What’s the Deal With Salt Water Pools?
Swimming pools are one of the most popular outdoor features in the United States. In fact, there are 10.4 million residential pool owners around the country. However, the trends in pool construction are rapidly changing. In 2002, around 85% of new pool installations were chlorine-based. Just 10 years later, that number shrank to roughly 25%.
What’s replacing chlorine-based pools? You guessed it: salt water pools.
Are Salt Water Pools Better?
Many people prefer salt water pools because they’re gentler on the skin, are more environmentally friendly, are more cost-effective, and provide a number of other benefits. Let’s explore some of the benefits of installing a salt water pool as opposed to a standard chlorine pool.
1. Gentler On the Skin and Clothes
Have you ever emerged from a chlorine pool and felt that your skin was dry and irritable? Traditional chlorine pools strip your body of natural oils and irritate your skin. The longer you spend in a chlorine pool, the drier your skin will become.
Saltwater pools are gentler on the skin. The lack of intense chemicals means that your skin and eyes (as well as your clothes!) will find the pool much more welcoming.
2. Help Moisturize Your Skin
Not only does salt water prevent the drying out of your skin, it actually helps your skin moisturize. Salt water is a natural exfoliating agent, meaning it opens up the pores on your body and acts as a natural moisturizer. If you have a skin condition such as eczema, acne, or are prone to rashes, you’ll find that the therapeutic experience of swimming in a salt water pool will benefit you greatly.
3. No Need to Chlorinate
Do salt water pools use chlorine? Yes, but not in the way that you might think. Salt water pools are equipped with something called a salt chlorine generator that turns dissolving salt into chlorine naturally through electrolysis. The saltwater system cleans the pool for you, making salt water pools far easier to maintain.
4. Lower Costs
As previously mentioned, salt water pools have lower maintenance costs since saltwater pools don’t require you to purchase chlorine to keep them clean. The amount of money saved vs. standard chlorination systems is one of the main reasons why saltwater pools are rapidly increasing in national popularity.
5. Eases Stress & Anxiety
Salt water therapy is an extremely popular practice to ease the mind. Pool water in a saltwater pool is filled with magnesium which is a natural element that reduces stress. The natural agents in saltwater are perfect for healing the body and the soul.
6. Provides Muscle Pain Relief
Speaking of healing the body, people with arthritis and other types of frequent muscle and joint pain have seen massive benefits from undergoing salt water therapy. Indeed, studies have found that soaking in salt water is extremely helpful for people who experience these issues.
7. Environmentally Friendly
Any time you can avoid pumping harmful chemicals into the air, you’re helping the environment. Pools that require chemicals to maintain them use more water & energy and are harmful to humans and animals alike. If you have pets, you should probably avoid exposing them to undue amounts of chlorine on a regular basis.
If you’re looking to install a saltwater pool to your home or have any other outdoor landscaping needs, Outdoor Spaces Design is ready to create with you. All of our designs are custom-built with the client in mind. Let’s get creative together.