Salt water pools used to be the exception, but now they are becoming a widely accepted method of water treatment in swimming pools. A lot of builders are now making salt water systems standard on their new pools. Most equipment manufacturers have also become aware of the fact that salt water pools are not just a passing fad. They are here to stay.
Why have salt water pools become so popular?
Most people who consider themselves "sensitive" or "allergic" to chlorine are not reacting to the chlorine at all. What is creating a problem is packaged pool chemicals and the additives and carriers in those chemicals. Those same swimmers who claim allergic reactions to chlorine, typically experience no problems when they are in a salt water pool. The answer isn't the absence of chlorine. Salt systems create their own chlorine. The answer is the absence of all the packaged chemicals and by-products in those chemicals.
What is the cost benefit of a salt water pool?
Most people do not buy a salt water pool system for the sole purpose of saving money. They buy it for the increased swimmer comfort. With that said, they do save quite a bit of money on pool chemicals, but it probably takes about 1-2 years before the system pays for itself. Here is the best rationale for buying a salt water system: People spend $25,000 and up to build a beautiful pool, so doesn't it just make sense to spend about $1300 on the water quality. After all, shouldn't the best thing about the pool be the water? In the end, you get what you pay for. A little money spent on the salt water system will allow the typical homeowner to enjoy their swimming experience so much more.
What is the down side to a salt water pool?
The only real problem we have seen is the fact that it does change the way you do your water chemistry and people are sometimes slow to adapt. It is very important to follow directions carefully with regard to water chemistry. Some pool owners have experienced problems trying to keep the pH down, but in our experience it is simply a matter of keeping up with the water chemistry and not letting the pH get too high before trying to adjust it. Overall, the water chemistry does get easier, but there is a small learning curve.
AQUAVIDA POOLS installs the Eco-Matic ESC-36
240V system. The ESC-36 will accomodate up to 40,000 gallons of water. The
Ecomatic Salt System is manufactured by Monarch Pool Systems in Perth Australia.
Monarch has been making pool salt systems since 1977. Salt systems gained
acceptance in Australia long before they became widely accepted in the US.
Over 25 years of saltwater pool experience has resulted in the highest quality
saltwater pool system available. Ecomatic's cell quality and cell life are the best we have ever seen.
- Excellent Record of Dependability
- Self Cleaning - Automatic Reversing Cycles
- Clear Cell Body - easy to remove element
- Easy to Read Controls
- Winter Mode for Extended Cell Life
- Digital Readout of System Performance
- Diagnostic LED's for Easy Maintenance
What makes the Ecomatic system unique?
Superior Cell Quality
The Ecomatic system has one of the most dependable cells available. The cell is the most expensive part of the salt system and also the part that is most prone to failure, if not manufactured to the highest standards. The Ecomatic cell has had an excellent record and we know of only one possible failure in all of the units we have sold. The Ecomatic cell is clear, so you can inspect the cell without removing it from the system. You can also see when it is making chlorine. Water enters one end of the cell clear and exits the other end of the cell slightly cloudy, a result of the chlorine and sodium hydroxide that is being produced. By the time the water reaches the pool, it is all mixed in and it comes out clear.
Excellent Service Record
Equipment failures are extremely rare with the Ecomatic system. This is probably because they have been making salt systems for over 25 years, and as they say, practice makes perfect.
Ease of Installation and Service
The Ecomatic system requires just two plumbing connections (in and out of the cell) and an electrical connection to get it going. Inspecting the cell is easy since the cell body is clear, so you do not even have to take it apart to see what is happening inside. In the event you need to clean the cell, you simply remove the end cap and unscrew the element. On the other systems, you have to unscrew two unions and remove the entire cell, casing and all.
The System
The system creates a small amount of chlorine in the pool from the mild salt level that is in the pool. When the chlorine is used, it turns back into salt, ready to turn into chlorine again. The cell reverses its electrical polarity periodically to eliminate any scale buildup.
The Control Panel
The control box provides key information about the operation of the unit. This allows the homeowner to know exactly what his happening with his salt system.
Control Panel Features
- Digital Output Readout
- Low Salt Warning
- Winter Mode *
- Scalable Production Setting
- Diagnostic Lights
* Winter mode cuts the production down to 85% which can actually extend the life of the cell.
