subject: A salt water pool might be right for you [print this page] A salt water pool might be right for you A salt water pool might be right for you
Swimming pool owners, for years, have relied on chlorine to keep their pools clean and safe for swimming. Recently though, there has been a movement toward cleaning your swimming pool with salt. Adding a salt water pool sanitizer helps clean your swimming pool without the use of chemicals and with the use of an additive that can be found on your dining room table.
In addition to being better for your skin and the environment, using a salt water cleaning system can be even less expensive than the traditional chlorine systems.
Here are some of the reasons why you might want to consider a salt water cleaning system:
Cost. While you might balk at the initial cost of a salt water chlorinator for your swimming pool (it will cost more than the traditional systems) it will pay for itself over time. The cost of maintenance over the long term is much less than the traditional chlorine and you will likely spend less time on maintenance and upkeep. Keep in mind too, that salt water is less damaging to bathing suits and your pool's equipment this will save you money in the long run.
Your family's health. Many individuals find swimming in a chlorinated pool irritates their skin and can cause red eyes and wreaks havoc on their hair. Some people just don't like the smell of chlorine. When you use a salt to clean your pool, the system converts the salt into a chlorine gas to provide the same sanitization without the side effects of chlorine. Salt water also leaves your skin softer and smoother than swimming in chlorinated water.
The safety factor. Because you will be using salt to keep your pool clean, you won't have to be storing potentially dangerous chlorine tablets around the swimming pool area or in a pool shed. Also, you won't have to worry about inhaling fumes when you add chlorine to the pool. Keep in mind that you will need to shock the water occasionally so you won't be able to be completely chemical free.
Upkeep. Many people who own salt water pools find they require less maintenance than a typical chlorine swimming pool. Also because salt doesn't evaporate the way chlorine does out of your water you won't have to add salt as often as you would chlorine. Even with the salt water systems, you will need to regularly check pH levels and the levels of salinity. Another benefit, is that salt pools rarely suffer algae problems so you can remove that step from your anticipated maintenance routine.
When you're looking to install a swimming pool, talk to the contractor about whether you should go with a chlorine or a salt system. Keep in mind, that even if you have a swimming pool, you can talk to your contractor about switching systems.
