Cost of Maintaining a Salt Water Pool

[ali-cat]

I have been checking back through this category to try to find a query about the cost of maintaining a pool. The only one I found was from 2004 & I presume was for a chlorinated pool.

Has the costs changed over the last 2 years - & will it differ for a salt water pool?  Reasons for the salt water are that I think it seems healthier & it would also help with the problems I have from a bad back. Would anyone agree with this?

Any help would be really appreciated - & I would also like to add that I personally think "Poolguy" should get a medal for all the help & advice he gives to the forum members. Very few people, with a business to run, would be so helpful (& I’m not just saying this to get help - honest!!)

Alison.

[Poolguy]

Gee Alison ... I Blush

Thank you for the kind words.

I have to say that apart from anything else, I rather enjoy contributing to the

forum. It’s a community. But more than that I think, we are all facing similar

challenges - me included. That is; we have all chosen to live in a Country

where everything is kind of familiar but definitely very different.

Along the way, to getting myself established, many people have helped me. Not

for a job or financial gain, but just because they could. That impresses the

hell out of me. Sometimes I am without breath, or words after such and

assistance. That small effort to someone who knew means and enormous amount to

me who didn't, and in many cases it saved me from possible disaster.

And it’s not so much that I am returning the good deed by contributing here. It’s

more that I check into the forum because it makes me feel more a part of a

community, and along the way I can offer things I know about - pools. So,

whether readers use my advice or not is not as important to me as feeling that

I belong to that community. In the end, I am enjoying the position of Pool Guru

(or is that Pool Nerd) whether it is deserved is not for me to say but, I will

say thank you to the many who have sent private messages and encouragement.

For your problem, on the cost of maintaining a pool, it’s very open ended. Salt-water

pools are enigmatic with regard to this question because it depends if they are

well specified and equipped -for they can be cheaper to operate or many time

more expensive. I don't think that you should hold on to the dream that one method

is 'healthier' than another, because all is dependent on the vigilance paid by

the pool manager. As no pool will manage itself completely, some systems are

more automated than others just as some treatments are more expensive than

others. But to give you a range, I would say that for a 10 x 5 pool with a

family of 4 using it you could invest as little as 100 euro per year up to a

high of 1,000 euro per year. A salt system would tend toward the lower end but

I would say that they are definitely not the cheapest system either in initial

investment or operating cost.

If you were to be specific about the characteristics of your pool and the

equipment installed then I could give you a firmer estimate. But without

anything specific I am afraid that it is an open-ended question with no real

answer.

Andrew

[ali-cat]

Thank you Andrew,

I can't give any details as we are only trying to work out all our finances before we "take the plunge" (aagghhh!! - bet no ones ever said that to you before!) & buy a house & move to France.  Will get back in touch if & when we see a property we are really interested in & get some more details.  By the way - this is probably a really stupid question - can a pool be converted to salt water if it is not already?  Not only do I think it would be more helpful for my back but my hubby is very sensitive to a lot of chemicals - chlorine included.

[Poolguy]

Ali@ards

I understand your concern. To answer your question, - Yes you can convert any

pool from one system of water sanitisation to another and back again if you

want, its all a question of cost. But there is no technical reason to prevent

it.

Just out of curiosity thought can you tell me what it is about salt water that

is more helpful for your back - is it that salt water has more buoyancy or some

other thing. Did you know for instance that a salt-water pool is a

chlorinated pool - it’s exactly the same, or should be from a quantity of

chlorine point of view. The only difference is how the chlorine is made, in a

salt pool its made in your Local Technique through an electrolyser and in a

chlorine direct pool it is made in a factory. If any pool is set and managed

correctly your hubby should have absolutely no reaction or sensation in either

eyes, ears, skin or nose from the experience other than that he would have in

his shower for example. If he does have and adverse reaction, then there is

something wrong with the system - either it’s not functioning properly or its

badly specified in the first place.

To my mind this is the place to start when you are specifying a pool - the

sanitisation and filtration systems. This is where to spend the first money,

not afterwards. This is the important part of a pool, whereas the terrace and

other 'bits' should be the afterthought. I guess that its just that I like to

swim in 'the Purest Water Possible' – it’s an definite preference of mine.

