Should you go with salt water or chlorine for your inground pool?

Without going too in-depth about the chemistry behind how saltwater pool systems work, it is worth noting that salt is a mineral compound that is also known as “sodium chloride”. Instead of adding chlorine into swimming pools, saltwater pools create its own chlorine through a chlorine generator (or salt cell) that you install near your inground pool. By adding pool-grade salt to your saltwater pool system, the chlorine generator zaps the salt cells through a process called electrolysis, and in very simple terms, separates the sodium compound from the chloride compound to create the chlorine. This chlorine eventually becomes hypochlorous acid which is what kills the germs and bacteria in the pool.

The one drawback for saltwater pools is that the initial investment is higher compared to chlorine pools.  In the Toronto area, chlorine generators used in saltwater pools are around $2000 compared to $500 for chlorine systems.  However, in the long term, saltwater pools are most cost-effective as pool-grade salt is cheaper to purchase than chlorine tablets.

Overall, choosing a saltwater swimming pool over one treated with chlorine has many advantages: lower maintenance costs, gentler on skin and eyes, no odour or bleaching effects from multiple chemical applications—just to name a few! If you’re considering installing an inground pool at home, whether it’s a fiberglass or vinyl over concrete, going with a saltwater option could be just what you’re looking for! Contact Mayascapes Pools and we’d be happy to go through options for your inground pool installation.