Opting for a saltwater pool in your backyard brings numerous advantages, ranging from health to maintenance benefits. These pools provide a more natural and gentle swimming experience than traditional chlorine pools, with easier upkeep and less harsh chemicals.
At this time, only about 12% of swimming pools are saltwater pools. That number is expected to rise in the coming years thanks to all the benefits of saltwater pools that are coming to light.
Take a look at the many benefits of building a saltwater pool in the backyard of your home below. Meanwhile, to make sure that what you’ll be buying is a safe and guaranteed-effective swimming pool chlorine tablet, click the link.
No Harsh Smells
If you have ever been in the general vicinity of a swimming pool after chlorine has been added to it, you know about the harsh smells that a chlorine pool can produce. The smells that come off these pools can be too much for some people to smell.
You will not want to dive headfirst into a swimming pool when these smells are wafting off of it. You also will not want to sit out by your pool if you have chemical odors surrounding it all the time.
With a saltwater pool, you will not have to worry about any harsh smells invading your backyard space and making it virtually unusable. It’ll make your pool much more pleasant to be around.
Provides You With Softer Water to Swim In
One of the things that those with chlorine pools are constantly trying to do is make the water in their pools softer. They purchase all kinds of different products that are designed to prevent their pool water from feeling abrasive.
This is something that you’ll get naturally when you have a saltwater pool. The water in your pool will feel smooth and silky at all times without any effort on your part—and without you having to spend a fortune on expensive products. If you have really hard water then check out the top 7 water softeners over at Qualitywaterlab — or read a guide to the best water softeners available.
Health and Wellness Benefits
When considering the health and wellness benefits of a saltwater pool in your backyard, it is important to understand how they differ from traditional chlorine pools, especially regarding their impact on your skin and eyes, therapeutic effects, and the need for chemicals. Unlike standard pools, saltwater ones are gentle on your eyes, skin, and hair.
Firstly, saltwater pools are much gentler on the skin and eyes because the saltwater system uses a process called electrolysis to generate chlorine from salt, resulting in lower levels of chlorine and its byproducts. This means you are less likely to experience the red eyes, itchy skin, or harsh smells often associated with swimming in a chlorine-treated pool.
In terms of therapeutic effects, saltwater is known for its healing properties. Those who swim in saltwater pools often report feeling more relaxed and refreshed. The saltwater can be especially beneficial for people with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, as the natural salt can help to alleviate irritation and promote skin health. Additionally, the buoyancy and mineral content of saltwater can aid in muscle relaxation, providing a soothing effect that can be quite therapeutic after a long day or a strenuous workout.
Saltwater pools significantly reduce the need for added chemicals. Traditional chlorine pools require regular addition of chlorine and other chemicals to maintain safe and clean water. In contrast, saltwater pools use a salt-chlorine generator that continuously and automatically converts salt into chlorine as needed. This not only reduces the amount of chemicals you need to add but also ensures a more consistent and balanced pool environment. As a result, you’re swimming in water that feels softer and is generally healthier for you and your family.
Maintenance Advantages
If you have a standard chlorine swimming pool installed in your backyard, it is going to take you at least an hour or so every week to maintain it. You will need to:
- Check the chemical levels in your pool and adjust them accordingly
- Clean leaves, sticks, dirt, and other debris out of your pool
- Maintain your various pool pumps and filters
- Ensures the level of the swimming pool with a pool filler
- Make repairs to any of the parts in and around your pool that might break
You will need to do some of this same maintenance when you have a saltwater pool. Even so, you will not need to spend anywhere near as much time maintaining it as you would have to if you owned a chlorine pool.
This is arguably the biggest benefit of building this type of pool in your backyard. You will get to spend more time enjoying the water and less time maintaining it when you go with a saltwater pool over one that relies on chlorine.
Environmental Benefits
Saltwater pools present an environmentally responsible choice that benefits not just the pool owner but the wider ecosystem. Additionally, their safety profile makes them a preferred choice for families seeking a more natural and gentle swimming environment. By opting for a saltwater pool, homeowners make a decision that’s kind to the planet and safer for their loved ones.
More Cost-Effective
Building a saltwater pool in your backyard will often cost more than building a chlorine pool. As you’ll see when you take the time to learn about pool installation, the average cost of a saltwater pool installation is around $50,000, while the average cost of a chlorine pool installation is slightly less than that.
But over time, you’ll discover that owning a saltwater pool costs less than owning a chlorine pool. This will allow you to save money every year as your saltwater pool starts to pay for itself.
With a saltwater pool, you will not have to run out to the pool supply store all the time for chemicals. That alone will cut down on your costs.
You also will not have to perform as much maintenance and do as many repairs to a saltwater pool, which will also help you save money over the years. It is a big part of the reason why so many homeowners have started to go with saltwater pools over chlorine ones.
Longer Lasting Swimwear and Pool Accessories
The benefit of longer-lasting swimwear and pool accessories in a saltwater pool arises primarily from the reduced use of traditional chlorine. In conventional chlorine pools, the high levels of chlorine can be quite harsh. This harshness manifests in the form of accelerated wear and tear on swimwear and pool accessories. Chlorine is a strong chemical that can break down the fibers in swimwear fabric, causing them to lose elasticity and fade in color more quickly. Similarly, pool accessories like floats, swimming goggles, and even pool liners can degrade faster due to prolonged exposure to high chlorine levels.
In contrast, saltwater pools operate differently. They use a saltwater generator to convert salt into chlorine at much lower levels. This reduced level of chlorine is still effective at keeping the pool clean but is far gentler on materials. As a result, swimwear maintains its color and shape for a longer period, and pool accessories do not deteriorate as rapidly.
Safer for Pets
Saltwater pools offer a safer environment for pets, primarily due to their lower chlorine levels. Traditional chlorine pools contain higher concentrations of chemically added chlorine, which can be harmful to pets if ingested. Pets, especially dogs, are known to drink water from pools while swimming or playing around them. Ingesting water with high chlorine levels can lead to:
- gastrointestinal upset
- irritation of the mouth and esophagus
- in severe cases, more serious health issues
The chemical odor and taste of chlorine in traditional pools can also be off-putting or harmful to sensitive pets.
Therefore, for pet owners, choosing a saltwater pool can be a safer and more pet-friendly option.
Conclusion
Embracing a saltwater pool in your backyard is like choosing a gentle hug from nature over a harsh chemical handshake. It is a delightful fusion of health and wellness perks, maintenance ease, environmental friendliness, and family safety. A saltwater pool is not just a backyard addition; it is a lifestyle choice that whispers care, comfort, and consciousness.