Saltwater vs. chlorine pools... Is the switch worth it?

[Christina Wells]

Thinking about converting my chlorine pool to saltwater, but I’m not sure if it’s actually easier to maintain. For those who’ve switched, do you regret it or love it?

 

[Greg Thornton]

I switched to saltwater a couple of years ago, and I’ll never go back. Less maintenance, softer water, and no strong chlorine smell. The upfront cost is higher, but long-term, it’s worth it.

 

[Amber Chase]

Hey Christina,

I switched to saltwater about two years ago, and honestly, I’ve never looked back. It’s not maintenance-free, but it’s definitely less of a hassle overall.

With chlorine, I was constantly testing and adding stuff. Now with saltwater, the system handles most of the balancing, and the water just feels better on the skin, kind of softer, if that makes sense. No strong chlorine smell either, which my family really appreciates.

Only downside? The upfront cost to convert isn’t cheap, and I had to replace a salt cell last year, which wasn’t fun. But even with that, I’d still say it’s worth it.

Hope that helps! Happy to answer more if you’re still on the fence.

 

[Monica Cardona]

Thinking about converting my chlorine pool to saltwater, but I’m not sure if it’s actually easier to maintain. For those who’ve switched, do you regret it or love it?

I made the switch to saltwater a while ago, and I love it. It definitely requires less hands-on maintenance than a chlorine pool. The saltwater generator produces its own chlorine, so I don’t have to buy or add it as often. The water feels softer and more pleasant on the skin, and there's no strong chlorine smell. However, it’s not completely maintenance-free—you still need to monitor salt levels, check the pH, and occasionally clean the salt cell. Overall, I don’t regret it, but if you’re used to managing a chlorine pool, there is a bit of a learning curve.

 

[Sean Whitaker]

Thinking about converting my chlorine pool to saltwater, but I’m not sure if it’s actually easier to maintain. For those who’ve switched, do you regret it or love it?

I made the switch to saltwater a few years ago, and honestly, I haven’t looked back. It’s not maintenance-free, no system really is but it’s definitely different, and in my case, it’s been less work overall.

The biggest change I noticed was how much more stable the chlorine levels stayed. Instead of constantly adding tablets or liquid chlorine, the salt system just keeps generating it at a steady pace. I still test the water, but I’m not chasing numbers like I used to. Once everything’s dialed in, it mostly runs on its own.

Also, the water just feels better. Softer on the skin, no strong chlorine smell, and my family stopped complaining about red eyes or that “pool” feeling after swimming.

Now, that said, it’s not totally hands-off. The salt cell needs to be cleaned every so often, mine gets a little scale buildup if I let the calcium get too high. And if your water’s hard or unbalanced, it can wear the cell out faster. I replaced mine after about five years, which seems pretty standard.

Initial cost was something to think about, too. The system itself wasn’t cheap, and installation added a bit more. But long-term, I’m not buying buckets of chlorine anymore, and I like how consistent everything’s been since the switch.

If you’re good with the upfront expense and you’re ready to do a bit of setup and monitoring early on, it’s a solid upgrade. I’d do it again without hesitation.

 

[David Wilson]

I switched mine over to saltwater last year, and honestly, it’s been a great decision. The water feels smoother, and my skin doesn’t dry out like it used to with chlorine. The only real downside is the upfront setup cost, but after that, it’s pretty low-maintenance and cheaper to run. I also use AquaDoc’s clarifier, which keeps the water crystal clear with almost no effort. Definitely don’t regret switching.

 

[Nathan Parker]

I switched to saltwater last year and definitely don’t regret it. The water feels smoother and is much gentler on my skin and eyes. Maintenance is easier too, just check salt levels and clean the cell occasionally. The only real cost hit is upfront, but after that, it’s cheaper and simpler to manage. I also add AquaDoc’s clarifier now and then, it keeps the water sparkling clear with almost no effort.