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How to Convert a Pool to Saltwater: Getting Started

Saltwater pools are not a recent development. They have been in existence for much of the 20th century, but have recently seen a surge in popularity. When you go about understanding pool costs and maintenance, you’ll soon realize that saltwater pools are a great idea. It’s cost-effective in many ways and is much gentler on the skin.

In this blog, we will go through the ways to convert a pool to saltwater. Rest assured, it’s not a very difficult process. With the right guidance, anyone can change their pool water to saltwater.

Why convert to saltwater in the first place?

Due to substances known as chloramines, chlorinated pool water can be harmful to you. Chloramine is formed when chlorinated pool water comes into contact with sweat or urine. Research has proven that chloramine is bad for us in many ways, both internally and externally.

If you have spent enough time in a chlorinated swimming pool, you know what we are talking about. The dryness that results from chlorinated pool water is only disadvantageous on the surface. As you probe further, you’ll notice a range of other disadvantages.

For example, chlorine water can be painful for your eyes. When you are swimming, some water would inevitably pass the goggles and reach the eyes. It results in a burning sensation in the eye, which can trigger other eye problems.

The same goes for skin issues. Repeated exposure to chlorinated water can make your skin extremely dry. In turn, it can lead to permanent changes to your skin. It can become dry, flaky, or inflamed. While you can use sunscreens and moisturizers to mitigate the damage, chlorine water is bound to have some effect on your skin. The same applies to your internal organs in case some water gets into your mouth.

More importantly, chloramines prevent chlorine water from doing its basic job. Ut inhibits the cleansing function. Cleaning pool filters becomes mandatory in a much shorter frequency.

Why switch to saltwater?

People have bathed in seawater for centuries. Seawater, being salty, has its own range of benefits and properties. For starters, salt water is beneficial for your skin. It has a deep cleansing function that is gentle on the skin. It wouldn’t hurt your eyes in a saltwater swimming pool, and neither would it dry your skin and hair. Not only that, but it’s also gentler on your skin, making rashes and skin issues a rarity.

Switching to saltwater pools

One of the biggest misconceptions that people have is that saltwater pools are chlorine-free. In reality, chlorine is necessary even for saltwater pools. Without maintaining chlorine levels in the water, you cannot keep it clean and safe for swimming.

Switching to saltwater pools begins with a salt-chlorine generator. It creates chlorine water much like a normal chlorine pool. The initial cost of installing a salt-chlorine generator would be around a thousand dollars but can be lesser depending on the quality. If you do proper pool maintenance, you’d have to replace the chlorinator cells only once in 5 years. That again would cost you a few hundred dollars. The exact cost would depend on a few things:

  • Size of the pool
  • Pool maintenance quality
  • Number of people using the pool
  • Location of the pool

Conclusion

Saltwater pools have a range of benefits. The earlier you identify them, the better it is for you. No matter what kind of pools you enjoy, switching to salt water is very easy. At the same time, note that salt water does not get rid of chlorine. The most important part in terms of pool hygiene is pool maintenance — something that saltwater pools make easier.

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