Pool owners have been using chlorine to clean and sanitize their pool water for decades. However, there is another method of cleaning that was introduced in the United States about five years ago and is quickly picking up speed. The new type of pool sanitizer is something most of us have on our dinner tables every night. Are you ready to know what this "wonder" additive might be? Salt. Plain salt that becomes a lean, mean pool sanitizing machine when it is transformed into very usable chlorine gas with the help of a salt water chlorinator. There are many reasons why sales of salt water pools are gaining and even surpassing chlorine pools today. We've got four of the best reasons right here.

Safety

Since salt is the substance of choice for cleaning your swimming pool, there is no longer much reason to keep potentially dangerous chlorine containers, tablets or sticks lying around your pool area. You also won't need to worry about possibly inhaling noxious fumes as you add chlorine to your swimming pool regularly. However, shock treatments are still a must with a salt water pool, so you won't be able to bid chemical treatments farewell completely.

Health and Comfort

Many people are sensitive to the effects of chlorine, which can produce red, stinging eyes and dry skin. Others simply do not like the chlorine odor while they are swimming or lingering on their swimsuits, beach towels and hair. When salt is converted to chlorine gas, it provides the same sanitization ability without the unpleasant side effects straight chlorine might. Plus, salt leaves your skin feeling a lot smoother and softer, rather than the dry, scaling residue chlorine sometimes produces.

Maintenance

Most people find that a salt water pool requires less maintenance than a chlorine pool. Because salt does not have the potential to evaporate out of your pool the way chlorine does, you won't have to add the substance to your water as frequently. However, don't think you are completely out of the woods with pool maintenance. Salt water pools need to be checked regularly for pH levels, as well as salinity. Shock treatments will also need to be administered periodically. However, salt water pools rarely have an algae problem, which eliminates the algaecide step from your maintenance schedule.

Cost Value

Some people cringe at the initial cost of a salt water chlorinator, because it tends to run much higher than a traditional sanitization system. However, salt water will eventually become a better value overall, because the cost of maintaining the system is much lower. In addition, you will probably spend much less time on upkeep for your swimming pool. What is your valuable time worth in dollars and cents? Salt water is also less damaging to bathing suits and pool equipment, so you will not have to replace items as often - another savings in the bank.

Many pool owners today are tuning into the benefits of a salt water system, and with good reason. Over the long haul, using salt to sanitize your pool can save you time and money.