Andrew

[ali-cat]

You have just discovered my total lack of knowledge on pools.  Never had or ever thought of having one before we started thinking about moving to France.  Yup!!  I thought a salt water pool had ... salt & a chlorine pool had .... chlorine!!  We have a lot to learn - will try not to embarrass myself again!! 

As for the back thing - I have 6 torn discs & imagined that salt (like in a spa or health farmy type thingy) would easy a lot of the pain, as salt baths are reccommended by a lot of health professionals etc.  Probably wouldn't make much of a difference - it's the exercise, stretching & muscle strenghening that is important.  If it cuts down on the amount of painkillers I take, it can only be a good thing.

[Mr Coeur de Lion]

I had a salt water pool in Australia and it was the cheapest and most efficient system of the lot. Filters were around the 120 euros mark and the system only needed cleaning once a week. Having said that, I would never want to own a swimming pool again.

[ali-cat]

 Quote - "Having said that, I would never want to own a swimming pool again."

 Why?????  Are they really more bother than they are worth??!!!    I love swimming - I'm never out of a pool on holiday - & as we'll be retired I intend to make full use of one.  Do you think we would be better to use a public one or a swimming lake?

 

[Mr Coeur de Lion]

Personally, I felt that it was more trouble than it was worth, but if as you say you'll be using it regularly then it will be less trouble than its worth.

Go for it, you won't regret it if you're constantly using it.

 I didn't get much use out of mine personally maybe one or two swims a week (with work and renovations too busy) and I did have some major problems with the installation that did tarnish my opinion (like they built it too close to the sewer line and the council wouldn't accept it as it was). And I did accidentally drop a wheelbarrow load of dirt in when I was landscaping after the installation which put it out of action for a few weeks.

These are all problems that you are unlikely to come across. I'm sorry if my opinion came across in the way it did. However it did add more value to my house and after paying $235,000 for the house and $10,000 for the pool, I sold it for $354,000 18 months later.

[Suze01]

ali@ards wrote

 Quote - "Having said that, I would never want to own a swimming pool again."

 Why?????  Are they really more bother than they are worth??!!!    I love swimming - I'm never out of a pool on holiday - & as we'll be retired I intend to make full use of one.  Do you think we would be better to use a public one or a swimming lake?

Go for it, depending on what set up you decide on they really needn't be hard work.

You

sound like me - in the pool every day unless I really can't find half

an hour or more! Infact, I've just had my first swim of the year having

opened my pool about 10 days ago, it is now up to a swimmable

temperature - it was brilliant. I'll be going in again later when my

daughter, who is also swimming-mad, gets back from her friends house.

We

have a salt system. In theory you will need to buy some sacks of salt

each year to keep it maintained to the correct level but ours was a

little high last year and so we don't need to buy any as the level is

OK.  The electronic cells in the salt-chlorinator system (which produce

the chlorine as the water passes through it) have a lifespan of a few

years or more depending on conditions and I believe that they may cost

2-300 euros to replace! But, in the meantime you are not having to buy,

or handle, chlorine tablets/chlore choc etc.  I would recommend (in

hindsight - because we didn't) some sort of automated dosing system for

the chlorine/ph levels that way you need never have to manually check

these and adjust, it is all done automatically and at a constant rate

so that there is no yo-yo effect in the chemical levels . We have had

problems regulating the PH since we filled the new pool, had no problem

with the old pool, so I presume it has something to do with the tap

water.

[chirpy]

What is your pool temp.?or have you a cover or are heating it or you are young and brave.I live in southern haute vienne and have had salt pool for 5 years with heater and auto. chlorinater and only bought 4-5 bags salt last year -20 euro per 25kilo bag.

have not found it expensive except for heatingbut the madame will not swim if below 28 even though she was born in the tough n.e. of england where you needed diving wet suit before going into the sea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Changes in laws and poor advice initially resulted in buying a Walter  cover which now not   passing norms.costing 4658 euro plus extra snow supports,a bubble  sun cover,blue, on  telescopic stainless steel  roller for 10 x4.5 metre pool with roman end cost 640euro-also now unuseable unless you have fence or a completely roofed pool.!!!!

p.s. Just thought any one out there intersested in my bubble cover??? only used for 3 seasons any fair ofers considered or i will put on e-bay and sell it to an eskimo.

same goes with Walter cover.THE COVER WILL TAKE WEIGHT OF YOUNGSTER UP TO 8 YEARS BUT MADE BEFORE NEW TEST AND CHANGES  REQUIRED BY LAWS.

