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Demystification of Salt Water Systems

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You’ve probably heard about salt water systems, as they are a popular choice when it comes to luxury pools. There are lots of questions and misinformation about salt water systems. The swimming pool contractors of Hop Cassidy Pools, Inc. are experts at installing them, so we’ll answer a few commonly asked questions about them.

What is a Salt Water System?

A salt water system is a pool sanitization alternative to the traditional chlorine sanitization system. In the traditional chlorine sanitization system, you add liquid or dry chlorine to the water. In a salt water system, a salt-chlorine generator (also called a salt cell, salt generator or a salt chlorinator) uses electrolysis to break down salt and create chlorine, which is then automatically added to the pool water.

If a Salt Water System Adds Chlorine, How Is It Different?

In a traditional system, adding chlorine to the water results in chloramines, which are the chemicals that irritate eyes and skin and damage hair. With the salt water system, if the pool is properly maintained, there are no chloramines. Also, since the salt water system creates its own chlorine, you will no longer have to handle chlorine liquid or tablets.

Does a Salt Water System Make the Pool Water Taste And Smell Salty?

No, salt water systems result in 2,500 to 6,000 ppm salt content. To put that number in context, ocean water has about 35,000 ppm salt content. The water will not smell or taste anywhere near the saltiness of ocean water. Also, salt water systems won’t have the same chlorine smell of traditional chlorine pools, due to the lack of chloramines.

Will I Notice a Difference When I Swim In a Salt Water Pool?

Yes! The water feels smooth, similar to taking a shower in soft water. When you get out of the pool, your skin will feel soft. You will also notice the lack of red eyes, dry skin, damaged hair and chlorine smell that traditional chlorine pools give you.

What Kind Of Maintenance Does a Salt Water Pool Need?

Salt water pools are often referred to as maintenance-free. This is incorrect. Just like traditional chlorine pools, salt water pools need regular care and upkeep to prevent algae and bacteria growth. Maintenance varies for each brand of salt water system, so please consult your owner’s manual for exact steps for your pool; however, these are the common maintenance tasks for most salt water pools:

  • Maintain the minimum salt level required for your salt-chlorine generator
  • The pH level needs to be between 7.4 and 7.8, so pH should be tested every few days and muriatic acid added to keep the pH at the right level
  • Add stabilizer to keep UV rays from breaking down the chlorine
  • In a salt water pool, chlorine is only added to the water when the filter is running, so run the filter in order to maintain the correct chlorine levels
  • The electrolysis method the salt-chlorine generator uses results in calcium build up, so the generator needs to be checked regularly. Clean the salt chlorinator cell when it has visible calcium build up, following the instructions in the owner’s manual
  • Test pool water chemistry weekly to make sure pH, alkalinity, stabilizer level and salt levels are correct.

If you are interested in building a salt water pool for your yard, please contact us for a free pool quote.

5 Amazing Pools From Around the World

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Unique aquatic architecture amazes, shocks, and inspires the world. Awhile back we posted some of our favorite aquatic architecture, and now we have found more amazing designs to inspire you, check them out!

The Tank, Las Vegas

This $30 million pool in Las Vegas, NV features 200 different types of fish, including sharks and stingrays, surrounding the pool. The pool also includes an acrylic water slide (right) which allows you to shoot through the aquatic wildlife in an 8 second ride.

 

Glass Bottom Pool, Shanghai

Located high on Holiday Inn’s 24th floor, guests can enjoy a swimming “over the air” experience at the very deep end of the pool with nothing but a glass bottom underneath!

 

Hanging Gardens Hotel Infinity Pools, Ubud Bali

These two infinity pools in Indonesia are heated for guests comfort as they take in the beautiful jungle view.

 

San Alfonso Del Mar, Chile

Dubbed the largest pool in the world, this ocean side pool is so large that its main activity isn’t swimming, but sailing!

