Understanding the difference between ‘traditional’ chlorine, saltwater and a mineral swimming pool can be difficult. To give you a better understanding and to make the right decision for your pool, we explain the pros and cons of each swimming pool type.
Chlorine Swimming Pools
A chlorine-based pool has traditionally been the popular choice for pool sanitisation because it is the simplest way to kill bacteria. Chlorine works through a series of chemical reactions which breaks down the cells in harmful bacteria to render them harmless. Typically, this is the cheapest upfront way of sanitising your pool, however, this can quickly change to an expensive option each season if the pool is left untreated and chlorine levels drop.
Advantages of Chlorine Pool:
The biggest pro to a traditional chlorine pool is the relatively inexpensive cost for the initial set-up.
Disadvantages of a Chlorine Pool:
The cons to this pool type are the smell, potential irritations to the skin and eyes due to the harshness as well as it not regulating well - it requires the most amount of manual labour compared to the other pool types.
Saltwater Swimming Pools
Contrastingly there are two, more natural pool alternatives to a traditional chemical-based pool – salt and mineral water. First things first, no pool will be completely sanitised without chlorine. All pool systems need chlorine however there are several ways in which chlorine levels can be dramatically reduced by using salt or minerals as the sanitiser.
Advantages of a saltwater pool:
Many of the negatives in a chlorine pool are not the case in saltwater pools such as skin irritation and strong smells,. The water is softer and more regulated. There will be far fewer peaks and troughs with a saltwater pool and sanitisation levels, but it is still advised to continue checking the chemical levels for the required adjustments. An important thing to note about salt water is that it still uses the same chemicals as a chlorine pool, instead of adding direct chlorine, salt is added which acts as a chlorine generator.
Disadvantages of a saltwater pool:
The biggest downside of this type of swimming pool is that while it is beneficial to the swimmers using the pool, it is not necessarily the same for the pool itself. Saltwater is notorious for being corrosive, therefore the ladders, rails, furniture, and equipment may break down quicker. This is preventable so speak to your local Maytronics Elite Dealer pool shop and they will discuss options and devices, that can be added to the pool to slow down the corrosion.
Mineral Swimming Pools
Lastly, there are mineral pools, more specifically we will discuss a Maytronics Mineral Swim pool. There are several ways that the Maytronics Mineral Swim system helps to reduce the need for harsh chemicals. The first is by using 100% natural Maytronics Dead Sea minerals in conjunction with ozone water purification. Together they dramatically reduce the load on the chlorinator. In most instances, a chlorinator’s output will be halved. Secondly, the flocculation effect makes pool filters more effective. This pool type is the healthiest with the least amount of added chemicals, ultimately reducing the amount by up to 80%.
Advantages of a mineral pool:
Other benefits include the overall pool water quality, removing all the negatives of a traditional chlorine pool and saltwater pool (the corrosive nature), and the health/therapeutic effects of the magnesium levels in the pool water.
Disadvantages of a mineral pool:
In contrast, the downside to a mineral pool is the initial upfront cost. While this is the most expensive option initially, however further savings are often realised in things like reduced electricity usage and chemical costs.
Tip: A normal chlorinated pool has a range of 1.0 & 3.0 PPM whereas a mineral pool should have no more than approximately 0.5 PPM to reap the full benefits. Your local Maytronics Elite Dealer pool shop dealer will be able to provide the exact number for your pool during the initial consultation and recommendations through pool health checks.
Speak to your local dealer today!
FAQ
a.) What are pros and cons of a chlorine pool?
Pros of a chlorine pool:
Simple
Inexpensive
Cons of a chlorine pool:
Strong chemical smell of chlorine / bleach
Irritant to skin and eyes
High maintenance, it can be difficult to maintain water balance
b.) What are pros and cons of a saltwater pool?
Pros of a saltwater pool:
No chlorine smell
Less irritating to skin than chlorine
Easier to maintain water balance than a chlorine pool
Cons of a saltwater pool:
Saltwater is corrosive. Ladders, rails, furniture and pool equipment may break down quicker, unless additional preventative measures are taken.
c.) What are pros and cons of a mineral pool?
Pros of a mineral pool:
Easier pool maintenance, less backwashes are required and the pool filter is more effective
Reduces the need for harsh chemicals and chlorine
Excellent value for money due to cost savings in electricity, water and chemicals
Eco-friendly
Softer pool water, gentle on skin and eyes
Health benefits of magnesium rich pool water
Non-corrosive which reduces wear and tear on your pool equipment
Cons of a mineral pool:
High initial up front cost compared to traditional purification systems
