How much does it cost to switch your swimming pool from chlorine to salt?

For several years now, you have opted for achlorine treatmentfor the maintenance of your swimming pool. While this solution is by far the most advantageous in terms of cost and effectiveness, it is nonetheless aggressive… Indeed,chlorinecan make your pool water odorous and irritating, to the point of causing allergic reactions in swimmers.

Fortunately, alternatives now exist to avoid these inconveniences during your swims; these aresaltwater pool electrolysis. More environmentally friendly and without the smell of chlorine, this type of treatment has the advantage of naturally disinfecting pool water, without the risk of allergies or irritations.

But what are thedifferences between these two treatments?What are the steps to follow toswitch your pool from chlorine to salt?How much does it cost?

Find out everything you need to know in the following lines…

Advantages, disadvantages, price… Why switch from chlorinated water to salt?

The advantages of a salt pool

For pools with treatment, free chlorine (which contains active chlorine) is responsible for disinfection and the elimination of various microorganisms. For saltwater pools, the process is not so different… Once the device is installed,the salt electrolyzertransforms salt into chlorine, without needing to add any chemical product. Thanks to a small amount of salt (7 times less than seawater), the electrolysis cells produce chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) and destroy all organic matter, bacteria, microorganisms, algae, and other polluting agents. Once its disinfecting action is complete, the chlorine will automatically recombine into salt under the effect of UV rays. And so on…

As you will have understood, thanks to the partial renewal of chloride ions, very little salt is consumed!

Effective for disinfecting pools,saltwater electrolysis water treatmentalso offers many benefits for the skin. Unlike other chemicals, such as unstabilized chlorine,electrolysisdoes not dry out the skin and may even prevent the appearance of skin fungi! This is because pool water contains fewer chloramines, a chemical compound notably responsible for thatcharacteristic chlorine smellthat we all know. Just like seawater, people suffering from psoriasis may notice an improvement when switching from a chlorine pool treatment to a salt treatment.

Another advantage of salt pools, and not the least: they are more ecological. Indeed, when you have to evacuate the water from your pool, it is evacuated either into the soil of your garden or into the pipes. Unlike chlorine or bromine which contain polluting chemicals, pool salt does not harm the environment of your home and the neighborhood.

The disadvantages of a salt pool

On the downside, pool owners find thatsalt treatmenttends to raise the pH level. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is therefore advisable to regularly adjust the pH level or install apH regulator. Furthermore, due to the corrosive nature of salt, this type of treatment requires frequent washing of thesalt electrolyzer, at the risk of damaging it.

Cost: switching from chlorine to salt pool, what about it?

The price also represents a barrier to switching fromchlorine treatment to salt electrolysis. Indeed, the overall cost of asaltwater poolis generally higher than for chlorine-treated or bromine-treated pools. This is due to the purchase and installation cost of the electrolyzer, which averages around €1,500. On the other hand, the daily running cost is more advantageous; for comparison, a 20kg bag of salt can be found for around €10. For the purchase of chlorine, you will have to spend over €100 for the same quantity (the price varying depending on the distributor and the technical characteristics of your pool).

How to switch your swimming pool from chlorine to salt?

To properly make the transition from chlorine to sodium chloride disinfection, some precautions must be taken. The transition must be done in several stages.

Step #1: Removing chlorine from the water

Before starting the transition process, begin by stopping the chlorine supply to your pool and let it run filtration systemRegularly monitor the chlorine level using test strips; once it drops below 1 ppm, you can proceed to the next step.

To speed up the elimination of chlorine, prefer the summer season when the sun is shining or during heavy rains.

Step 2: Purging the filtration circuit and installing the electrolyser

Is your pool devoid of chlorine? You can now purge the filtration circuit, dismantle the treatment distribution device (chlorine dispenser, chlorinator, etc.) and reconnect the pipe to the dismantled device.

Once this step is completed, you can installthe salt chlorinator for the pool. For optimal results, do not hesitate to call on a pool professional for this step.

Step #3: Calculating the amount of salt needed

Yoursalt chlorinatoris correctly installed in your pool, all you have to do now is calculate the amount of salt needed. To do this, you need to know the volume of water in the pool (A) and the operating weight of your salt chlorinator (B). Then, the formula is simple: A x B = x kilos of salt

So, if your pool has a volume of 60 cubic meters and your electrolyser operates with 4 grams of salt, then you will need 4 * 60 = 240 kilos of salt.

Start your electrolyser once the salt has dissolved correctly in the water.

Step #4: Check the pH level of the water

As mentioned previously, using salt foryour pool treatmentcan increase the water's pH level. For this reason, you will need to regularly monitor the pH so that it is between 7.2 and 7.4; for ease, Aboral recommends installing apH regulator, capable of autonomously detecting and managing pH variations.

Can you put shock chlorine in a salt pool?

The answer is yes! Indeed, your pool already uses a form of chlorine as a disinfectant, so adding a chlorine shock treatment will not have an impact on your salt pool. To do this, add the chlorine in tablets or granules, referring to the volume of your pool.

Don't forget to add ananti-algae productand filter your pool to completely eliminate algae and restore optimal water quality.

You now have all the information you need to change the treatment of your pool and enjoy your swimming with more comfort! To help you in your decision, do not hesitate to call on our team of experts. We are at your disposal for any additional information you may need!