| You may be surprised to know that salt water | | | | water filter. Over time this can build up and after |
| pools and fresh water pools are not that different | | | | crystallizing, can cause your pool's water pump to |
| when it comes to maintenance. That isn't to say | | | | work less efficiently. In fact, in worst case |
| that they are exactly the same, either. Salt pools | | | | scenarios, the build up of crystallized salt in your |
| and fresh water pools have just as many | | | | pump's filter can actually cause your water |
| fundamental differences as they do similarities. | | | | pump's motor to burn out, forcing you to buy a |
| This means that each requires a unique method | | | | new pump entirely. Salt crystallization is a problem |
| and approach to them that ensures that no | | | | that many salt water pool owners have been |
| matter what kind of pool you own, you will be | | | | fighting for years. While many newer pools, |
| able to keep it clean and well maintained. | | | | whether they are salt water or fresh water, |
| One key difference in the cleaning and general | | | | include salt water filtration systems, many older |
| upkeep of a salt water swimming pool is with the | | | | pools still lack such systems. For this reason, it is |
| chlorine generator. A chlorine generator is a device | | | | always wise to thoroughly have any pipes that |
| that takes the salt out of the water in salt water | | | | bring water either to or from your pool cleaned |
| pools and converts it into hypochlorous acid | | | | every few months to ward off the onset of any |
| through a process called electrolysis. Hypochlorous | | | | possible salt crystallization. |
| acid is the chemical in which all chlorine ultimately | | | | Another possible detriment that salt water can do |
| comprises of. The chlorine generator requires a | | | | to your pool if not maintained is that the salt in |
| formidable amount of attention in the form of | | | | the pool water can actually damage your pool's |
| regular cleaning. Any mineral deposits must be | | | | lining. Many people who have switched from fresh |
| scraped or otherwise removed from the device | | | | water to salt water in their pools have quickly |
| immediately; otherwise the chlorine generator will | | | | complained that the salt water has begun to dry |
| cease to work. Should this happen and your | | | | out their pool's lining, making it brittle and frail. A |
| chlorine generator stop working, your pool water | | | | good way to ensure this does not happen to your |
| becomes very susceptible to contamination. Algae | | | | own pool is to either scrub down the pool lining |
| and other unwanted bacteria can form very | | | | every four to six weeks, or to coat the pool lining |
| quickly in untreated pool water, and can create a | | | | in an anti-salt solution. |
| number of problems for both your pool's | | | | There are many things you need to consider |
| maintenance and your general health. | | | | when going with salt water pools. They require |
| Another area to focus on when cleaning any salt | | | | more attention and upkeep than fresh water |
| pool is the pool's water pump. Left unattended, | | | | pools, but people who have salt water swear by |
| salt from the pool water can catch in the pump's | | | | it. |