What salt chlorination is and how it works
A salt chlorinator (also called a salt electrolysis cell) is a unit fitted into the pool filtration circuit that uses electrolysis to convert salt dissolved in the water into active chlorine. The salted water passes through the cell, where a small electrical current generates the chlorine needed to disinfect the pool, continuously, for as long as the filtration is running.
The amount of salt required is low, far below the concentration of seawater, so the water neither tastes nor feels noticeably salty.
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Benefits of salt chlorination over traditional chlorine
Why more and more pools choose it:
- Softer water on skin, eyes and hair.
- None of that characteristic chlorine smell, nor the irritation that comes with overdosing.
- Automatic, steady chlorine production whenever filtration runs, with no sudden peaks or dips.
- Far less day-to-day handling of chemicals.
- Lower product costs across the season, since you buy much less chlorine.
What to weigh up before fitting a salt chlorinator
Salt chlorination does not do away with maintenance altogether: you still need to check the pH regularly, keep an eye on salt levels and clean the electrolysis cell periodically to stop limescale building up, especially in hard-water areas like much of the Costa Blanca.
Salted water can also be slightly more aggressive towards unprotected metal fittings such as ladders and handrails, so it is worth checking those before installation, particularly in older pools.
Can it be fitted to an existing pool?
Yes. In most cases a salt chlorinator can be integrated into the filtration circuit of an existing pool with no building work on the shell. The electrolysis cell goes into the return pipe along with the control unit, and the salt level in the water is adjusted to suit.
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At AquaGarden Alicante we install salt chlorinators in both new and existing pools, and we also handle their servicing and repair if the cell stops working properly. See our water treatment and salt chlorination service for more.