Most pool owners or intending owners are usually torn between setting up a conventional chlorine pool or a saltwater pool. One of the considerations they have is if the water in saltwater pools will be good for the skin.
Well, I am here to announce that the water from a saltwater pool is quite good for your skin.
By gently exfoliating the skin, saltwater leaves it feeling silky and smooth. Those with skin disorders, including eczema and acne, may find relief from swimming in salt water.
What are the benefits of a salt water pool?
Mild on your eyes
Eye irritation and redness are common side effects of swimming in chlorine pools. The salt concentration in a typical saltwater pool is only about 3,500 ppm, which is significantly less than the concentration in ocean water of about 35,000 ppm. Swimming in a saltwater pool is much gentler on the eyes than in a chlorinated one because the salt content is so similar to that of human tears.
Sanitary
Despite popular belief, saltwater pools still contain chlorine. Electrolysis is used in a saltwater generator to turn the sodium chloride in the water supply into chlorine. Both hypochlorous acid and odium hypochlorite, two chlorine compounds made as a result of this process, are equally effective at killing bacteria and algae.
This leaves you with water that is just as healthy and sanitary as water in a pool treated with chlorine. Also, the irritating “chlorine” smell and potentially harmful chloramines are reduced.
Less dangerous than chlorine
You can eliminate the need to keep liquid or powdered chlorine on your property if you have a salt-water electrolysis system to maintain the cleanliness of your backyard pool. Chlorine is a dangerous chemical that can hurt your health, cause corrosion, or start a fire if it is not handled or stored properly. A saltwater generator installed in your pool will alleviate your worries.
Avoid lung irritation
Some people find that swimming in pools with a lot of chlorine irritates their lungs. This substance may make it harder to breathe for people who have asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems. It’s a good idea to switch to salt water if you or a member of your family has an allergy to chlorine. The moderate, gentle water helps with a variety of respiratory issues.
Has a relaxing effect
Even though swimming is a great way to relax, swimming in saltwater is even better at triggering the body’s natural response to calm down. Sore muscles and arthritis pain can both benefit from a dip in salt water.
Do salt water pools dry your skin?
No, they don’t.
The common misconception is that the salt in a saltwater pool can dry up your skin.
Most people report preferring the sensation of salt water pools over that of fresh water ones. They are gentle on the eyes, don’t make you feel like your skin is on fire, and some individuals even report that their hair is easier to manage after using them.
When a person swims in the ocean, their body loses water because the salt concentration is 10 times higher than in a residential pool.
Are salt pools better for hair?
Yes, they are better. If you have greasy, oily hair, then a saltwater pool might help with that.
Salt water is great for taming oily hair since it helps to balance the pH of your scalp. The salt water’s minerals neutralize the excess oil in your hair, leaving it clean and healthy. In addition, the salt has a soothing effect on a greasy or inflamed scalp.
Your scalp and hair absorb the minerals in the salt when you put your head under water in a salt-chlorinated pool. It can also prevent your scalp from feeling dry and flaky, which can lead to less itchy hair.
Do saltwater pools taste salty?
Saltwater pools don’t have a salty flavor since the salt concentration is below the threshold at which human taste buds detect salt. Your pool’s salt concentration needs to be between 2700 and 3400 parts per million (ppm), with 3200 ppm being the optimal point. The threshold of human salt perception is roughly 3500 ppm and may be greater for some individuals; hence, the salt concentration in a pool would be too low for anyone to detect.
There are other compounds in a saltwater pool that may obscure the salt’s flavor, even if you can detect it.
What are some myths surrounding Saltwater pools?
There is No Chlorine in a Saltwater Pool
There is a common misconception that saltwater pools do not use chlorine.
It’s not true at all.
It’s true that salt systems can just make their own chlorine by electrolysis. To refresh your memory, electrolysis is the process by which salt water is treated by being zapped with electricity in order to combine it with the chlorine present in salt. The procedure begins by producing the chlorine, which is then carried along with the water to the pool and blended into the water. To finish the job, the chlorine disinfects and kills any harmful germs in the water. Instead of manually introducing chlorine in the form of granules, tablets, or sticks, a salt chlorine generator is used in this method to produce chlorine.
The salt system benefits from this since it reduces the need for additional chemicals to keep the chlorine stable. The chemicals are more irritating to the skin because they come in granules, pills, and sticks.
Bromine would be used in the one and only chlorine-free swimming pool. No matter how careful you are, chlorine can still end up in your saltwater pool.
Saltwater Has Greater Benefits Than Chlorine Water
This is highly debatable and dependent on the person being asked. Most people find that the less harsh chlorine used in saltwater pools is easier on their skin.
Those who swim in saltwater pools often report that their hair becomes more manageable afterward. Also, your eyes are less likely to become red or irritated.
Some swimmers, however, may still experience skin irritation and dryness. Although technically they are still in the pool, the chlorine may have a residual effect on their hair, leaving it feeling matted and nasty.
The decision depends entirely on how you feel about the matter. Try swimming in both a chlorine and saltwater pool before deciding which one is right for your property.
The Salt Content in Saltwater Pools Is Excessive
If you’re worried about your skin drying out, a saltwater pool isn’t as salty as the ocean.
This, however, is not the case. Indeed, there’s a reduction in saltiness.
Salt water is used in these systems to make chlorine, but the water that comes out of them has less than 10% as much salt as sea water.
The average salinity of the ocean is 35,000 ppm. Human tears contain 6,000 ppm of water. As little as $2,500 gets you a saltwater pool. As mentioned up top, the effects of saltwater pools versus saltwater on skin health are very context-dependent.
Because of the high content of salt in ocean water, swimming in it can cause significant dehydration. Yet, because the percentage of salt in a swimming pool is lower than in the ocean, our skin is able to absorb some of the moisture, which can be beneficial.
Having a saltwater pool system is more convenient and cost-effective.
Some pool owners think that it will be easier and cheaper to take care of their pool with a saltwater system because it makes its own chlorine.
Nevertheless, this is not the case.
The chlorine tablets or granules that are typically added to pools on a daily basis can be replaced with a saltwater pool system. While your system can handle this for you, you should still check the pool’s pH, alkalinity levels, and calcium hardness regularly. No matter how you’ve previously sanitized your pool, you’ll need to test the water and make any necessary adjustments, or pay a professional to do it for you. The costs associated with setting up and maintaining such pools may surprise you. Consumers have said that the total cost of owning a saltwater pool can be higher than that of a traditional pool because maintenance costs are higher, the chlorine generator needs replacement parts, and the pool itself is more expensive.
There is no need for any additional chemicals.
You may believe that you won’t need to keep and store many chemicals in order to keep your saltwater pool clean and healthy because the chlorine generator produces the chlorine for you.
You won’t need chlorine to keep the water clean, but you’ll still need to bring along some other chemicals for routine upkeep.
Taking care of a pool requires a lot of different chemicals and products, like shock and other chemicals.
There must be more muriatic acid added to a saltwater pool than to a chlorine pool due to the pool’s higher pH level.
In addition to the cost of the additional chemicals, you’ll also need to stock up on a substantial amount of pool-grade salt.
