Saltwater vs. chlorine pools in the Florida Keys.
Short answer: a saltwater pool is still a chlorine pool. A salt cell turns dissolved salt into chlorine, so you buy less chlorine and the water feels softer, but the system costs more up front, the cell needs replacing every few years and salt can wear on natural stone and metal. Both work well in the Keys with the right materials.
How a saltwater pool works
A salt chlorine generator passes pool water with a low level of dissolved salt, usually around 3,000 to 3,500 parts per million, through an electrolytic cell. The cell converts the salt into chlorine, which sanitizes the water and then turns back into salt. For comparison, seawater is roughly ten times saltier, so a salt pool tastes only faintly salty.
A traditional chlorine pool gets its chlorine from tablets in a feeder or from liquid chlorine added by hand or by an automated system.
Pros and cons
- Salt, pros: softer-feeling water, steady chlorine production, fewer chemicals to buy, store and handle.
- Salt, cons: higher upfront equipment cost, a cell that needs cleaning and periodic replacement, a tendency for pH to drift up, and salt that can wear on soft stone and metal.
- Chlorine, pros: lower upfront cost, simple equipment, and no salt exposure for decks and fixtures.
- Chlorine, cons: more frequent chemical purchases and handling, and chlorine levels that rise and fall between doses.
What to consider in the Keys
- Stone decks and coping: softer natural stone such as coral stone and some travertine and limestone can pit or flake with salt exposure. Sealing the stone and rinsing the deck helps, and denser stone or porcelain resists it better.
- Metal: ladders, rails, light rings and nearby hardware should be stainless or otherwise rated for salt, which is good practice anywhere near the ocean anyway.
- Storms and outages: a salt cell only makes chlorine while the pump runs. After a hurricane or a long power outage, keep liquid chlorine on hand to hold the water until power returns.
- Sun and heat: strong year-round sun burns off chlorine faster, so stabilizer and regular testing matter with either system.
Which should you choose?
If you want softer water and less chemical handling, and your deck and coping materials suit it, a salt system is a good fit. If you prefer lower upfront cost and simpler equipment, or you have soft natural stone around the pool, traditional chlorine works well. We can design a new pool for either system and add or replace salt systems as part of a pool remodel. See also what a pool costs in the Keys.
Common questions
Is a saltwater pool chlorine-free?
No. A saltwater pool uses a salt cell to make chlorine from dissolved salt. The pool is sanitized by chlorine, just produced on site instead of added from a bucket.
Will salt damage my pool deck?
Salt can wear on softer natural stone such as coral stone and some travertine. Sealing the stone, rinsing the deck and choosing denser stone or porcelain all reduce the risk.
How often does a salt cell need replacing?
Typically every few years, depending on the cell, how many hours it runs and how well the water is balanced. Regular cleaning extends its life.
Can you convert my chlorine pool to salt?
Usually, yes. We install salt systems as part of equipment upgrades and pool remodels, and we check your deck, coping and fixtures for salt compatibility first.
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