What is a Saltwater Pool? Chemistry, Lifespan, Cost & More

What should I know about salt water pools?
You add salt to your pool water, and the salt chlorine generator converts it to chlorine (hypochlorous acid). You should use salt that's 99% pure or higher. Salt chlorine generators typically cost $1,700-$2,500 upfront and last about 3-7 years. They're easy to maintain, keep the water clear, and annually cost less than traditional chlorine.
This video also answers questions like...
What is a saltwater pool?
What is a saltwater generator?
How much does a saltwater pool cost?
How long does a saltwater pool last?
What is the lifespan of a saltwater pool?
What is the cost of a saltwater pool?
What is the salinity of a saltwater pool?
What type of salt do you need to use?
How pure is mined salt?
What is the operating cost of a salt chlorine generator?
How often does the cell need to be replaced?
What are the advantages of a saltwater pool?
What are the disadvantages of a saltwater pool?
Full Article 👉 bit.ly/2KM2nlT
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[@PoolProAnswersDIY]

Very well done article!

[@TomWilson8003]

Very good job. Thank you.

[@albertmyers7176]

Great vid thank you from Calif.

[@RiverPools]

Thanks Albert Myers. Glad it was helpful.

[@Jesusprayerwarriorbw]

@@RiverPoolslearned about these by watching Mr.Anthoney of Van Halen house selling video. Amazing pool, with little maintenance. Count me in

[@126jimmyj]

We have had a salt water pool for 11 yrs. They make it so much easier doing the upkeep of the pool. The only downside is the cost. We have the Pentair IC40. They run from 6-900.00 to replace and we are on our 5th one, but our filter runs 24/7 from April to October.

[@RiverPools]

Thanks for watching and commenting jim johnson! They do provide a pleasant swim experience and are easier to maintain. BUT you should be getting way more than a 2 yr avg on a salt cell unless you just happen to have purchased a few duds in succession. Perhaps chat with your local pool store to assess why you're not able to make it to at least 4 years before having to replace.

[@rubenscott3972]

Love the video any video that is about pools

[@RiverPools]

Thanks Ruben.

[@GhostedStories]

Thanks!

[@TruthStoryLies]

If you were building a rooftop pool, can you use a whole home filter laid flat under a raised deck? Will chlorine/salt be necessary in this case. So before you use the pool, you can recirculate the water through the filter

[@jacksemenoff2148]

Thanks

[@RiverPools]

You're welcome!

[@alloutofdonuts3998]

Does it makes sense to have a saltwater system with a smaller above ground pool? Example: intex metal frame 10x30 or 12x30? It’s not so much the cost as the harshness and maintenance of the ‘full’ chlorine system that I don’t Iike.

[@dweb2275]

You literally started my Siri timer 😂

[@randylynnr]

Your videos are awesome. You should call it 5 min in the pool instead of 2 minutes. I am buying a pool in SC and you gave taught me so much about my new pool

[@caronallen1064]

Awesom

[@dianelamonica5843]

my parents had a chlorine pool but had to be careful going away on vacation, her pool needed daily checks & add chlorine or bakingsoda for the PH. . if you leave for a vacation in saltwater pools do you just keep the pool running?

[@greghackney8437]

Chlorine isn't the only thing you have to monitor in your pool. There are several other parameters that have to be maintained. These things cut the life of a gunite pool in half. They don't work below 60° so your back to chlorine now you still need a chlorinator and keep track of wich one you need to use at any given time.

[@neatherylandscapellc.808]

Hey there just found your Chanel and had a few questions? How would a salt water filtration work on a natural pond with a liner and boulders? A natural swim pond? What’s your opinion? Thanks

[@andrewrudd3849]

Regarding the hardware. I see lots of names used. Salt generator, salt cell, Chlorine generator, salt chlorinators. Are they all the same and if not what are the differences and are there any others that I missed?

[@RiverPools]

All the same!

[@faramarzmokri9136]

I heard that salt chlorine system is not good for concrete base pool with plaster is that true. If so why?

[@csj2640]

I worry about chlorine because of my kids so really thinking about salt systems. Can I have a salt water system in a above ground pool. (Intex) It’s about 8500 gallons. And do I have to worry about corroding the metal pipes the liner is holding on to?

