FWIW .. My neighbor has one and converted it to a saltwater pool and loves it.
Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching - even when doing the wrong thing is legal. Aldo Leopold .. (except when it comes to trailer tags)
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10,288 Likes: 10
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10,288 Likes: 10 |
I don’t think many people hate having a saltwater pool over chlorine, they just hate having a pool.
If you want to always win, never play anyone better than you!
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 5,497 Likes: 4
12 point
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12 point
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 5,497 Likes: 4 |
Saltwater pools are much easier to maintain and are better for the skin. I have literally added only a bag of salt all year to my
pool this last season. They’re super easy to keep up. Only thing I do is check the pool chemistry once a week. Check the salt level and empty the skimmers and the Polaris. It helps if you don’t have any falling leaves or straw that can get in the pool.
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 22,621 Likes: 23
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 22,621 Likes: 23 |
I don’t think many people hate having a saltwater pool over chlorine, they just hate having a pool. Yep
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,600
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,600 |
I’m a believer in properly balanced water chemitry via a real test kit vs dropping your wallet off at the local pool store. That said, my last pool was salt and it was cheaper and easier to do the chemistry.
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,822
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,822 |
My boss converted his to salt and loves it. Says it's cheaper and easier to maintain.
Free men aren't equal and equal men aren't free! I choose to defend my freedom!
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,174 Likes: 48
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,174 Likes: 48 |
Ask when the last time the saltwater chlorine generator had the plates replaced or if they have ever been.
Well, the way I see it is there's just too many assholes
On a good day there's a bunch of assholes in here.
On a bad day there's too many assholes in here.
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,140 Likes: 10
12 point
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12 point
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,140 Likes: 10 |
as long as your water is balanced, there is no eye burn/irritation, no faded trunks, no chlorine smell in hair and as stated, much less work to maintain. The saltwater can be corrosive over time, so you need a sacrificial diode (a little metal disk you put in a skimmer) to take the brunt of the corrosion. I was replacing main pump every 3 years or so until I learned this (see tag line below).
experience is a freakin' awesome teacher....
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 32
spike
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spike
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 32 |
So a couple of things. One misconception about a salt pool is you are getting rid of chlorine. This is not true at all. With a salt pool you have a chlorine generator converting th salt water into chlorine. A salt pool can be easier to maintain. Weather it’s cheaper or not can be debated and really depends ont the pool and how it is maintained. Almost all chl generators are rated for 10,000 hrs of production time. 10,000 hrs of making chl. Typically a cell will have to be replaced every 4-5 years. This time will vary from Pool to Pool. But at some point the cell will go out. To replace a cell you are looking at $800 and up depending in which brand. Monthly maintenance can be a lot cheaper if you stay on top of things. The biggest mistake I see people make with salt Pools is not testing the water every on a consistent basis. Salt pools are more corrosive than non salt pools. On the other hand a non salt pool that stays acid can be just as corrosive. Salt and non salt both have pros and cons. The biggest thing is which ever you have just stay on top of it. As with most things it is easier/cheaper to maintain than to let something go and have to fix it. If buying a house with a pool I highly recommend getting a Pool professional to do a pool inspection and if you have never owned a pool have them come out and give you a pool school.
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,160
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,160 |
So a couple of things. One misconception about a salt pool is you are getting rid of chlorine. This is not true at all. With a salt pool you have a chlorine generator converting th salt water into chlorine. A salt pool can be easier to maintain. Weather it’s cheaper or not can be debated and really depends ont the pool and how it is maintained. Almost all chl generators are rated for 10,000 hrs of production time. 10,000 hrs of making chl. Typically a cell will have to be replaced every 4-5 years. This time will vary from Pool to Pool. But at some point the cell will go out. To replace a cell you are looking at $800 and up depending in which brand. Monthly maintenance can be a lot cheaper if you stay on top of things. The biggest mistake I see people make with salt Pools is not testing the water every on a consistent basis. Salt pools are more corrosive than non salt pools. On the other hand a non salt pool that stays acid can be just as corrosive. Salt and non salt both have pros and cons. The biggest thing is which ever you have just stay on top of it. As with most things it is easier/cheaper to maintain than to let something go and have to fix it. If buying a house with a pool I highly recommend getting a Pool professional to do a pool inspection and if you have never owned a pool have them come out and give you a pool school. So this is what I was looking for. I'm actually very familiar with upkeep on a traditional Chlorine Pool and water chemistry (my dad is the managing operator at a local water plant. I also know to buy a good home test and not trust "pool stores". I am, however, very unfamiliar with cells and their upkeep. I am having a local pro come out and inspect the pool because we know their is a leak (hopefully in the liner) but he is inspecting all the piping and pump and SW Chlorinator, etc. We will losten to his recommendations I just wasnt sure if it was worth buying a new cell if it's broke or convert back to traditional. If we do buy a new cell can we then upgrade to a better quality or do we have to buy a direct replacement of whatever brand they have? Or are all cells interchangeable? I would love to have a reliable brand and will definitely do the routine maintenance. Thanks so far for the recs/suggestions! Keep em coming! Where are you located, poolman?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,981 Likes: 2
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,981 Likes: 2 |
Saltwater is the way to go...
