Treating water with chlorine has a new addition to its method, with salt water chlorinators. With so many pro's of this method, do we know about salt water chlorinator problems? Well, we will discuss some of their most common issues in the article below.
Along with the fun and splash of pools, maintenance is a big factor that is important. Moreover, the water that is in the pool needs much attention for a clean and healthy dive. We know of the traditional way to keep the pool water clean by adding chlorine to the water. Most of us still follow the same method to treat pool water and keep it clean and free from any bacterial and other infestations. All you had to do is add chlorine in the pool, in the form of liquid or tablet and let it settle and mix in the pool water. This traditional system was effective but with the chlorine in water, skin issues, irritation of the eyes, and the capturing smell of the chemical every time you take a splash contribute to the drawbacks. With technology there was introduction of a new method of sanitizing pool water, which is the use of salt water chlorinators.
The technique that they use to treat water is electrolysis. When salt is added to the water, it passes through a chemical cell of chlorine. A reaction of the cell and the salt in the water, releases chlorine and hydrogen gas in the water of the swimming pool. Most of the time people confuse this system of being chlorine free, whereas the fact still remains that the pool still uses chlorine to sanitize the water. But these systems do have some good reasons worth a buy, like they will not make your water smell like chlorine. Due to the constant release of fresh chlorine in the water. Now fresh chlorine plays an important role here, because, the chlorine in water clears all impurities, but then it has a limited capacity. So fresh chlorine is required to balance the used chlorine in the water. But there are also certain con's on the reviews of this product. We have listed below some of the common problems of a salt water chlorinator.
Problems With a Salt Water Pool Chlorinator
Salt water chlorinators are popular and most of the people are satisfied with its results. With only the good aspects getting the highlight, the drawbacks of this system are seldom discussed. Based on the reviews and facts we have listed the problems with salt water pool chlorinators.
- The most common one being issues with the skin. A combination of chlorine and salt can make the skin dry, moreover you will have to shower immediately after a swim to lessen and avoid the skin damage. Chlorine still prevails in the water though not in a concentrated amount, so it will still irritate the eyes, and also affect the hair.
- With a combination of chlorine and salt, it can affect consumption (we tend to swallow at least some water), and it can cause health concerns for some people who are allergic, and also cause skin problems. It can affect the nose and sinuses too. Research has also stated a possible relation on the role of chlorine in cancer.
- Now let's move on to the commercial aspect of the drawbacks. Ranking on the top is the high cost and maintenance of these chlorinators. Replacing the cells may also be an issue. It is observed that the system just does not produce the required amount of chlorine (due to the presence of phosphates in water), and cyanuric acid, known as stabilizer or conditioner, for retaining the chlorine in the water. So most of the chlorine that is produced, gets destroyed by the sun. Lesser amount of chlorine will not help store a backup of chlorine in the water. It will affect the mechanism of chlorine killing the contamination, as whatever chlorine is produced will be used immediately, so no reserve is maintained in the pool, which ideally should be the case.
- Sometimes the amount of salt can get too high in the water, this can happen due to the poor maintenance of the electrolyte cells, and faulty readings of the chlorinating system. This can turn the salt water to be corrosive and damage the pool equipment and other material. The chlorine will not even work to its best when the level of salt in the water is imbalanced (high or low).
- Salt may also build up on the cathode plates, that may hamper the production of chlorine. The pH levels and alkalinity of the water if not checked properly may cause issues, and the levels of pH may fluctuate with the use of chlorinators, that will not help the chlorine work at its best, as chlorine is effective only when the pH levels are balanced and maintained.
These problems are not meant to discourage you, or from making a choice of not buying a salt water chlorinator. It is advisable to read and understand the product before purchase. Study the pro's and con's of the same and then select the one that suits your needs.
