There’s no question that swimming pools are a fun, refreshing, and convenient water feature to have in your backyard; however, they also require a significant investment. Not only that, but most pools also take a lot of time to maintain and may not be very sustainable. If you are talking to swimming pool financing companies about installing a traditional pool, you should understand how to use them safely, what to do to balance the chemicals and more. Also, when it is time to clean the pool, you may have to drain all the water, which means thousands of gallons being wasted. Most pools also require a lot of energy, which means your utility costs will go up, and you will waste more energy. While this is true, it is possible to construct an eco-friendly pool in your yard. Some tips to help you with this can be found below.

Find the Right Pool Builder

It’s important to understand that not all pool contractors will offer eco-friendly swimming pool options. Because of this, you need to take time to find one who does. You can start this search by researching builders that have experience designing and installing these types of pools. If the pool builder has a portfolio posted on their website, be sure to look at the projects they have handled. Before you start setting up meetings with your list of potential builders, look at online reviews, too. Use this information to narrow down the options a little more. During your meeting, find out if the contractor is insured and licensed. When you talk to them, figure out how receptive and knowledgeable they are about eco-friendly pools and if they understand your wants and needs.

Consider a Saltwater Pool

A saltwater pool is a popular option for most eco-friendly homeowners. This specific type of pool doesn’t require you to keep using chlorine to make it safe to swim in. As a result, it’s an eco-friendly option for your backyard. Even better, saltwater is not as harmful to the skin as chlorine and other chemicals.

Avoid Using Concrete

Today, traditional swimming pools are commonly built using concrete. However, this isn’t the most eco-friendly material for you to use for larger water features. This is because molds and bacteria can easily grow on and stick to various concrete surfaces. Because of this, you must use a lot of chemicals and clean your pool regularly to ensure it is safe to use. Better options to consider include carbon-ceramic composite, fiberglass, and other types of non-porous materials. These are ideal for sustainable swimming pools. One of the best features is that they don’t require much cleaning, which means you don’t have to use as many harmful chemicals. It also requires less electricity to maintain. Pools made of non-porous materials are also better for keeping bacteria from getting into it.

Select the Right Filter and Pump

The pump is the main component that requires energy when it comes to pool equipment. Since this is the case, you have to research the options to find an efficient one. One option is a variable speed pump. This will help to reduce overall energy consumption. That’s because it will only use the required amount of power to handle the task at that given time. You may also want to install a pump timer. Doing this will let you schedule when the pump runs and for how long. Experts recommend that you only run the pump for about six hours per day if you are using your pool regularly. Using a timer will also help to reduce energy consumption.

Installing a Sustainable Pool

As you can see from the information above, there are several things to consider if you want to install an eco-friendly pool in your backyard. While this may take more thought and consideration than installing a traditional pool, most people agree that the benefits it offers – to you and the environment – are more than worth it.