Is A Salt Water Pool Really Better Than A Chlorinated One?

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Although most people have pools that use chlorine to sanitize the water installed in their homes and backyards, that's not the only type of pool available. Another type of pool uses salt instead to ensure the water remains bacteria free. If you've been wondering whether this is a good option for your home, here are a couple of things to consider.

Salt Water Pools are Healthier

One area where salt water pools have a significant advantage over chlorine ones is they are much healthier to use in a couple of different ways. Chlorine can be very irritating to the skin and eyes, leaving both dry and inflamed. This is because the chemical will often mix with impurities (e.g. lotion and sweat) found in the water and create a byproduct called chloramines that aggravates the body.

Salt, on the other hand, is very healing. In addition to exfoliating the skin, salt water can help it retain moisture, both of which can alleviate a variety of skin conditions such as psoriasis, acne, eczema. Additionally, since the salt content of the pool is much less than that of the ocean, it won't irritate the eyes either, so you don't have to worry about explaining to people why your peepers are so bloodshot after going for a dip in the pool.

Lastly, salt water pools are much healthier for the environment, because salt is a natural element found abundantly in nature. Conversely, chlorine is a toxic chemical that must be handled carefully; otherwise, it can cause low-level harm to environment, particularly to the soil surrounding the pool that may be subjected to repeated exposure to chlorine water.

Metal and Wood May Be Adversely Affected

While salt water may be healthier for people, animals, and plants, it's not so great for wood and metal that may be in the vicinity of the pool. This is because salt is a corrosive agent that can cause metal to deteriorate and rust at five to ten times the normal rate. It can also cause delignification in wood, which a process where salt crystals form on the wood that comes in constant contact with the salt water and pulls out the lignin in the wood's cell walls.

Both of these issues can lead to structural damage to nearby items made from those materials, such as wood and decks. Thus, it'll be critical to either use materials that are resistant to the effects of salt water, such as PVC plastic, or put special coatings on the items to help them resist the damage.

For more information about salt water pools or to have a pool installed at your home, contact a local contractor, such as at DESJOYAUX POOLS.


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