Salt Chlorine vs. Traditional Chlorine: What Florida Pool Owners Should Know

This is the question we get more than almost anything else: "Should I get a salt pool or a chlorine pool?" The short answer is that a salt pool is a chlorine pool — it just makes its own chlorine. But the full answer involves cost, maintenance, feel, and some trade-offs that most pool companies won't tell you about.

Here's an honest breakdown from a builder who installs both systems and recommends salt for the majority of our projects.

How Does a Salt Water Pool Work?

A salt chlorine generator (also called a salt cell or SWG) converts dissolved salt in your pool water into chlorine through a process called electrolysis. Here's the simplified version:

1. You add pool-grade salt to the water (about 50 lbs per 2,000 gallons). The water tastes mildly salty — about one-tenth the salinity of ocean water. Most people can't taste it.
2. Water passes through the salt cell, which contains electrically charged metal plates (usually titanium coated with ruthenium).
3. Electrolysis splits the salt (sodium chloride / NaCl) and water molecules, producing chlorine gas at the cell.
4. The chlorine gas dissolves into the water as hypochlorous acid — the exact same sanitizer that traditional chlorine produces.
5. After the chlorine does its job killing bacteria and algae, it recombines back into salt, and the cycle repeats.

The end result is the same: hypochlorous acid sanitizing your pool. The difference is how it gets there.

How Much Does a Salt Water Pool System Cost?

A salt chlorine generator system — including the salt cell, control board, and installation — typically costs $1,500–$2,500 on a new pool build in the Bradenton, Sarasota, and Lakewood Ranch area. Retrofitting an existing pool can run slightly higher due to plumbing modifications.

For a traditional chlorine setup, there's no additional equipment cost beyond the standard pump and filter. The equipment is already part of your base pool package.

Salt Pool vs Chlorine Pool: 5-Year Cost Comparison

This is where the math gets interesting. Salt systems cost more upfront but less to operate. Traditional chlorine is cheaper to install but more expensive to maintain.

Over 5 years, the total cost is roughly comparable. The real savings with salt show up after year 5 when you've already absorbed the upfront cost and cell replacement. Over 10 years, salt systems typically come out $1,500–$3,000 cheaper. But the real reason most people choose salt isn't cost — it's the daily experience.

What Are the Benefits of a Salt Water Pool?

Consistent Daily Chlorination

A salt system produces chlorine continuously while your pump runs. There are no peaks right after you add a chlorine tablet and no valleys when the tablet dissolves completely. Your chlorine level stays steady — typically between 1–3 ppm all day, every day. This consistency is better for your water quality and your pool surfaces.

Softer-Feeling Water

This is the thing every salt pool owner mentions first. The dissolved salt makes the water feel noticeably smoother and silkier on your skin. It's not a marketing gimmick — people genuinely feel the difference immediately. Your skin doesn't feel dried out after swimming, and your eyes don't sting.

No Storing or Handling Chlorine

No more lugging 40-pound buckets of chlorine tablets from the pool store. No more storing hazardous chemicals in your garage. No more green-stained hands or bleached clothes from spills. The salt system handles it.

Less Chloramine Smell

That harsh "chlorine smell" that people associate with pools is actually chloramines — the byproduct of chlorine reacting with sweat, oils, and urine. Salt systems produce less combined chlorine (chloramines) because the chlorine is generated fresh and continuously, rather than in concentrated bursts.

Easier Day-to-Day Maintenance

With a salt system, your daily chlorination is automated. You still need to check and adjust pH, alkalinity, and other levels — but the biggest daily task (maintaining chlorine) is handled for you.

What Are the Downsides of a Salt Water Pool?

Higher Upfront Cost

That $1,500–$2,500 for the salt system is real money. On a tight budget, it might be the feature that gets cut.

Salt Cell Is a Consumable

The salt cell doesn't last forever. Plan on replacing it every 3–5 years at $500–$800. It's like replacing brake pads on a car — it's an expected maintenance item, but it's an expense that traditional chlorine pools don't have.

Salt Can Damage Certain Materials

Salt water that splashes onto unsealed natural stone coping or decking can cause deterioration over time. Travertine, limestone, and some flagstones are vulnerable if they're not properly sealed and maintained. This doesn't mean you can't use natural stone with a salt pool — you absolutely can — but it needs to be sealed properly and maintained. Pavers and sealed concrete handle salt water with no issues.

pH Tends to Rise

The electrolysis process naturally raises pH. Salt pool owners typically need to add muriatic acid more frequently than traditional chlorine pool owners. This isn't a major hassle — a splash of acid once or twice a week — but it's an ongoing task that doesn't go away.

You Still Need CYA

Because salt systems produce unstabilized chlorine, you need to add cyanuric acid (CYA/stabilizer) separately to protect that chlorine from UV breakdown. Target 60–80 ppm for salt systems. The upside is that CYA doesn't build up uncontrollably like it does with trichlor tablets. Our pool water chemistry guide covers CYA and all the other key numbers in detail.

