· By Dana Whitcomb · 1 min read
Salt or chlorine: what we tell our clients
A salt pool is still a chlorine pool. What a salt system changes, what it costs and who it suits.
The question we hear most at pool checks is whether to switch to salt. The short answer: a salt pool is still a chlorine pool. The salt cell makes the chlorine from salt in the water, instead of you adding it.
What changes
The water feels softer, there are no tablets to buy or store, and the chlorine is made steadily rather than in lumps. What doesn’t change is testing: the pH still drifts, usually upwards, and still needs acid.
What it costs
A salt system costs more to put in, and the cell wears out every five to seven years. Over that time most of our clients spend about the same as on tablets; they switch for the feel of the water, not the money.
Who it suits
Pools that are used a lot, families with children, and anyone who hates handling chlorine. Stone coping and some heaters need a little care with salt; we check yours before we recommend it.