Improvement in Technology Makes Swimming Pools More Environmentally Sensitive
Although a great deal of fun, pools are also costly in terms of water consumption, water evaporation, the use of chemicals for treating the water, gas and electric zapping filtration and pumping systems.
Technology and a recent push by the industry appear to be catching up to the concept of reducing waste and energy consumption without compromising the aesthetics and fun of having a pool.
By Changing some outdated equipment, a pool owner could save $350 to $700 a year, depending on the size of the pool.
To reduce or even eliminate the need to buy chemicals like chlorine that has to be mixed with other chemicals, a switch to salt water system sanitizes a pool just as well.
According to pool owner, Terry Aubuchon of Stilwell, Kan., "From a maintenance standpoint, it's so much easier to deal with. You just add a bag of salt, and the water feels and looks great." Other than saving time, she has the additional satisfaction that her 3 children prefer the new system.
Make no mistake, salt, NaCl is a chemical as well and the common salt is converted into chlorine to kill bacteria using a salt-chlorine generator, which costs about $1,400. The point is, the old-school way of buying chlorine and other chemicals cost $350 to $500 annually, a bag of salt costs $8.00. Besides, chlorine in a concentrated form sends hundreds to the emergency room each year. Eliminating poisonous items from the home is always a good idea.
Roger Banks, owner of Banks Pools in Overland Park, has been in the pool business since 1960s. He admits that the newer technology eliminates what he calls "the chemical soup."
Banks says the leading question he gets is whether or not adding salt turns the swimming pool water into saltwater like the ocean and his answer is a resounding "no." There's only a slight taste of salt because there's roughly a teaspoon of salt per gallon of water.
A salt-based chlorine is gentler on the hair, skin, and eyes, making swimming much more fun and allowing those who swim to do it more often. It's also gentler on the pool liner. The average liner costs about $3,000, which translates to big savings when pool owners replace liners less often after switching to a salt-based chlorine system.
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