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Saltwater vs traditional chlorine

A saltwater pool still uses chlorine. A salt chlorine generator makes it from dissolved salt, so you add salt occasionally instead of chlorine every few days.

Pros

• Steady chlorine levels without daily dosing
• Many people find the water feels softer
• No storing or carrying jugs of chlorine

Cons

• Scale on the cell: hard water builds calcium on the cell plates, so plan to inspect and clean it regularly.
• Cells wear out and need replacement every several years.
• Salt can be hard on some natural stone, metals and older equipment.
• pH tends to rise, so you'll still add acid.

Salt level

Most systems run around 2,700–3,400 ppm; follow your system's manual. Use the salt calculator to figure out how many bags to add.