[@RiverPools]

Hi Carlos Sanchez! Salt pools are chlorine pools. The salt is simply converted to chlorine. And yes, salt water can deteriorate metal components of an above ground pool.

[@lopfer8860]

Hi I have a question. You said for saltwater pool , the chorine generator converts the salt to chlorine. So, the pool itself will have salt and chlorine mixture. If we just add salt and chlorine together into the pool (without the generator) would it be the same? thanks. *is it possible to monitor the level of salt and chlorine manually and adjust accordingly?

[@RiverPools]

You would not need to add any chlorine if you have a salt system. Yes, you can monitor salt levels and chlorine levels manually.

[@blfoster135]

If chlorine is the culprit in dry skin and irritated eyes and salt pools generate the SAME amount of chlorine (if managed correctly), why then are Salt pools easier on the skin and eyes? I have read elsewhere that salt pools disinfect with generating less chlorine (its the salt + chlorine that’s the cleaning combo, not chlorine alone). But think you say chlorine level is same same in both systems. Your help please. Thanks!

[@user-ri5cv3mw2e]

Around what ph level should you try and keep it at ?

[@RiverPools]

Hi T! 7.4 is the ideal...Here is a video explaining more about pool chemistry for fiberglass pools 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/a53dfpiVoteXnZo Thanks for watching!

[@toddlempe1454]

@Kendall Nelson wth, do you copy paste this everywhere?! thx for the spam scam.

[@kyleweiss]

So since a salt water generator is always continually creating chlorine, does the amount of stabilizer go down as compared to a traditional chlorine pool. I have a 40k gallon pool in direct sunlight. I had an extremely hard time keeping chlorine in the water, and I was constantly adding stabilizer.

[@davidvilchez2209]

Yes and check for leaks too. If you have an auto filler on and it's constantly adding water you will be diluting the chemicals down. Lot of rain and lot use out of the pool can do it too. Also check that filter and clean/replace if needed

[@laperfectionlouis910]

True. The cost to add stabilizer is already 20dollars, so I don't know how he calculates only 100$/year... I spend at least 50$ (salt, stabilizer, acid, chlorine too etc) every 2 months for a 13000 gallons pool (which has no leak but in direct Florida sun)..

[@teekay_1]

My research indicates CYA never goes out of the water, the only way to get rid of it is pump your pool and start over again.

[@gavinfoster8121]

how much electricity is involved per gallon etc. Electricity in St Thomas USVI is the most expensive in the US!

[@yinadia]

So we can add only salt chlorine generator? Then the chlorine system convert to salt system? Or do any other must change or add system?

[@RiverPools]

Hi ForRest! you can change from traditional chlorine to salt chlorine. In this case you replace the chlorine feeder with the salt chlorine generator. After that you simply add salt (follow directions on packaging for amount) which converts to chlorine.

[@mountaineer1706]

How many hours a day should I run the filter and a t 15 cell chlorinator?

[@RiverPools]

We have a video coming soon about that, but basically you want your pool water to turn over (meaning every gallon filters through once) within a 6 hour period. You'll have to figure out how many gallons your pool has and find out how many gallons/hour your pump can move. From there, you can make an estimation on how many hours you need to run your pump...without swimmers and with the pool covered you can probably cycle the pool water twice and be fine. With swimmers you may want/need to cycle more. Here's an article we wrote on the topic 👉 www.riverpoolsandspas.com/blog/how-long-to-run-pool-pump (There's also a link to a pool volume calculator in this article as well)

[@ValueYourTimeOnEarth]

mountaineer 😂 cost of running the electric cell. Cost of maintaining the pool chemistry. Still hav to buy calcium flakes, Algecide, clarifier, and chlorine tabs (helps keeps the chlorine in the water and evaporate) so the only cost is chlorine which is dirt cheep. I pay less than 100 for a whole season worth. 😂

[@Executiveinvestments-]

@@ValueYourTimeOnEarth You have no idea what you area talking about. So you dont have a cost to maintain the chemistry in a chlorine pool? Dont have to buy clarifier and algecide? hahahahaha. And guess you didnt know salt does NOT evaporate so you basically never have to add it. And you do NOT need chlorine tabs in a salt pool. No idea where you got that crap from. Salt hands down is cheaper, easier to maintain and has no horrible taste and smell like chlorine pools have. Also does not bleach out your suit. The water in a salt pool is also mush softer unlike the hard irritating chlorine water. You sound very uneducated. But unless you have had both types of pools you shouldnt comment here at all.