 

 

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

This pool in Singapore is known as the biggest infinity pool in the world, showing a view of the city during hotel guests evening swim.

 

 

Have a great idea for your unique pool? Give us a call today! Before the building process we can also take your ideas and render them in 3D, along with landscaping, stonework, and architecture, to show you exactly how your new dream pool will look when it’s finished. For photos of other projects we’ve done, check out our photo gallery at www.hopcassidypools.com/photogallery or see some examples of our 3D designs at www.hopcassidypools.com/3d-designs.

The Health Benefits of Regular Swimming

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So you’ve been thinking about getting a pool for those glaringly hot summer days, but keep putting if off because it seems like your money could be better spent elsewhere. Before you make that final decision though, you should hear about some of the great health benefits swimming has to offer.

One of the best things about an aquatic workout is that it’s one of the only forms of exercise which puts little to no stress on your body. Running, jogging, and even walking involve jarring motions which can impact your joints and skeletal system. When fully submerged in water, your body is only supporting 10 percent of its own weight, which greatly reduces wear and tear on the body.

Swimming also utilizes your whole body with each stroke, making it one of the best methods of losing weight and keeping it off. A few laps every day can burn up to 500 calories, which in turn means you won’t have to watch what you eat so closely in order to stay below your calorie limit.

This low impact daily exercise has another great impact as well –lowering your levels of bad cholesterol while at the same time raising your level of good. This is important when you consider that a mere 1 percent increase in the level of LDL (good cholesterol) reduces your change of dying from heart disease by 3.5 percent.

Since aerobic exercise plays a key role in whether or not you may get diabetes later in life, swimming laps three days a week or more can also decrease your risk of contracting type two diabetes later in life. According to a University of Maryland study, swimming can also aid those who already have type one diabetes, as it increases sensitivity to insulin.

On top of all these benefits, it turns out that swimming can actually physically put you in a better mood. The act of swimming causes your brain to produce endorphins, which is the chemical that puts you in a good mood. This, combined with the relaxing feeling of near-weightlessness and the soothing feel of cool water on your skin can turn a bad mood inside out almost instantly.

And don’t think it ends there: We saved the best for last. Swimming on a regular basis can actually keep you from dying prematurely. Researchers from the University of South Carolina did a study with over 40,000 male participants of ages ranging from 20 to 90 over a time period of 32 years, and came up with some surprising statistics: The men that swam regularly had a 50 percent lower death rate than runners, walkers, or couch potatoes. Though they didn’t put it to the test, the researchers agreed that women would receive an equal boost in health.

So think of a pool as an investment in the health of you and your family, as well as a great place to relax and cool off on a hot day, and suddenly the expense doesn’t seem quite so large. If you do decide to get a pool, stop by our website and check out some of the work we’ve already done and what we can do for you.

Five of our Favorite Pools

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So previously on this blog, we’ve been focusing on tips for pool installation, performance, and safety, but sometimes designing and installing pools can just be downright fun. To showcase the lighter side of things, today’s blog features finished-product pictures of five of our favorite jobs.

1)      A wrap around negative edge pool perfectly accentuates this this residence, and the open, airy design of the front rooms lets people enjoy the beauty of the pool from both inside and out. The lights from inside also make glimmering reflections from dusk all the way through the night. It’s certainly not hard to see why this pool made our favorites list.

2)      The view is what makes this job really spectacular. Another Negative Edge design, you can swim right up to the edge and look down on the world with no impediments to the view. Whether relaxing on a deck chair and enjoying the view to swimming laps, this pool is perfect for any occasion.

 

 

3)      Number three on our list is one of our more traditional pools, but the stonework and architecture really make the project stand out. The stonework also gives the pool a more natural feel, blending in seamlessly with the mountains in the background.

