Pool owners have argued back and forth about this until they are as blue in the face as their swimming pools: Which is better for your pool, saltwater or chlorine water?

Indeed, these two most common pool waters have staunchly loyal fans. Saltwater pool owners will tout their ability to go goggle-less underwater. On the other hand, chlorine pool owners will roll their eyes at the cost saltwater pool owners had to pay to set up their saltwater systems and say it is a waste of money for a feature that isn’t any more effective than chlorine.

But is either one of these types of pool water better than the other? Let’s analyze the differences between chlorine pools and saltwater pools.

Chlorine Pools

Whether in a gym, hotel, community park, or backyard, most pools you’ll find today are chlorine pools. Chlorine pool systems usually require the owner to manually add chlorine to the water every week. Pool chlorine is available from the store in liquid or tablet form.

One major benefit of chlorine pools is that they have very few upfront costs. It is easy and inexpensive to install a chlorinator into your pool. Chlorine systems also do not cause major corrosion or damage to pool parts.

However, chlorine can be a dangerous chemical. In the small quantities that are present in pool water, chlorine can irritate your skin and eyes. Plus, it does have a very distinctive smell. And, while there are no major upfront costs, the steady supply of chlorine required for the pool water can add up.

Saltwater Pools

Saltwater pools offer a gentler swimming experience than chlorine pools. However, contrary to popular belief, saltwater pools are not chlorine-free. Saltwater pool systems come with a chlorine generator that converts salt added to the pool into chlorine. However, this is still much less chlorine than in a chlorine pool.

Saltwater is a lot more gentler on your skin than chlorine water. As a result, your eyes will not hurt even if your open your eyes underwater. Parents with small children and avid swimmers enjoy this aspect of saltwater.

But that is not to say that saltwater pools are not without problems. Saltwater is corrosive. It can corrode metal, so your metal poolside furniture and grill risk getting damaged. Of course, your metal pool parts, such as pool heaters, ladders, and handrails, can also be affected. The saltwater also corrodes natural stone, so tile and paving near the pool that gets splashed with poolwater run the risk of breaking down.

In addition, the upfront cost of installing a chlorine generator is also expensive and typically needs to be replaced every few years.

What to Do if Your Pool Experiences Corrosion

Whether or not you prefer saltwater or chlorine, JR Pool Plastering & Texas Gunite Ltd. provides resurfacing and replastering services to ensure that your pool stays in tip-top condition. Call us today!