Every pool owner wants nothing more than to enjoy the pool as much as possible throughout the year. And, thanks to today’s innovative pool technology, owners now can spend more time doing just that instead of continuously caring for their investments.

Pass the salt
In years past, pool owners dealt with a variety of chemicals to keep their water sparkling. From chlorine to algaecide to shock treatments, maintaining the proper chemical balance played a key role in clean water. While this is still important, it’s now easier to achieve. More pool owners are turning to a salt chlorination system to purify their water. “Salt systems are the big thing right now,” says Richard Fricker, owner of Specialty Pool & Spa in Roswell.

In a salt chlorination system, salt is placed in a cell or electrode, which receives a safe, low-voltage current from a power unit. As a result, chlorine gas is produced, which purifies the water like traditional chlorine. Unlike traditional chlorine, however, there is no strong chemical smell, and the water actually feels softer than traditionally chlorinated water.

Plus, owners don’t have to keep adding chemicals on a weekly basis. “Once it’s installed and you load the salt, you don’t have to go out there with 50 pounds of chlorine,” says Mark Spiezio, president of Atlas Pools in Doraville. “Basically, you never run out of sanitizer. It’s very effective.” Actually, salt eventually will need to be replaced, but usually only every six months or so.

Because you are not using as many chemicals as a traditional chlorination method, salt systems tend to recoup their costs in a short period of time. “They’re getting to the price where people can afford them,” says Jim Armes, president of Executive Pools & Spas in Canton. On average, salt systems cost between $1,000 and $2,400
to purchase.

Jack Kelly of North Atlanta Pool & Spa, a division of Montgomery & Co. in Roswell, says most pool owners will save between $300 and $400 per year in chemical costs, therefore paying for the salt system within four to six years, depending on the system purchased.

Filter out the dirt
Of course, chlorination systems don’t work alone, but rather in tandem with a filtration system to keep water looking its best. In today’s filtration market, three types continue to do the job: sand filters, diatomaceous earth filters and cartridge filters.

Traditionally, sand filters were the norm for all pools. Sand filters, which use sand to trap dirt particles, generally are easy to set up and operate. However, because the sand needs to be clean to be effective, sand filters require regular backwashing (usually once a week, sometimes more if there is a lot of debris) to cleanse the sand. This takes time as well as up to 100 gallons of water plus chemicals for each backwash cycle. Also, the sand will need to be replaced after five or six years.

In recent years, the diatomaceous earth, or DE, filter systems have gained in popularity. Simply put, DE powder is used to coat
filter grids within a filter tank. This powder traps the dirt particles, down to three to five microns (the lower the better), in the grids. Maintaining a DE filter system consists of regular backwashing and replacing the DE powder approximately every four weeks.

Perhaps the easiest to maintain, cartridge filters operate with a cartridge similar to an automotive air cleaner that traps dirt particles between 25 and 100 microns in size. “There is less to do for the homeowner,” Kelly says. “It’s more customer-compatible.” Although backwashing is not necessary with cartridge filters, approximately once a year the cartridge will need to be soaked in a cleaning solution and thoroughly rinsed before being returned to the pool. Eventually, the cartridge will need to be replaced, usually after two to five years.

Selecting the best filtration system for your pool is based on your budget and how much time you want to devote to maintenance. On average, sand filters cost between $400 and $800, while DE and cartridge filters run between $800 and $1,400. Also, check with your neighborhood, county and city ordinances for any restrictions or guidelines on backwashing; these may affect your decision as well.

Clean it up
Always a necessity for any pool, vacuum systems are more sophisticated and easier to operate than ever. For most pool owners, gone are the old manual vacuum and hose systems. Today’s vacuum systems run automatically with little required maintenance.

Suction-side automatic vacuums use water flow to power themselves around the pool floor and walls as they suck up debris. They can be set up to run in tandem with the filtration system, and pool owners generally never have to mess with them. Average costs for this system range between $99 and $500.

Pressure-side vacuums utilize a booster pump to deliver water to the pool cleaner head to not only pick up debris but also to propel the vacuum around the pool. Debris is collected in a compartment attached to the pool cleaner head, so it will need to be emptied on a regular basis. Average costs for this system range between $750 and $1,200.

Robotic vacuums use low-voltage electricity to move about the pool, scrubbing the surface and vacuuming up debris. Like pressure-side vacuums, robotic vacuums collect debris in an attached bag or filter, which should be emptied as needed. Average costs for this system range between $300 and $1,800.

In-floor systems, also gaining in popularity, consist of networks of piping placed under the pool’s floor. Water jets direct debris to a main drain so it will be removed by the filtration system. “It’s similar to a sprinkler system,” Fricker says. Because it’s installed in the floor, this system must be selected prior to pool installation.

Average costs for this system generally start at $3,000 and go up from there. “I think it’s for the buyer with the bigger budget,” Fricker says. Also, take a good look at your pool’s surroundings when considering this system. “I don’t think in-floor systems are most effective with heavy leaf and pine straw debris,” Spiezio says.

Stay in control
Remote controls for pool operations continue to improve and gain favor with pool owners. Thanks to technological advances, many pool maintenance and aesthetic functions can be handled without leaving your home. “It’s a huge convenience,” Kelly says. “Ninety-nine percent of the pool functions can be done away from
the pool.”

For example, with today’s remote systems, owners can set the time for the filter to run, program when the vacuum should start and stop, or turn on the heater or lights. “They are easily programmed by the homeowners once they learn how to use them,” Fricker says. “And they can tie in with existing home-automation systems.” On average, remote control systems for pools cost between $2,500 and $4,500.

Pool maintenance and upkeep is easier now than ever before. And, unlike audio, video and computer technology, which seems to change and evolve on a daily basis, you can rest assured that whatever systems you choose, they will stand well against the test of time. “The pool industry [and technology] is like a glacier,” Kelly says. “It continually moves, but not real fast.”