4)      One of our smaller jobs, this Negative Edge pool takes contemporary design and mixes it with function, utility, and luxury. The sharp angles are continued to the unique triangle steps, and though you can’t really tell from the photo, these clean lines continue onto the patio. The corner design also maximizes space, and the modern design reacts strongly with the surrounding natural views.

5)      And of course I saved my favorite for last. It holds a special place in my heart because we don’t get to do many indoor pool installations, because of the sheer size of the project, and because of the understated yet imposing architecture which is reminiscent of Roman bathhouses. The multitude of windows also gives the whole room more of an outdoor, garden type of feel, which is reinforced by the high ceilings and cruise-ship style lounge chairs. It’s even built to be handicapped accessible!

Anyway, these are some of my favorites, but don’t worry, if they don’t strike your fancy we can incorporate any designs you have in mind.  Before the building process starts we can also take your ideas and render them in 3D, along with landscaping, stonework, and architecture, to show you exactly how your new dream pool will look when it’s finished. For photos of other projects we’ve done, check out our photo gallery at www.hopcassidypools.com/photogallery or see some examples of our 3D designs at www.hopcassidypools.com/3d-designs

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year … to Build a New Swimming Pool

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Fall and winter are the best time of the year to build or remodel a pool.

Because of our climate in central Arizona, many rules of thumb that are valid elsewhere do not apply here. When the rest of the country begins to move everything indoors, we’re finally completely free of our brutal summer heat and beginning to enjoy life outside again. Still, by late fall the season for using unheated backyard swimming pools  is pretty much over for all but the hardiest Valley residents. But for Phoenix-area homeowners who’ve just been dreaming all summer about the many pleasures of owning their own pool, winter is the perfect time to finally make those dreams come true.

New Phoenix pool construction and pool remodeling projects can easily be done year-round in our relatively mild desert winters. On average, the Phoenix area experiences below-freezing temperatures only a few times each year (and then usually just barely). While our infrequent cold snaps may be hard on citrus, cactus and other heat-loving plants, they don’t hamper construction projects at all. Unlike much of the rest of the country, the ground in central Arizona doesn’t freeze and create complications for the excavation work necessary for new pool installation and some pool remodeling work.

One of the best reasons to build a new pool or revitalize your existing pool now is that the work will be finished before pool season returns to Arizona in just a few short months. Certainly it may be an exercise in patience as you wait for warmer weather to return so that you can enjoy your brand-new or newly refurbished pool, but if you get it done now you’ll be rewarded by being able to enjoy swimming from day one of the season.

Likewise, if you have plans to upgrade the appearance of your yard in the spring to complement your new pool, your landscaping efforts will be much easier if the pool is finished first. That way, you won’t have the inconvenience of working around a construction crew, and having to coordinate planting and hardscaping with the phases of pool construction.

Because so many homeowners do wait until warmer weather inspires them before they begin thinking about putting in a pool (the same way many people in the Valley put off their air-conditioner maintenance until the temperature hits 100 degrees!), pool construction crews are typically much less busy in the off-season. Your pool project probably will get more individual attention and you’ll have an all-around smoother and better experience if you’re facing less competition for the time of supervisors, skilled laborers and even inspectors – all of whom will be dealing with a less demanding workload and not dealing with the crushing heat of summer.

Although price breaks may be available because pool installers want to make sure that their best crews stay busy, you shouldn’t count on a huge discount just because it’s wintertime. The truth is that the sooner you install or remodel your pool the better, at any time of year, because materials costs tend to go up over time. However, procuring the best quality materials is easier for pool contractors in the off-season, again making your pool construction experience a more pleasant and reassuring one.

The professionals at Hop Cassidy Pools can design and build the pool of your dreams, one that will reflect your sense of style and greatly add to the value of your property. Now is the best time of the year to plan the most wonderful gift that you can give to yourself and your family – a stylish new pool that will eventually be enjoyed in our beautiful Southwest climate six months out of the year. Don’t wait – call today for a consultation with a Hop Cassidy representative at 480-905-8780.