Household Hints
To Achieve the Perfect Pool Experience, Just Add Salt
By
Jul 9, 2008, 17:10

Environmentally Friendly Salt-chlorinated Pools Deliver Less Maintenance Headaches, “Unparalleled” Water Quality

(ARA) - Cindy Gilmore loves her pool.

Swimming.

Playing.

Relaxing.

What she didn’t particularly care for was feeling that she needed a degree in chemistry to ensure the pool’s main ingredient (H20) was perfectly sanitized and balanced.

For pool owners like Gilmore, achieving optimal water quality can be a time consuming and frustrating process. It usually involves a daily water test, which is accompanied by the use of chemicals to keep the water clean and clear.

Add too much of the chemicals and the balance could easily swing the other way, increasing maintenance time and costs and reducing fun time.

After doing her own research, and consulting a local pool company, Gilmore quickly realized she wouldn’t have to spend a lot of time or effort to get clean, clear water. She elected to upgrade her pool with automation to include salt chlorination as part of her pool equipment package.

Salt chlorination converts ordinary salt into a virtually endless supply of natural chlorine, eliminating the cost and hassle of transporting and handling harsh chemical chlorine tablets or liquid -- leaving pool owners with water that is brilliant in appearance and softer on the skin.

“Salt-chlorinated pools regulate themselves. I have seen a noticeable reduction in the frequency of my testing,” says Gilmore. “Now, I spend more time doing what I enjoy most and less time worrying about my pool’s water quality. Plus, I have found automating my pool to be very economical. I don’t need to continually buy new products to maintain my pool.”

Another reason more than 1 million pool owners are using salt-chlorination is that it eliminates the heavy odors, itchy skin and red eyes typically associated with the use of chemical chlorine.

“Since switching to a salt-chlorinated pool, the difference in water quality is unparalleled,” says Gilmore. “The water feels softer and smoother against my skin compared to traditional chlorine systems.”

Joel Klapprodt, president of Klapprodt Kustom Pools and Spas, has been building swimming pools since 1987. After listening to Gilmore’s concerns over frequent water testing and accurate chemical levels, he recommended she add a special unit to the pool’s control system called Sense and Dispense by Goldline Controls.

This device continually tests the pool’s water and automatically delivers the proper amount of chlorine and pH, taking the guess work out of keeping the pool’s water in balance.

“We are excited about salt and stand behind salt chlorination,” says Klapprodt. “Salt systems only generate chlorine when running, so if the system’s not on, your pool is not subject to the harsh effects of chlorine. Sense and Dispense further regulates both the chlorine and pH levels. This technology does everything for the pool owner.”

The device, which works in conjunction with the pool control system, continuously tests the water, samples pH and sanitizer activity, and adjusts chemical output based on what the water needs. The same technology has been used on commercial pools for years, but is now available at the scale to deliver these benefits to smaller, residential pools.

“Whether you’ve owned a pool for many years or just inherited one from a home you purchased, you can easily and efficiently add salt chlorination with Sense and Dispense,” says Stuart Baker, vice president and general manager of Goldline Controls.

“By doing so, you’ll not only realize the immediate benefits of the systems, like soft, balanced pool water, but the units will pay for themselves within the first year both in terms of a savings on chemicals, but also the time spent maintaining your pool water.”

SIDEBAR:

Tips on Salt Chlorination and Water Balance

Although salt chlorination has been around for decades, there have been recent concerns regarding erosion to pool materials like decking and coping. As with any natural material exposed to water and the elements, some erosion can happen.

However, following these tips can help extend the life of your pool materials and protect your backyard investment:

* Ask your builder and stone provider what stone and materials are best suited for your pool, location and lifestyle. Harder, less porous stone is usually recommended.

* Be sure your builder protects the stone by sealing it. For a few hundred dollars upfront, it will significantly increase the life of the natural material.

* Seal your stone regularly -- consult your stone professional on a schedule right for your environment. Consider your wood deck or your concrete driveway. By resealing them every few years, you prevent future issues from occurring.

* Keep your water in balance. If pH levels drop too low, the water becomes acidic. Acidic water is corrosive and attacks anything the water touches. When pH drifts up, the water becomes alkaline and creates an environment where mineral deposits or scale can form.

For more information and a free brochure about salt chlorinators and Sense and Dispense, visit Goldline Controls at www.goldlinecontrols.com

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