How to Install Salt Water Swimming Pools

Salt water swimming pools are similar to traditional swimming pools except in the way they protect you from bacteria, fungi and algae. Historically, these things are treated by adding chlorine to the pool water. Chlorine, however, is tough on the skin and clothing. Salt water pools use chlorine generators that produce chlorine to treat pool water without you having to add chlorine periodically. In-ground installation is virtually the same, except you'll need to add a chlorine generator to the pool's systems during installation.

Things You'll Need

• Planning and zoning approval
• Chlorine generator

Instructions

1. Contact a contractor specializing in swimming pools in your area. The right contractor can help you design a swimming pool that will fit in the space available and will be able to answer any questions you might have about installing a saltwater swimming pool versus a traditional chlorine pool.

2. Contact your city council or neighborhood development board to make sure that swimming pools are allowed where you live. Some cities and neighborhoods have swimming pool restrictions. If there are already pools in your neighborhood, talk to your neighbors for advice about installation and maintenance of a saltwater pool.

3. Keep cost in mind. There are some fairly substantial upfront costs involved in installing a saltwater swimming pool, so it's important that you will continue to live in the same home for long enough to justify these upfront expenses.

4. Install your new swimming pool during the warm months of the year, when it is easiest to dig. Some people choose to try to save some money by digging out the pool area themselves, but this is a lot of hard work and is purely a matter of personal choice.

5. Install a chlorine generator for your new pool. Chlorine generators are the most important component of a salt water pool. Rather than adding harsh chemical chlorine to your pool water that is harmful to the skin, hair and eyes (not to mention fabric of swimming suits), the chlorine generator creates its own using salt. You add salt to your water, and the salt is passed through a cell where it causes a reaction that generates chlorine that is less harsh than the chlorine than is added to traditional pools.

6. Wire your new pool with a timer so that everything goes on and off together. In this way, you won't have to constantly adjust dials and check indicators.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't install a salt water pool as an upgrade if you're simply planning on flipping the house (fixing it up and selling it quickly for a profit). The cost of installation is high enough that it is something you'll want to amortize over the course of several years.