Saline pools........

treitz3

I thought I would ask this board if anybody uses, has experience with or knows anything about a saline solution pool. Here's why I ask, I'm the VP of the HOA and I'm also in charge of the pool committee. If some of you remember that thread about the smoking being banned at our pool, well I joined the board so that we could change that ruling. I was successful and now we can enjoy a smoke in a designated area at the pool.

Now that the ruling has been straightened out to a reasonable rule I would like to offer the community a big cost savings at the pool. A couple of years back I overheard a conversation about a "Saline" pool and it caught my attention. Some of the advantages of a saline pool are;

1- Since it basically is the same mixture as the saline solution you put in your eyes, your eyes won't hurt or see funny after hours of swimming underwater with your eyes open. Great for kid's especially, as there's no need for goggles!

2- It will not change bleached hair to green.

3- Pool water runoff and drainage is safe for bushes, grass and has far less of an environmental footprint.

4- You do not have to change out the entire pump system, just add it inline with the current filtration.

5- No more expensive chemicals such as chlorine that has to be constantly replenished. You just add [well the machine does automatically] salt to create the stability of the pool.

6- They can set it up to where a pool technician doesn't have to drive out here to check the stability of the pool and add the expensive chemicals accordingly. It can all be monitored at any point in time by myself and the company that takes care of the pool automatically via the computer. The pool company would make any needed adjustments from the computer without the need for a service call.

7- Since we don't need an on-site pool company that's pool certified to come out multiple times a week, we could hire another janitorial company at a much lower rate to straighten out the chairs, keep the deck clean, clean the bathhouse and perform all of the other miscellaneous duties that the pool company charges an arm and a leg for because they are "certified". Janitors do not need to be certified and will cost a LOT less than what we are currently paying.

Now, while it may be between 10-14K to install the saline gear inline with the current filters, we will save that amount of $$$ rather quickly and from there on out [which is multiple thousands per year]. We could use that $$$ to improve the pool grounds, landscaping, building maintenance, buy new pool furniture, or simply give back to the community for other improvement projects.

Anybody have any experience with one? If so, I'd like to pick your brain for a bit if you don't mind.

PSOVLSK

I have a saline pool and wouldn't have anything else. Not sure how well it would work in a big community pool, but I love mine. Shoot me a pm and I'm be glad to answer any questions that I can based on my experience. I've had my pool for about 9 years.

Paul

steveinaz

I also have a Salt Water Chlorine Generator (SWCG) pool. It's a plaster in-ground, approx 12500 gallons, 30x16 kidney bean shape. I love it. However, does not mean you don't have any maintenance. You still still need to check/adjust PH, Calcium levels, Free Chlorine, Total Alkalinty, and stabilizer (CYA) levels, etc; but it is far easier to maintain than a traditional pool. The water is naturally softer, easier on your eyes and skin. My particular pool runs at 2850ppm of salt, less than a tenth the salinity of the ocean (35,000ppm).

disneyjoe7

I too run a salt water pool of 12500, I say it's easier to maintain but you still have maintenance. I run my system around 3100 ppm of salt, which is just about completely tasteless.

treitz3

Wow, I wasn't expecting any response at all. I heard they were about as rare as an Oriental with a full grown beard. Is everything that I have researched pretty much on target? Do you feel that I am being mislead on anything?

obieone

I was a Chief Engineer for a hotel up north, and got my CPO back in 1999. We had an indoor pool, which even with remote monitoring, was still a PITA.
That said, I STRONGLY recommend you check with your local, & state boards of health to find out the specifics regarding running a public pool. If you dump the outside contractor, I believe you'll still need someone with a CPO license to maintain the pool.
A saline pool does sound like a lot less maintenance, but just make sure you check out the laws before you open yourself up to trouble.

That's not to say you can't dump the contractor, it just means you'd have to have someone in the HOA be certified. I think the course was $200.00 10 years ago.

treitz3

obieone wrote: »

.....but just make sure you check out the laws before you open yourself up to trouble.

Duly noted, Thanks.

The pool contractor we currently have would still be responsible for the pool unless another contractor beats the current one. I have been in contact with a company based in California to perform the initial saline installation and the computer monitoring gear. They do have affiliates near us that might want to do some bidding, but I don't know at this point if they would be close enough. Our current contractor [US Aquatics] does 120 pools in the area and is based less than 20 miles away from our pool. They are also the ones that are getting us in compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act. So far, they have done a good job. No real reason to change unless a better service/price comes along.

There may be a conflict of interest with having an on-site HOA member perform any on-site tasks. I'll have to check on that one though.

venomclan

When I bought my house, the pool did not have a saline system, and it was a PITA to regulate the clorine levels. Every time it rained, which is a lot in FL rainy season, it would screw up the levels.

My pool is about 10K gallons, and I love the saline system. I only need to add salt every few months and it is cheap. I do not know what is involved with a large community pool, but it may be worth it. Also keep in mind that the pool business is way off with everything else. You should be able to get a nice deal if you are patient.
Venom

steveinaz

After my first season I had to add about 4lbs of salt. A 20lb bag cost $8.99. You only lose salt by slash-out or draining, it doesn't evaporate.

One thing to keep in mind is that salt "cells" will need to be replaced periodically. They generally last about 3-5 years, but if you keep your water well balanced/maintained they will last longer. The cell for my pool runs about $395--but I would probably spend that in 1 season on powdered chlorine.