P.P.S.

I now have conforming alarm and fence which is not.

[Suze01]

[quote user="Ab"]

What is your pool temp.?or have you a cover or are heating it or you are young and brave.

[/quote]

I have an abri bas (chosen in particular to extend the swimming season) and a pompe a chaleur and it is up to 27 and gaining upto to 2 degrees per day so will be at full temp by monday/tuesday after which the abri will maintain most of the temp and the Pompe a Chaleur will just click in now and again [:D]

[chirpy]

LUCKY DEVIL.!!!!!!!!![:D]

[JJ]

Ab,

You say you are paying 20 euros a 25kg bag of salt, then you are being robbed, I never pay any more that 6.5 to 10 euros for a 25kg bag, so I suggest you start shopping around.

Pool Companies will try and rip you off big style with chemicals etc, just ask Poolguy about liqiud chlorine, you do not need to be paying some fancy price from a pool shop but in fact you can buy eau de javel (bleach) from Gamm Vert at a fraction of the price.

Andrew, correct me if I am wrong please.

Also, many thanks to Poolguy for his invaluable advice for all of us pool novices out there.

[chirpy]

The suppliers state the salt tabletsAQUASWIM are stabilised to give slow release and accept no responsibility if i use another as they state anothersalt qualiyy may damage my appliance-a Clearwater Electrolyser.

PERHAPS POOLGUY COULD COMMENT ON SALT TYPES??????[8-)]

[Suze01]

[quote user="Ab"]LUCKY DEVIL.!!!!!!!!![:D][/quote]

Very [;)]

[Mr Coeur de Lion]

[quote user="JJ"]

Ab,

You say you are paying 20 euros a 25kg bag of salt, then you are being robbed, I never pay any more that 6.5 to 10 euros for a 25kg bag, so I suggest you start shopping around.

Pool Companies will try and rip you off big style with chemicals etc, just ask Poolguy about liqiud chlorine, you do not need to be paying some fancy price from a pool shop but in fact you can buy eau de javel (bleach) from Gamm Vert at a fraction of the price.

Andrew, correct me if I am wrong please.

Also, many thanks to Poolguy for his invaluable advice for all of us pool novices out there.

[/quote]

Forgot about salt. Used heaps in Australia, but then we get more sunshine than you do in France therefore more evaporation. Used to pay about $8 for 25kg (about 5-6 euros).

[Poolguy]

My goodness a lot of chat to catch up on.

Sorry for being out of it for a while, I was in Germany for a few days.

Anyway, There are a lot of question here, which need answering. I am glad to

see at least that people are questioning the 'advise' (?) of Pisciniers in

France as most of it is absolute bunkum. They certainly would not get away with

such claims in any country where the industry is regulated.

To say that for example that you cannot use anyone else’s salt otherwise the

system will not work cannot be taken seriously. It contains stabilizer.... why?

Stabilizer for chlorine is Cyanuric Acid. It’s job is to hold the chlorine in

the pool long enough between doses, which in manual direct chlorine is usually

about 3 days to a week as chlorine by itself will only last a day or two.

In a salt system, chlorine is being made constantly, so the levels are

constantly being topped up, that is if the system is specified correctly and is

adequate for the bather load. (Most are not..!)

So if your system uses a 'product' containing stabiliser then you must test to

make sure that you do not exceed the maximum level of Cyanuric acid in the pool

of 70 ppm otherwise you will start to inhibit the ability of the chlorine to do

anything. That means that your system could be making chlorine like mad and your

pool still turning green. If you want to understand what is really going on

then we need to do a comprehensive test and then its possible to decide if you

can use basic salt, or salt plus stabiliser, or whether you must continue with

this proprietary product. I have to say that it sound like another attempt at

taking unreasonable profit for common product to me.

I'll come back with more after some checking.

Andrew