Benefits of Converting Your Pool to Saltwater

Nothing beats the cool, refreshing feeling of taking a dip in your pool in the middle of a hot summer day. Almost anything, however, is better than the feeling of getting out of the pool and having to spend all day with dry, red eyes and itchy skin. The culprit of this discomfort? The chlorine.

Did you know that chlorine can be as harmful as it is useful in many cases? Especially with home pools, you may experience dry skin, rash, stomach aches, and red eyes after you're done swimming.

This is because chlorine often combines with harmful chemicals to form things called chloramines. Harmful chemicals come from things like the air, skin oils, and, you guessed it, urine. Some of these sources may be avoidable, others not, which means your chlorine could end up doing you a disservice.

The best solution to avoid these detrimental and inconvenient effects is to switch to a saltwater system for your pool. Below are the top four benefits of converting your pool to saltwater:

1. Less expensive

Did you know that switching to salt water can help you save money while disinfecting your water? The amount of salt needed for swimming pools can cost anywhere from $70 to $100 a year, while chlorine can cost upwards of $400 to $800. Additionally, chlorine costs in 2021 are projected to rise dramatically because Hurricane Laura destroyed the United States' main chlorine supplier in August 2020. That means other suppliers have capped and raised their chlorine prices.

2. No Harsh Chemicals

To maintain the correct pH levels in your pool, you will need to add excessive amounts of chlorine to the water. While chlorine itself may not be harmful, combinations and creations of things like chloramines can be harmful. Saltwater pools require a much lower amount of salt and help prevent the buildup and creation of harmful chemicals that can lead to further health problems.

3. No Persistent Odor

How common is it that you have seen it where you swim in your pool on Monday and on Wednesday you are still trying to get the chlorine smell off? One of the main complaints from pool owners is that everything tends to smell like chlorine, especially in summer. Your house, car and clothes have a persistent smell of chlorine. Fortunately, salt is a naturally occurring chemical and does not leave any lingering odours.

4. Reduces Eye and Skin Irritation

While we keep coming back to chloramines, it's important to talk about them because they can make your skin and eyes dry and lead to itchy, chapped, and red, burning eyes. Saltwater has been shown to soften water, reducing the risk of skin problems like rashes, eczema, and cracks.

Conclusion

Swimming pools add beauty to any house, and proper maintenance is required to enjoy the full benefits of any pool. Certain guidelines must be followed in maintenance, whether salt water or a traditional pool. Cleaning the pool is one of the maintenance routines to be practiced, and for saltwater pools, shocking is one of the crucial steps to be followed to make the pool free from algae and other bacteria. TO enjoy the full benefits of pool, you need to know how to shock a saltwater pool and keep it free from bacteria.