Potential for Metal Corrosion

Salt water can corrode metal fixtures, railings, heater components, and nearby outdoor furniture if they're not rated for salt environments. Make sure any metal near your pool — ladder anchors, handrails, light niches — is marine-grade stainless steel or specifically rated for salt water. We spec all salt-compatible components on our builds, but if you're retrofitting an older pool, check your existing metal components.

What Salt Level Does a Pool Need?

Most salt chlorine generators require a salt level of 3,000–3,500 ppm (parts per million). For reference, ocean water is about 35,000 ppm — so your pool water is roughly one-tenth as salty. At 3,200 ppm, most people can't taste the salt at all.

You'll add salt when you first fill the pool, and then top it off occasionally as water is lost through splashing, backwashing, and rain dilution. Typically, you'll add salt once or twice per year. Your salt cell's control board will display the current salt level and alert you when it's low.

The salt cell itself needs cleaning every 3–6 months to remove calcium buildup on the plates. Most systems have a "reverse polarity" feature that self-cleans to some extent, but periodic manual cleaning with a mild acid wash extends the cell's life.

Why We Recommend Salt for Most Florida Pools

About 85% of the pools we build in the Sarasota and Bradenton area include a salt chlorine generator. It's not because we make more money on them (the margin is negligible) — it's because our clients consistently prefer the experience once they understand how the system works.

The softer water, the automated chlorination, the elimination of chemical handling — these are quality-of-life improvements that matter when you're using your pool 200+ days a year on the Gulf Coast. And after the first few weeks, every salt pool owner we've built for has said the same thing: "I can't imagine going back." For more ideas on what to include in your build, browse our best pool features guide.

That said, traditional chlorine is a perfectly viable choice. If you're on a very tight budget, if you prefer hands-on control of your chlorination, or if your pool has extensive natural stone that you don't want to worry about, traditional chlorine works great. It's been sanitizing pools for decades and it's not going anywhere.

Are Salt Water Pool Myths True?

"Salt pools have no chlorine."

False. Salt pools produce chlorine — that's literally how they work. The chlorine is generated on-site from dissolved salt rather than added manually. But the sanitizer in the water is the same: hypochlorous acid. If someone is truly allergic to chlorine (which is extremely rare), a salt pool will cause the same reaction.

"Salt pools are maintenance-free."

False. Salt pools are easier to maintain day-to-day because chlorination is automated. But you still need to test water weekly, adjust pH regularly (it rises faster with salt), monitor CYA, clean the salt cell periodically, and balance calcium and alkalinity. No pool is maintenance-free.

"Salt will ruin my deck."

Manageable. Salt water splash-out can damage unsealed natural stone over time. But with proper material selection (pavers, sealed travertine, brushed concrete) and basic maintenance (hosing off the deck periodically), this is a non-issue. We design every salt pool with appropriate decking materials and proper drainage to manage splash-out.

Salt or Chlorine: Which Is Right for You?

Salt chlorine and traditional chlorine both sanitize your pool effectively. The choice comes down to how you want to experience pool ownership. Salt gives you softer water, automated chlorination, and less chemical handling at the cost of higher upfront investment and a consumable cell. Traditional chlorine is simpler upfront but requires more hands-on maintenance.

For most families in SW Florida who plan to use their pool nearly every day, salt is the better long-term choice. That's what our experience building hundreds of pools in this market tells us. But either way, you're getting a clean, safe pool — and that's what matters. Whichever system you choose, our year-round pool care schedule will help you stay on top of maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a salt water pool better than chlorine in Florida?

For most Florida pool owners, salt is the better long-term choice. The automated chlorination, softer water, and lower chemical handling make day-to-day ownership easier, especially when you're swimming nearly year-round.

Do salt water pools cost more to maintain?

Over 5 years, total costs are roughly comparable. Salt systems cost more upfront ($1,500-$2,500) and require cell replacements every 3-5 years, but you save on chlorine purchases. After year 5, salt systems typically become the cheaper option.

Can salt water damage my pool deck?

Salt water splash-out can deteriorate unsealed natural stone over time. However, with proper material selection like pavers or sealed travertine and basic maintenance, this is a non-issue. We design every salt pool with appropriate decking and drainage.

Do salt pools still need chlorine?

Salt pools produce their own chlorine through electrolysis, so you don't need to buy or handle chlorine manually. The sanitizer in the water is identical to traditional chlorine pools — the difference is how it gets there.

References

• Salt chlorine generator principles: Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA)
• Salt cell and equipment specifications: Hayward, Pentair, and Zodiac manufacturer guidelines
• Chloramine formation and health effects: CDC — Healthy Swimming guidelines
• Salt water and natural stone: Natural Stone Institute

Costs reflect 2026 estimates for Southwest Florida and may vary by equipment brand, pool size, and local conditions. Contact us for specific recommendations for your project.