There is a growing inclination among pool owners toward saltwater pools. Jeff Fanara, owner of Bella Pools and Yardscape in South Yarmouth, elaborated on what is popular in the world of pools on Cape Cod.
Fanara said that saltwater pools have been around for 20+ years and are becoming more popular because they require fewer chemicals and are cheaper to maintain. Saltwater pools are “softer on clothes, skin, and hair, and less irritable to the eyes” according to Fanara. These are the only pools that Bella Pools installs, although the company will work on non-saltwater pools.
These pools are run off of a device called a cell which produces chlorine through electrolysis. The only thing owners need to put into the cell is NaCl (sodium chloride), which is more commonly known as table salt. The salt levels in the pool are generally kept low and are undetectable to most. According to Fanara, the pools require 600-800 pounds of salt per year.
If owners need to add more chlorine to their pool, Fanara said there is a setting on the cell called “super chlorinate” which slowly shocks the pool over 24 hours, allowing people to continue to use the pool through the process.
This setting also eliminates the need to buy and store 3” chlorine tabs, which – if improperly stored – can release dangerous fumes and corrode metal because of how caustic chlorine is.
Saltwater pools are also safer for the environment because the chemicals don’t leach out. There has also been some conjecture that saltwater pools may be better for swimmers health (it has been posited that chlorine pools may raise health risks).
Fanara said that his company also converts pools to saltwater, a process that takes about two hours and is considered a service call. Fanara said that while his company has converted many private pools, his company has not converted any commercial pools.
This is because public pools have hard to predict bathing loads, so it is easier to control bacteria levels in public pools by maintaining higher levels of chlorine, according to Fanara. However, some hotels on the Cape have switched to saltwater pools.
There are pros and cons to saltwater pools. Saltwater pools do not impart upon swimmers the red eye, hair discoloration, and other annoyances of chlorinated pools. The pools also have lower maintenance costs. Saltwater pools are also less prone to problems with algae.
Saltwater can corrode metal though, so owners need to be aware of that. The saltwater can also cause calcium deposits on the surface of the pool. Owners may need to add more stabilizers and acid to the pool. Lastly, the pump for the saltwater generator needs to be run at all times, so that can raise utility bills.
Fanara said that aside from working with the saltwater pools, his companies do other things that can really amp up an outdoor living area.
In the pool domain, Bella Pools installs waterfalls and spillover spas, as well as deck jets. Spillover spas are hot tubs that either connect to the pool or constantly recycle the pool water to the hot tub through use of a waterfall. Deck jets are arcs of water that enter the pool from the surrounding structure, creating a sense of elegance.
Fanara said that his company does not install waterslides or diving boards because of liability purposes (he added that diving boards are also quite unsightly).
Another popular trend for pools is gunite pools instead of vinyl-liners because they can be made to look like natural ponds. However, Fanara said that the most common installation performed by his company is vinyl-liner pools (2-3 gunite installations per year versus 8-10 vinyl-liner installations).
Each type of pool structure has its own advantages and disadvantages. While vinyl-lined pools are cheaper in the short term, the lining tends to need to be replaced every ten years or so because they are less durable. Gunite pools are more expensive, but they are very durable and can be built in any shape or size.
Fanara said that owning a pool company and a landscaping business is beneficial because all the work (masonry, landscaping, and pool) can be done by one of his businesses, which keeps costs manageable and keeps projects timely by eliminating the need for outside contractors.
A lot of customers, according to Fanara, want other work done when they have pools installed or rehabbed. Some times, Fanara said, the landscaping can cost more than the pool work.
Popular outside additions are firepits, shrubbery, and pool houses. Firepits are great for entertaining. Fanara said that customers will even get things like outdoor bars installed by the pool. Depending on the nature of the get-together planned, there are a plethora of ideas that people have and Bella Pools is quite accommodating.
Customers will occasionally get a pool one year and then wait until the next year to get the landscape design done to space the cost.
Fanara said that the cost of the pool installations depend on the size and type of pool. Many customers, according to Fanara, get custom designs so they can make their outdoor living space truly their own.
If you are interested in having your own saltwater pool, visit Bella Pools in South Yarmouth, 508-398-4277. Summer’s coming–wouldn’t you enjoy a dip in your own saltwater pool? For pool and outdoor living design ideas, see the Bella Pools photo gallery.
(Above photos: customers are encouraged to choose a custom design that will reflect their tastes and fit their outdoor living space. Photos courtesy of Bella Pools.)
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