[@ValueYourTimeOnEarth]

WINNING 😂 I must have hit a raw nerve. Chill out both systems have pro and cons.

[@davidvilchez2209]

@@ValueYourTimeOnEarth With salt you do not need chlorine tabs

[@Hundert1]

In reality it's still a chlorine pool. Use a mineral ionization system for a much less chlorine content and resulting pool water that's practically drinkable. In fact fresh water fish and frogs can live in it. Much cheaper too

[@fullyselfexpressed]

Thank you sister!

[@aggierowe9574]

The beginning of each summer I am fishing a few dummy frogs out of the skimmer

[@Hundert1]

@@fullyselfexpressed my pleasure, sorry for late reply. Copper and silver are the most common ionization systems I know of.

[@Hundert1]

@@aggierowe9574 do you use a mineral ionization system?

[@aggierowe9574]

@@Hundert1 pentair intellichlor system.

[@anthonyroccosr.5706]

I have 20x40 Roman ends built in pool deep end 8ft now end around 3.5 ish. It is saltwater my ph reads low but alkalinity is high my pool guy added 20 bags of salt and a bag of alkalinity he said I don't need to worry about hardness or anything other than ph, alkalinity, and chlorine this does not seem rite because the levels are not adding up??

[@RiverPools]

What kind of pool do you have?

[@anthonyroccosr.5706]

@@RiverPools salt water 20x40 roman end inground pool concrete with a 28 x 2r8 mil linear approx 39000 gallons deep end 8ft shallow end about 3.5

[@nicdee1982]

Great reading 😂

[@timbowilderbeeste8709]

We have a rental property that's always problematic in terms of getting the tenants to maintain the pool properly. We do offer them the chance to pay extra each month to get a pool service in, but most prefer to take the option of promising they'll take good care of it themselves to save on the fee. Question is, if we had a saltwater system installed, does it make it easier to maintain the pool long term with or without the tenant's input? And I've also read that saltwater pools corrode anything metal in the pool, so what happens to the pool light - do we have to get some kind of equivalent that's plastic?

[@greghackney8437]

False promises go chlorine and make tenants provide monthly independent water tests from a pool store to prove they're taking care of it.

[@Aaron-ju8lo]

This response is super late but the charge of maintaining the pool should already be included in the rent. In my experience I would detail that in the contract that part of the rent is used for pool maintenance by a pool company. So you should adjust the rent to meet whatever cost needed.

[@randylynnr]

I would love to know how salt water effects dyed hair! I bet you have not done a video like that. So many woman and some men dye their hair, what to do to protect your hair from sun and chemicals!

[@Tomcoker1952]

This was explained in the video, in the fact that salt, chemical formula NaCl, which is sodium chloride, breaks down in the filter system to ….chlorine, that is pumped into the pool to sanitize the water, the same way that chlorine tabs do. So you are not swimming in “salt water” but chlorine water. The term saltwater pool is so misleading as it is really a saltwater filter.

[@fullyselfexpressed]

I think it’s misleading because in the end it’s still a chlorinated pool. I assumed the salt would make bad bacteria unable to live in it or something, but if this is just a chlorinated pool At the end of the day, what’s the point? This mineral ionization I’m Hearing about sounds promising though, I’ll Look into that instead.

[@RiverPools]

There are several viable options out there. Glad our video helped explain saltwater pools further to you.

[@FrankKriticos]

Does salt water fade a vinyl liner quicker than chlorine?

[@RiverPools]

Great question! The salt water does not fade the liner. The chlorine it produces could, however. If you do not check your cl levels frequently, you could experience 'chlorine creep', which is basically the slow and constant rising of free chlorine. This is basically a diluted bleach solution that can negatively affect the finish on any type of pool....Also, salt is corrosive to certain types of metal. Depending on what your pool walls are constructed with, it may not be a good idea to use a salt chlorine generator. If your pool walls are polymer with stainless steel fasteners, you're probably okay. Otherwise, you want to use a traditional chlorine sanitizing system. 👍

[@FrankKriticos]

@@RiverPools Excellent break down. I just submitted a quote to your licensee in nashville.

[@cristiancedillo6114]

Yo this video is so trippy is this a dream bro its says my name cristian and it also without the h wtf

[@RiverPools]

All these years, he thought he was the only one!

