............................................................................................................................................................
Saltwater Pools
Pros, Cons and 5
Alternatives
Home
Stratosphere
Saltwater pools aren't that common. They're
usually on resort grounds, but some people do have them built in their
backyards.
There's something special about swimming in
saltwater which mimics the ocean.
There are other saltwater pros, but also cons
which we set out below. We then list out alternatives to saltwater pools.
Saltwater pool pros and cons
Pros
Saltwater pools require a lot less
maintenance than their chlorine counterparts, which means that homeowners will
spend less money over the lifespan of the pool making sure that it is swim
ready and in great condition.
Do not use any significant chemicals that you
have to add to the pool; instead, you will have to add salt whenever there is
an imbalance.
The water in saltwater pools usually feels
softer, which makes it much more enjoyable to swim in them for extended periods
of time.
They’re a lot more gentle on the skin and on
the eyes because they have less chlorine in them. This means that if your
family is sensitive to this chemical, saltwater pools may be the best option
for you.
Cons
They cost more initially or if you are
converting your chlorine pool to a saltwater system. It is common for
homeowners to recoup this extra expense over time.
Saltwater has the potential to be more
damaging to the parts of your pool. This means that your lighting, fixtures,
heaters, and even the liner of the pool itself may be at risk for damage from
the water and the salt.
Proper maintenance and installation can
decrease this risk, but saltwater is generally more damaging than chlorine.
Salt cells have to be replaced if they become
damaged, and only regular maintenance will keep them from being neglected and
needing to be replaced.
Any sanitation problems that you have may
require the help of an expert. Unlike chlorine pools where you can easily
adjust the water with a chemical, problems with saltwater pools will generally
require you to call a professional to come and help you with your pool.
Alternatives to saltwater pools
1. Traditional Chlorine Pool
|
| Blue, steel-framed chlorine pool in a traditional |
Pros
These pools are incredibly affordable, and
chlorine itself is not very expensive, which means that you can easily sanitize
your pool.
One of the most effective ways to prevent
bacteria and algae from growing, chlorine will ensure that everyone who swims
in your pool is safe and healthy.
This is important if you have children or the
elderly using your pool or are concerned about compromised immune systems of
any of your family members or friends.
These pools are a lot less expensive to
install than saltwater pools. There are some homeowners who find that they can
more easily afford the installation and start-up fees for chlorine pools.
Cons
There have been some studies that have shown
that chlorine may actually cause health risks when you are exposed to it long
term.
Additionally, chlorine is a dangerous
chemical when in liquid or tablet form, but saltwater pools mitigate these
concerns.
Asthma can be exacerbated by the chlorine in
pools, and some studies show that chlorine exposure can be linked to some kinds
of cancer.
When chlorine mixes with cosmetic products
and bodily fluids, it will change to chloramines. These can be harmful to the
hair, skin, and eyes of anyone swimming in the water.
It’s important that the chemicals are checked
on a regular basis and that they are adjusted as needed.
Unfortunately, this gets to be too much of a
hassle for some homeowners and they would rather hire an expert to keep the
pool safe to use. This will increase the cost of pool ownership.
2. UV
 |
| A slim and vertical UV water treatment generator that limits the amount of chlorine in the pool. |
Pros
These generators specifically kill any
bacteria that is present in the pool water.
Because they break down organic contaminants
that are in the pool, they can actually decrease the amount of chemicals that
you have to put in the water, making the water safer to swim in and less
damaging to hair, skin, and eyes.
They create soft water that is very
comfortable to swim in and results in a pH neutral swimming environment.
These pools provide a 99.9% disinfection
rate, killing the majority of bacteria in the water, which ensures that your
pool is nice and sanitary for use.
They eliminate up to 90% of the chlorine in
the water and decrease its side effects by 100%. These systems will also
eliminate the toxic by-products from chlorine that are associated with many
illnesses.
They do not require chemicals on a regular
basis, which means that you won’t have to be spending that money on pool
supplies each month.
You also will not need to have an algaecide,
creating a much healthier swimming environment and making pool ownership less
hands-on.
They attack chlorine resistant microbes that
would otherwise be able to survive the pool water.
