Should You Choose A Saltwater Swimming Pool?

Posted by kunal on April 30th, 2019

You've taken a long look at your backyard. Sure, it's been the scene for wonderful birthday parties and soccer games, but it needs something just a little more. It needs a pool. Perhaps you've been wondering about the cost of an inground pool and what designs are available for you. After you have made the decision to buy a pool and how you want the shape of it to be, there's one last decision to make. Do you want the water to be saltwater or chlorinated? Perhaps you never even knew there was a choice. Typically, pools are filled with chlorinated as a means to disinfect the water and keep it sterile. However, chlorinated water can sometimes cause problems for certain skin types and small children. As a result, saltwater pools are being used more and more frequently. To determine if a saltwater pool is the right choice for you, this article will discuss the pros and cons of owning a saltwater pool.

How A Saltwater Pool Works

For many people, the idea of stepping into a pool that basically smells and tastes like the ocean might be quite a turn-off. Luckily, saltwater pools aren't typically that salty. Instead, they only possess 1/10th of the salinity that saltwater typically possesses. It also still contains some traces of chlorine to keep the water absolutely sterile and clean. It does this through a process called electrolysis. It does this by taking salt that has been dissolved and two different agents that are used for sanitization. These agents are hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite. Both of these agents are typically also found in water that is filled with chlorine. The difference is that the generator keeps breaking into these agents. As a result, there isn't a build up of chlorine in the pool.

Disadvantages Of Salterwater Swimming Pools

Let's begin right with the bad stuff. As you might imagine, because it requires a special kind of generator, saltwater pools typically are more expensive. They come with higher investment value. This higher cost can make owning a saltwater pool a bit too pricey for those families who have been saving their money for some time in order to have a pool installed. When the generator eventually breaks down, as all machinery does, it is a bit pricier to fix because it is a special piece of equipment. So, overall, saltwater pools are more expensive.

When it comes to repairing the pool, you also typically require someone with a lot of experience or even someone who has a specialization with working on saltwater pools. This is because the generator is an advanced form of pool technology that those pool repair technicians who are only familiar with chlorinated pool systems won't know what to do with. You should probably check in your area to ensure that there is a technician nearby with experience in repairing saltwater pools before you choose to have it installed.

One last disadvantage is that the saltwater can eat away at certain materials. While your liner may be up to the job, you also need to consider any of the underwater lights that you're going to have installed. The steps, heaters, filters, and even some of the masonry may all be affected by the saltwater content. In this case, it's best to speak with a team who is experienced in saltwater pools. They can provide you with the materials that are safe to use with saltwater pools. In this way, you won't be wasting your money trying to fix everything as it degrades.

Advantages

As for the strong points of a saltwater pool, there are just as many. One of the biggest advantages is that it irritates the skin and eyes considerably less. Chlorine tends to wreak havoc on the gentle parts of your body. Saltwater is a lot more gentle on these parts. Some studies even suggested that exposing yourself to chlorine-filled pools for a long time may negatively impact your health.

Because the saltwater produces the chlorine during certain parts of the day when it is needed, your pool requires a lot less maintenance.