[@recondaddy123123]

Do you use a salt or chlorine puck or is that completely unnecessary? And in terms of chemistry is everything the exact same as a chlorine pool? Your approach to balancing pH, alkalinity, conditioner, which brings me to the conditioner element. With this making its own chlorine and should I be just using a Puck for its conditioner that I’m getting? Or would I just set my converter to a higher electricity to counteract summers?

[@RiverPools]

Chlorine pucks are not necessary for salt pools. Yes, all other chemistry remains the same...even monitoring chlorine levels. After all, your salt pool uses chlorine to sanitize the water. As for conditioner...this is called CYA or cyanuric acid. In simple terms it's sunscreen for the chlorine. You can buy it as a stand alone product and apply an appropriate dose to your pool to keep sunlight from eating up chlorine. As for turning up the output on your salt chlorine generator...you'll only need to do this if you have lots of swimmers. Just remember to turn the output BACK DOWN 6-12 hrs later so you don't bleach your pool. Hope that helps.

[@newsmansuper2925]

solar panels are the way to go with pools cuts power costs

[@keithstaab7456]

With covid-19 I am finding it hard to get installers to my area in Nebraska! Any chance you will be out this way?🤣

[@jasonwilson2927]

If I was closer I would come and install it for you ...if I can justify it to my guys I would consider it

[@RiverPools]

We are seeing demand like never before. Many pool builders are booking into late fall or next year even. Don't believe we have a dealer out there just yet, BUT I could be wrong as we're constantly bringing on new dealers. Here's a link to get connected if we do www.riverpoolsandspas.com/request-a-fiberglass-pool-price

[@tomcook5813]

Rock salt is mined salt, same place your table salt comes from

[@ATLTraveler]

Most importantly, can i pee in this pool without getting found out?

[@RiverPools]

No...The water will turn blue around you ATLHooligan. The myth is true.

[@ATLTraveler]

@@RiverPools now you answer... do you know how embarrased I was...

[@RiverPools]

@@ATLTraveler I would've blamed it on the guy next to me😉

[@SeibertSwirl]

LMAAAAOOOOOOOO

[@alfredavina7202]

What if I use sea water?

[@RiverPools]

To fill your pool? Or constantly?

[@alfredavina7202]

@@RiverPools both

[@RiverPools]

@@alfredavina7202 so, you're going to constantly cycle seawater into and out of your pool? Sounds interesting! The ONE thing that you may encounter is the accumulation of sand/debris in the bottom of the pool over time.

[@aceburns8673]

Takes a minute and 20 to get to it.

[@RiverPools]

LOL. Some days he's long winded 👍

[@raywhite8122]

Exactly. This guy needs a timer to get to the actual timer. Maybe a better video editor?

[@bjarneolsen1]

Magic Power and Science .... 555..

[@floridian2023]

W.O.W.

[@rubenscott3972]

Is it true the water is softer how do you test for that 🧐 also why is acid is always high in salt pools and why should we not add tablets I try not to add liquid chlorine but i end up having to add some

[@RiverPools]

Yep. The pool water becomes "softer". Much like home water softener systems. And the pool water actually will have a silky feel to it. As for the pH levels rising...Chlorine is basic, and salt chlorine generators typically put homeowners into a state of set-it-and-forget-it, and the chlorine creeps up on them, thus requiring a bit more acid from time to time to bring pH back into check. Which is adding cl tablets ins't the best idea, because you're only adding to the problem. If you are having a hard time maintaining an appropriate cl levels (sanitizing agent) then you may need to check your alkalinity as it helps keep pH stable, thus allowing cl to be effective.

[@davidvilchez2209]

Chlorine tablets have stabilizer in them. Over time, it builds up and you will need to drain the pool to lower the cya level

[@naturalstatepoolandspallc338]

what if i dont use chlorine, i have a salt pool!! lol

[@chrisbennett263]

Drop the timer crap

[@thedalaidrama]

2 minutes in the pool.......makes 6 1/2 minute video🤔

[@RiverPools]

Hi Colby Lee...we know...it happens a lot. Did you get the answer you needed though? We'll tell Cristian he needs to be a little more punctual. 😉

[@user-qu6rd1uv7z]

Dude, stop trying to get it done in two minutes talking super fast screwing it all up. Slow down, get it done right.