+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: New pool owner

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    California
    Posts
    1

    Default New pool owner

    Hi - I am a newbie who just purchased a home with a built-in pool & spa. I stumbled across this website & am eager to start off on the right foot. Should I use regular chemicals (chlorine, acid) or look into a saltwater system? We are on city water and a septic system. Thanks

  2. #2
    PoolDoc's Avatar
    PoolDoc is offline Administrator Quark Inspector PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    11,386

    Default Re: New pool owner

    A saltwater system IS regular chemicals, like chlorine and acid. Unfortunately, bogus marketing (a standard in the USA) deceives many new SWCG (Salt Water CHLORINE Generator) owners into thinking other wise.

    The difference between pool chlorine and salt is 2 electrons: pool chlorine is Cl+ and salt is Cl-, more or less. (Gimme a break, all you chem nuts -- do NOT make this explanation more complicated than it needs to be!)

    A salt system simply passes electrical current through salty water, and provides those 2 electrons.

    So, SWCG's are NOT chemical-free. But, then neither are any of the OTHER "chemical free systems" -- ozone, copper, etc. The only chemical free (no man-made chemistry, at least) are like the ones in this thread:
    Natural-Swimming-Pool-Photo-Gallery

    They are truly beautiful, but rather expensive and can require pretty intensive maintenance. You gotta watch who you swim with too, because if your buddy has the 'scuz' and you swim within 48 hours of when he did, you may get the 'scuz', too. But, if you limit access to yourself and your immediate family, the risks are low.

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. New Pool Owner
    By HMSpool in forum Pool Chemistry for Intex-type Pools
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 06-20-2012, 09:32 PM
  2. New pool owner
    By Ameztoy in forum Pool Startup, Shutdown, & Winter Operation
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 02-27-2012, 08:06 PM
  3. New Pool Owner!
    By Kainoa in forum Pool Equipment & Operations
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 11-13-2011, 08:35 PM
  4. new home owner -- new pool owner -- clear as MUD
    By Andyman33 in forum Testing and Adjusting Pool Water Chemistry
    Replies: 29
    Last Post: 09-06-2011, 06:51 PM
  5. New Pool Owner
    By bobcat in forum Using Chlorine and Chlorinating Chemicals
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 08-25-2010, 02:03 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts