Have you ever wondered what all the hype is about saltwater pools? The debate over which is best, saltwater pool systems or chlorine pools, has been raging for a few years.
If you’ve recently moved to South Florida and you’re having a home built, you probably have many questions for your builder. One of those questions might be about the benefits of saltwater pools.
Saltwater pools aren’t only for taking a swim after a hard day at the office. The benefits of these systems have resulted in over half of pool installations being Saltwater instead of chlorine pools.
Why are customers choosing saltwater over-chlorinated pools? Keep reading to find out all the benefits of saltwater pools.
What Is a Saltwater Pool?
To understand the benefits of saltwater systems, you first need to know what a saltwater pool is. When you think of saltwater, it conjures up images of the ocean, and you’re not the only one to see that image.
Just as the name suggests, a saltwater system is a system that requires salt to keep it clean, much like chlorine does for chlorinated pools.
Instead of using chlorine to keep the pool clean, this system uses salt cells, sometimes called a salt chlorinator. The saltwater in these pools doesn’t taste like the ocean either, which means you won’t come out of the pool with your hair and skin feeling sticky like you do when you swim in the ocean.
Saltwater Pool Systems Cost Less
One benefit of saltwater pools is the low cost. Salt is less expensive than chlorine. Depending on what size pool you have installed, you can save hundreds of dollars yearly on chemicals.
Health Benefits
Some of the biggest advantages of a saltwater system have to do with the health of your family. Not only is saltwater good for relieving stress, but it also helps to reduce the chance of developing allergies to chlorine.
Chlorine has been linked to lung problems in infants, and many people have problems breathing after swimming in a chlorinated pool. Saltwater pools won’t leave your lungs irritated or burn your eyes the way that an overly chlorinated pool can.
Saltwater Is Gentler
If you’re a swimmer, then you’ve spent time in a chlorinated pool and felt the effects on your hair, skin, and clothes. Saltwater is gentle on clothes, leaves no chlorine smell behind, and doesn’t irritate the eyes.
Since chlorine levels are so much lower with a saltwater system, the wear and tear on your swimsuits will be less, and your skin will be smoother.
Softer Water
Chlorinated water often feels harsh. Saltwater systems leave the water feeling smooth and silky instead of abrasive and rough.
There are many reasons that you moved to South Florida, but the state can have hard water. The saltwater system in your pool will help with that when it comes to your clothes, skin, and health.
Saltwater Pools Are Easier to Maintain
When you have a saltwater pool, maintenance is easier. This type of pool still requires some chlorine, but very little. Instead, the salt cells in the pool produce any chlorine needed. However, you still need to monitor the chlorine levels in the pool to ensure they’re where they should be.
Also, with a saltwater system, cleaning is required once a year. That’s when you should drain the pool, change the filter, and scrub. Low-cost maintenance is one reason so many pool owners make the switch from chlorinated to saltwater yearly.
However, don’t mistake low maintenance for no maintenance. There are still tasks that need to be completed at the beginning and end of the summer to ensure your saltwater pool is in proper working order.
Daily tasks are simple. Ensure to clear your skimmer, empty the pump basket, and clear the pool of any debris for the best results. If you want your pool to be a place to relax and have fun, then you need to keep on top of tasks, so it’s a clean, healthy place to be.
Great for Your Skin/Hair
If you’ve ever gotten out of the pool only to find your skin feeling itchy and dry afterward, then you already know this benefit. Saltwater doesn’t leave your skin feeling itchy, nor does it dry your skin out. Actually, saltwater is thought to help with skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and helps to clear up acne.
Chlorine is also horrible for your hair, leaving it without luster and feeling stiff and sticky. If you don’t wash it as soon as you get out of the pool, saltwater could prove better for your hair and skin since it’s soft water.
Saltwater Is Safer
It’s much safer to store salt in your garage or shed than it is to store heavy bags of chlorine. You’re installing a pool in your new South Florida home to relax and have fun. The last thing you want to have to think about is the dangers of storing chlorine bags.
It’s also more convenient not to have to purchase and store chlorine regularly. Salt is safer because you don’t have any EPA regulations to follow for handling it. Chlorine can be dangerous if mishandled.
Saltwater Is Better on Your Joints
If you have arthritis or some other joint discomfort, swimming can help with the pain and stiffness. Saltwater is better on your joints than chlorinated water is. Saltwater contains bromide, which is easier on joints and muscles since it’s a mineral that relieves aches and pains.
Saltwater is easier to move through, meaning that someone suffering from an injury will find it easier to swim and make a full recovery. A saltwater system will help to relieve the symptoms of arthritis and other joint conditions.
Call to Make the Switch
These are a few of the benefits of saltwater pool systems over-chlorinated pools many new homeowners don’t know about. While you’re speaking to your home builder about floor plans and accessories in your soon-to-be-built home in South Florida, make sure to us about installing a saltwater pool also.