Misleading claims about saline pool systems can lead to confusion, unexpected expenses for neighborhood pools, and can possibly lead to a public health hazard
Raleigh, NC, July 12, 2010 — Misleading claims about saline pool systems can lead to confusion, unexpected expenses for neighborhood pools, and can possibly lead to a public health hazard.
The sudden popularity of salt systems has generated a several myths and misconceptions that pool owners and operators need to be aware of.
Myth #1: Salt pools don’t require “harsh chemicals” or chlorine.
Controlling germs and algae requires a balance of germ killing chemicals – even in salt pools. Chlorine is the primary disinfectant used in a pool, which comes in several forms, including liquid, tablets, sticks, and yes, in the form of a salt generator.
Many pool owners convert to saltwater pools because they are misled to believe that salt pools are chemical and maintenance free. But this is not true, balanced water and disinfectant is still is essential. And salt pools, like traditional pools require frequent testing to maintain a proper balance of PH, Alkalinity, Calucium, Hardness, and Cyanuric Acid, to name a few.
In fact, the negative side effects that people most often associate with chlorine (dry skin, red eyes, strong odor, etc.) are actually caused by chloramines, which are the waste products left behind when chlorine oxidizes the waste material in the water. Here’s the kicker: the way to get rid of the chloramines is actually to add more chlorine to the water.
If pool owners have been mislead to believe that their pools don’t have “harsh chemicals,” and if there are no properly functioning chorine generators, there is a risk that bacterial levels in the pool can become dangerous to public health.
Myth #2: Saltwater pools don’t require maintenance.
New owners of salt water systems quickly discover that these systems do require maintenance. While you do not have to continually add chlorine as with standard pools you do need to maintain the chlorine generation cells.
Most saltwater pools use titanium plates that are electronically charged to turn salt water into chlorine. Calcium builds up in the ‘cells’ and must be cleaned. Failure to do so will result in reduced chlorine generation and your pool will no longer be able to fight off germs and algae.
Maintaining proper salt levels will also lengthen the life of the chlorine generation cells. In order to maximize cell life, the units should be cleaned annually and a lifespan of three to four years can be expected although this may vary slightly.
Myth #3: Salt water pools are more environmentally-friendly.
Both traditional pools and saltwater pools require disinfectant. The most common disinfectant is chlorine.
In a traditional pool, the chlorine is added manually. In a salt pool, the salt is transformed into chlorine through the chemical reaction electrolysis. This means, in the end, both pools contain chlorine and other pool balancing chemicals.
The argument can actually be made that salt water generators are worse for the environment, because they are still producing the same chemicals as regular chlorine pools, but unlike chlorine pools, it requires round-the-clock electricity use by the generator to do so.
For information on saline pools, visit www.PoolProfessionals.com
About Pool Professionals
Pool Professionals — North Carolina based pool service company — provides a full range of services to commercial and residential customers in the Triangle and the Triad. Services include: pool management, pool maintenance, pool repair and pool construction. For more information, visit www.poolprofessionals.com or call 919-787-7878.
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Contact:
Dan DeLeo
Pool Professionals, Inc.
Raleigh, NC
919-787-7878
[email protected]
