Salt vs Chlorine Pool: Which Is Better?
Both salt and traditional chlorine systems sanitize a pool. The salt system generates chlorine on demand from dissolved salt; the traditional system requires manual chlorine tablet or liquid dosing.
Up-front Cost
Salt system install: $1,650 to $2,850 for the chlorine generator. Traditional chlorinator: $385 to $850. Salt is more expensive up-front by ~$1,500 to $2,000.
Ongoing Cost
Salt: $80 to $150 per year in salt plus a cell replacement every 4 to 7 years ($485 to $1,250). Traditional: $480 to $1,200 per year in chlorine tablets or liquid.
Water Feel
Salt: softer, silkier feel, no harsh chlorine smell. Traditional: stronger chlorine smell, harsher on hair and skin.
Maintenance
Salt: easier weekly chemistry (chlorine generated automatically). Traditional: weekly tablet refill, more frequent shock dosing.
Equipment Compatibility
Salt is mildly corrosive to natural stone copings and older metal equipment. Modern pool builds use salt-rated equipment. Older builds may need anti-corrosion coatings.
Verdict
Salt wins for water feel, long-term chemistry simplicity, and lower ongoing cost. Traditional wins for lowest initial spend and zero equipment compatibility concerns on older pools.
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