Houston real estate listings with pools are in high demand. A swimming pool can be a truly valuable addition to any home. It isn’t just the fun pools bring to the backyard recreational space – a conversion to a saltwater pool can add value to Houston real estate listings. For many years, homeowners could choose their pool’s size and shape, but that was about all. The water was going to be fresh, and the maintenance method, chlorination.
But that was before the saltwater pool became such a popular choice for new pools. Many people have misconceptions about the plusses and minuses of the saltwater variety of pool. A saltwater pool does not try to create ocean water in the backyard. Saltwater is not the same as seawater. The water in a saltwater pool does not look; smell or taste different from that in a traditional pool, and chlorine is used in both systems. However, Houston area homeowners who are considering having their own pool converted should consider the few distinct differences between chemical chlorine and saltwater pools.
Saltwater pools are designed to continuously monitor themselves to insure that the chlorine level is sufficient to control microorganisms and sanitize the water. Many of these systems will automatically start the pool pump to infuse more chlorine if the chlorine level drops. That means less time testing and maintaining the water than is generally required by a freshwater chlorine system. However, saltwater pools do require homeowners to run their pool pumps significantly longer than traditional chemically chlorinated pools. Sunlight depletes the chlorine in any body of water.
Chemicals used for traditional freshwater chlorination include cyanurates, which slow the photochemical reduction to keep a pool disinfected more effectively. Saltwater pools do not rely on these added chemicals – they have chlorinators (called ‘salt cells’) that use electrolysis to break down the salt to produce the same effect. So the pool pump must operate more frequently, with higher energy costs as a result.
The absence of chemical compounds is a side benefit with saltwater systems. They operate with a lower chlorine content than do traditional pools, so they are easier on the eyes and skin of the swimmers. Though homeowners must purchase salt, it’s an additive that is a good deal less expensive than the liquid or solid chlorine additives used in traditional pools, and it’s applied less frequently.
Whenever a homeowner considers a home improvement, I always advise the future resale value be considered. Houston real estate listings featuring saltwater pools are often considered a plus, but all the costs should be weighed before settling on the final decision. Converting an existing pool to a saltwater pool can add value to the home. However, if you are considering installing a brand new pool, keep in mind that you will usually only gain about 50% or less of the cost of the pool in additional resale value. If you do not currently own a home with a pool and would like to have one, you should consider purchasing an existing home with a pool and the let the current homeowner take the loss on the cost of pool installation. Take a look at some of the current homes on the market with pools:
See all Houston Homes For Sale with Pools Here
See all Cypress TX Homes For Sale with Pools Here
See all Katy TX Homes For Sale with Pools Here
If you are considering any value-building improvement to your home and would like to discuss potential real estate implications, feel free to call Kevan Pewitt and the Houston Prime Realty team.
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