Another seriously "pro" to salt water chlorination is that you are not constantly adding CYA. Chlorine pucks have CYA (stabilizer) in them, the problem is, you only want about 60ppm of CYA in your pool---anymore than this can "tie-up" your free chlorine leading to chlorine lock--algae problems, decrease in germ killing abilities, etc. With a SWCG system, you add the CYA (Cyranuric Acid) only when needed, usually at the beginning of the swimming season. I have been trying to talk a friend of mine into using bleach in his pool instead of pucks---his CYA levels are through the roof, and he wonders how he can get algae with 15ppm!!! of chlorine in the pool. 2 words: "Chlorine Lock."

I spend about 30 minutes, once a week maintaing my pool---that's it. The water has always been crystal clear, fresh. I do monitor my SWCG's % output, and monitor PH--because it's cold right now, mine is set down to about 15% output. During this time of year, that provides about 5-6ppm of free chlorine. IOW, I never "close" my pool, and don't have to worry about it when I'm on vacation. In the spring I'll do a test of everything; CH, CA, PH, AK, CYA levels, make my adjustments and swim. During peak swimming season, I generally have to run my SWCG at about 70% output as the intensity of the sun, high temps, and heavy swimming traffic take a toll on free chlorine.

BTW, "green hair" on blondes is caused by copper content in your fill water. Chlorine oxidizes the copper turning it (and anything it's clinging to) green...a metal sequestriant (sp?) will help with this issue.

inspiredsports

They seem to be very popular in Hawaii. We've rented 3 different homes there over the past 4 summers that used salt. I was skeptical at first, but feel it is a superior and healthier way to go. The pool is so much more soothing to a sunburn after a day in the sun, and the "no green hair" feature a real benefit. Every one of the owners had experience with both and felt the saline pools were healthier and more economical to operate.

disneyjoe7

Tom,

Steve in Arizonia.... Well lives in a different world. 4lbs of salt for the year



Ok my world.

I must have a lot of rain because just 7 weeks ago I added 80lbs just to bring my salt lever back in line. I use overall 120 to 160lbs of salt which comes in 40lb bags.

reeltrouble1

Tom,

Hell I dunno, they use them like crazy here, but Saline is close enough to Celine, who is the hottest vampire chick in tight black leather to ever bite, so I say go for it.

Now then, exactly what you smoking in the designated area??????????

RT1

treitz3

If I told you, I'd have to kill you.















Cigarettes of course. I'm sure there is the occasional "other" after hours but seeing as that's already illegal? I'm sure that they could care less about what rules they may have to follow.......especially from a lowly HOA board. :rolleyes:

BIZILL

damnit steve in az. i'm still chugging gallons of clorox from costco to my house...:(

steveinaz

There's nothing wrong with the "BBB" method--just a little more effort. I bet your pool is crystal clear huh? It's a heck of alot better than using pucks or "frogs", that's for sure.

steveinaz

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

Ok my world.

I must have a lot of rain because just 7 weeks ago I added 80lbs just to bring my salt lever back in line. I use overall 120 to 160lbs of salt which comes in 40lb bags.

Good night! Did you have to do a partial drain or something? Either that or you have a serious leak somewhere--salt doesn't dilute or evaporate.

treitz3

I was thinking the same thing. That's a VERY high concentration of salt, even for Florida I would think.....

I don't think his light would leak quite that much.

goingganzo

go bromine or go home. also get a ozone generator or one of thoes florsent kill everything in the water things. also get it labled as a thearputic pool and you can run the temp above 86 and not get in trubble

disneyjoe7

No I'm serious I'm at 3100 ppm right now. If it explains this a little better I have an auto drain system if the pool is too high from rain. The pool store doesn't give me an odd eye where they say ok you need 70lbs of salt, I only have it tested every 6 months or so.


BTW their store room has 60 - 100 bags of salt, I can't be the only one.

treitz3

Well, I know the salt will leave the pool when it's drained out but that's still a high replenish rate. How much rainfall do you get on average? I ask because I would like to compare it to a 100 year average of our area. That would help with an estimated yearly salt expense.

NotaSuv

inspiredsports wrote: »

They seem to be very popular in Hawaii. We've rented 3 different homes there over the past 4 summers that used salt. I was skeptical at first, but feel it is a superior and healthier way to go. The pool is so much more soothing to a sunburn after a day in the sun, and the "no green hair" feature a real benefit. Every one of the owners had experience with both and felt the saline pools were healthier and more economical to operate.

Both homes I rented while living in Hawaii had saline pools...the only way to go...makes one very spoiled

treitz3

goingganzo wrote: »

go bromine or go home. also get a ozone generator or one of thoes florsent kill everything in the water things. also get it labled as a thearputic pool and you can run the temp above 86 and not get in trubble

We don't want or even need a heater for the pool and I'm trying my best to avoid chemicals in the pool. Thanks though. I haven't heard about an ozone generator or a fluorescent "kill everything" light yet. I'm not buying it really, just based upon common sense that those items would not work without a major expense given the size of our pool. I will look into it though.

disneyjoe7

I have to look for the average rain level, but I know myself I can get a 1 to 1.5" rain in my pool with a good shower. I get rain everyday like that in the summer for a 45 min shower.

reeltrouble1

DJ,

On my next visit I will bring you a 55 gallon drum of pure Atlantic Salt Water, always happy to help a brother out.

RT1

steveinaz

goingganzo wrote: »

go bromine or go home. also get a ozone generator or one of thoes florsent kill everything in the water things. also get it labled as a thearputic pool and you can run the temp above 86 and not get in trubble

I'll go home. No bromine for me thanks. I count literally hundreds of people on the pool forums asking the question "can I convert my bromine pool back to chlorine?" Now, I don't know the specifics, but I have never seen the question "How can I convert my chlorine pool to bromine?" asked.

I did have a rather large spa (coleman) in the past that ran on bromine. With hindsight, I would have gone bleach. But, hey--to each his own.