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,557 Likes: 50
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,557 Likes: 50 |
So a couple of things. One misconception about a salt pool is you are getting rid of chlorine. This is not true at all. With a salt pool you have a chlorine generator converting th salt water into chlorine. A salt pool can be easier to maintain. Weather it’s cheaper or not can be debated and really depends ont the pool and how it is maintained. Almost all chl generators are rated for 10,000 hrs of production time. 10,000 hrs of making chl. Typically a cell will have to be replaced every 4-5 years. This time will vary from Pool to Pool. But at some point the cell will go out. To replace a cell you are looking at $800 and up depending in which brand. Monthly maintenance can be a lot cheaper if you stay on top of things. The biggest mistake I see people make with salt Pools is not testing the water every on a consistent basis. Salt pools are more corrosive than non salt pools. On the other hand a non salt pool that stays acid can be just as corrosive. Salt and non salt both have pros and cons. The biggest thing is which ever you have just stay on top of it. As with most things it is easier/cheaper to maintain than to let something go and have to fix it. If buying a house with a pool I highly recommend getting a Pool professional to do a pool inspection and if you have never owned a pool have them come out and give you a pool school. So this is what I was looking for. I'm actually very familiar with upkeep on a traditional Chlorine Pool and water chemistry (my dad is the managing operator at a local water plant. I also know to buy a good home test and not trust "pool stores". I am, however, very unfamiliar with cells and their upkeep. I am having a local pro come out and inspect the pool because we know their is a leak (hopefully in the liner) but he is inspecting all the piping and pump and SW Chlorinator, etc. We will losten to his recommendations I just wasnt sure if it was worth buying a new cell if it's broke or convert back to traditional. If we do buy a new cell can we then upgrade to a better quality or do we have to buy a direct replacement of whatever brand they have? Or are all cells interchangeable? I would love to have a reliable brand and will definitely do the routine maintenance. Thanks so far for the recs/suggestions! Keep em coming! Where are you located, poolman? Cells are definitely NOT interchangeable. They are all designed differently so you have to buy their brand. My first salt system was 'pool frog' and lasted right at 10 years and the panel went out this past summer; but my chlorine generator was still working. I replaced it with a 'circupool' system (bought that brand as they will let you self-install and still be covered under warranty) that has been great so far. If you have to change the system I would recommend looking into circupool. You can get them somewhat reasonable when they are having a sale. Do some research, you want to oversize the cell rating quite a bit over your pool capacity.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,579 Likes: 11
12 point
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12 point
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,579 Likes: 11 |
Love my saltwater system - just wish it was summer and I could jump in it right now!
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,696 Likes: 1
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,696 Likes: 1 |
There are a couple salt cells that are interchangeable (generic versions). Mine has not gone out yet, but some of my co workers have had success buying replacements online saving about $200 off the dealer costs. Replacing a salt cell is an easy task and takes very little time or tools.
My salt water pool has been super easy, its only a few years old so no failures yet. I have added some acid a couple times for pH, add a few bags of salt ($8/bag) a year and thats about it. The first winter I had it I got a black algae in some places, which I read is somewhat common the first year in gunite pools (something to do with the porosity of the plaster). Getting rid of it was pretty easy though, took a couple hours on a Saturday and maybe $50-75 of chemicals.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,424
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,424 |
Going to saltwater was the best thing we ever did. That being said, If I could afford to fill in my pool, I would do it tomorrow.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,757
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,757 |
Salt is the way to go. Last several pools we installed were on salt. Never herd anyone complain about them
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