You can leave the pool while on vacation
without worrying about having to readjust the water when you return, as the
unit can continue to run even while you are gone.
Cons
The generator has to be running all the time
in order to be working and to be effective against bacteria in the pool. In
addition, it will only be able to kill contaminates that are in the actual
ozone chamber.
These units are not only expensive to
install, but they have an increased monthly cost due to the amount of
electricity that they require.
This makes them ideal for spas but not the
best option for full-size swimming pools. While you will save money not using
as many chemicals, it’s important to factor in the monthly usage cost.
They do still require that you use chlorine
to help treat the water, although the system will remove the majority of it.
A fairly expensive investment, this can set
homeowners back a large portion of their pool budget.
You still need to use some type of chemical,
such as chlorine, to ensure that the water is safe to swim in, so these units
can’t be used on their own.
3. Bromine
 |
| A bucket of spa bromine tablets used as an alternative to chlorine. |
Pros
Bromine is a much more effective sanitizer
than chlorine is and will result in water that does not need to be tested
nearly as often.
In addition, water treated with Bromine will
generally be more stable than water treated with chlorine.
Bromine is also very stable at high
temperatures and has a low odor so that your pool will not have that
traditional smell that is associated with chlorine.
Swimmers will not suffer from red eyes and
skin irritation that is so common with chlorine pools.
You can use Bromine with an automatic
chemical dispenser, but you don’t have to worry about accidentally increasing
the amount of cyanuric acid in the water.
Cons
It’s impossible to stabilize Bromine against
the harmful effects of UV rays, and this means that you will need to use more
of the chemical in order to ensure that your pool has been completely
sanitized.
Most often used in indoor pools because of
the problems with UV rays. Outdoor pools in very sunny spots will require much
more Bromine, which will increase your monthly pool budget.
These tablets are not as widely available for
purchase as chlorine is, making homeowners plan ahead so that they don’t run
out. Without enough Bromine, you will not want to be swimming in your pool.
4. Mineral Systems
A system used to filter the pool and
circulate disinfecting minerals.
These systems work with chlorine but decrease
the amount that you will need. You can easily drop in a cartridge and go
without having to worry about testing the water as frequently.
Pros
One of the biggest benefits of a mineral
system is that you will be able to greatly reduce the amount of chlorine that
you have to put into your water.
This is great for families who have
sensitivities to chlorine or are concerned about associated health problems.
Pre-filled cartridges make it very easy to
have the chemicals and minerals fed into your pool without having to do the
work yourself.
No unpleasant taste the way that chlorine
has.
Minimizes the amount of bacteria that is
present in the pool and is actually beneficial for the skin of people swimming
in the water.
Cons
Adds metals such as copper and silver nitrate
to your water, and these can stain the surface of your pool liner and even
discolor light hair.
These systems are very expensive to install
and cost a lot in terms of maintenance over their lifespan.
Cartridges will need to be replaced every few
months and can get quite costly if the pool is large.
5. PHMB
 |
| PHMB tablet used to disinfect swimming pools. |
Pros
Commonly known as Baquacil or SoftSwim, this
disinfects your pool by bursting bacteria, wrapping them in a gel that sinks to
the bottom of your pool, and allowing it to be sucked out of the pool by the
vacuum.
This is much more gentle on both the people
in the pool as well as the pool liner. Because it is not an oxidizer, it will
not irritate skin, hair, or eyes.
This does provide better water treatment than
chlorine is able to.
Cons
A very expensive option, PHMB will often cost
more than chlorine.
It has to be regularly and manually added to
the water.
Even the tiniest bit of chlorine will have a
reaction with it, causing a yellowish vapor.
This means that if you switch your pool over
from a chlorine pool, you will need to carefully and thoroughly wash everything
that came in contact with chlorine, including bathing suits and pool toys.
It’s necessary to clean the pool filters every
month.
Since it doesn’t oxidize, homeowners have to
use hydrogen peroxide in their pools as well as an additional algaecide.
May cause a strange odor when used for a long
period of time.
Home
Stratosphere
covers everything about the home with an emphasis on interior design, home
décor and architecture. We also cover home financing, furnishings,
exteriors, landscape design and gardening.
No comments:
Post a Comment