ali-cat Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poolguy Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 Gee Alison ... I BlushThank you for the kind words.I have to say that apart from anything else, I rather enjoy contributing to theforum. It’s a community. But more than that I think, we are all facing similarchallenges - me included. That is; we have all chosen to live in a Countrywhere everything is kind of familiar but definitely very different. Along the way, to getting myself established, many people have helped me. Notfor a job or financial gain, but just because they could. That impresses thehell out of me. Sometimes I am without breath, or words after such andassistance. That small effort to someone who knew means and enormous amount tome 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’smore that I check into the forum because it makes me feel more a part of acommunity, 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 thatI 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 willsay 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-waterpools are enigmatic with regard to this question because it depends if they arewell specified and equipped -for they can be cheaper to operate or many timemore expensive. I don't think that you should hold on to the dream that one methodis 'healthier' than another, because all is dependent on the vigilance paid bythe pool manager. As no pool will manage itself completely, some systems aremore automated than others just as some treatments are more expensive thanothers. But to give you a range, I would say that for a 10 x 5 pool with afamily of 4 using it you could invest as little as 100 euro per year up to ahigh of 1,000 euro per year. A salt system would tend toward the lower end butI would say that they are definitely not the cheapest system either in initialinvestment or operating cost.If you were to be specific about the characteristics of your pool and theequipment installed then I could give you a firmer estimate. But withoutanything specific I am afraid that it is an open-ended question with no realanswer.Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-cat Posted March 23, 2006 Author Share Posted March 23, 2006 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poolguy Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Ali@ardsI understand your concern. To answer your question, - Yes you can convert anypool from one system of water sanitisation to another and back again if youwant, its all a question of cost. But there is no technical reason to preventit.Just out of curiosity thought can you tell me what it is about salt water thatis more helpful for your back - is it that salt water has more buoyancy or someother thing. Did you know for instance that a salt-water pool is achlorinated pool - it’s exactly the same, or should be from a quantity ofchlorine point of view. The only difference is how the chlorine is made, in asalt pool its made in your Local Technique through an electrolyser and in achlorine direct pool it is made in a factory. If any pool is set and managedcorrectly your hubby should have absolutely no reaction or sensation in eithereyes, ears, skin or nose from the experience other than that he would have inhis shower for example. If he does have and adverse reaction, then there issomething wrong with the system - either it’s not functioning properly or itsbadly specified in the first place.To my mind this is the place to start when you are specifying a pool - thesanitisation and filtration systems. This is where to spend the first money,not afterwards. This is the important part of a pool, whereas the terrace andother 'bits' should be the afterthought. I guess that its just that I like toswim in 'the Purest Water Possible' – it’s an definite preference of mine.Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-cat Posted March 24, 2006 Author Share Posted March 24, 2006 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-cat Posted March 26, 2006 Author Share Posted March 26, 2006 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suze01 Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 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.Yousound like me - in the pool every day unless I really can't find halfan hour or more! Infact, I've just had my first swim of the year havingopened my pool about 10 days ago, it is now up to a swimmabletemperature - it was brilliant. I'll be going in again later when mydaughter, who is also swimming-mad, gets back from her friends house.Wehave a salt system. In theory you will need to buy some sacks of salteach year to keep it maintained to the correct level but ours was alittle high last year and so we don't need to buy any as the level isOK. The electronic cells in the salt-chlorinator system (which producethe chlorine as the water passes through it) have a lifespan of a fewyears or more depending on conditions and I believe that they may cost2-300 euros to replace! But, in the meantime you are not having to buy,or handle, chlorine tablets/chlore choc etc. I would recommend (inhindsight - because we didn't) some sort of automated dosing system forthe chlorine/ph levels that way you need never have to manually checkthese and adjust, it is all done automatically and at a constant rateso that there is no yo-yo effect in the chemical levels . We have hadproblems regulating the PH since we filled the new pool, had no problemwith the old pool, so I presume it has something to do with the tapwater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirpy Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suze01 Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 [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] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirpy Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 LUCKY DEVIL.!!!!!!!!![:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirpy Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 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-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suze01 Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 [quote user="Ab"]LUCKY DEVIL.!!!!!!!!![:D][/quote]Very [;)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 [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). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poolguy Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 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 tosee at least that people are questioning the 'advise' (?) of Pisciniers inFrance as most of it is absolute bunkum. They certainly would not get away withsuch claims in any country where the industry is regulated. To say that for example that you cannot use anyone else’s salt otherwise thesystem 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 inthe pool long enough between doses, which in manual direct chlorine is usuallyabout 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 areconstantly being topped up, that is if the system is specified correctly and isadequate for the bather load. (Most are not..!)So if your system uses a 'product' containing stabiliser then you must test tomake sure that you do not exceed the maximum level of Cyanuric acid in the poolof 70 ppm otherwise you will start to inhibit the ability of the chlorine to doanything. That means that your system could be making chlorine like mad and yourpool still turning green. If you want to understand what is really going onthen we need to do a comprehensive test and then its possible to decide if youcan use basic salt, or salt plus stabiliser, or whether you must continue withthis proprietary product. I have to say that it sound like another attempt attaking unreasonable profit for common product to me.I'll come back with more after some checking.Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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