Converting Above Or Below Ground Pools To Salt Water Systems
Saltwater pool conversion" might sound like there is a lot involved. If you're wondering how you convert to salt, it really doesn't involve any big procedures...
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Salt Water Pool Benefits at a Glance: Chemical Savings, Less Hassle, Better Water Quality
Salt water pools still use chlorine - they simply generate it automatically from a low level of natural salt in the pool water, greatly improving your pool ownership experience. This comparison table shows you the essential benefits at a glance:
Up to 40-50%
lifetime savings
Less maintenance
much less hassle
More natural
swim experience
Salt water pool benefits come down to three things: lower chemical costs, less maintenance, and noticeably better water quality. A salt chlorine generator makes chlorine automatically from dissolved salt, so pool owners save 40–50% on chemicals over the life of the system, spend far less time managing chlorination, and swim in water that's softer, clearer, and free of the harsh smell and irritation common in conventional pools.
To think about it another way, most pool owners who switch to salt point to the same three things: they spend less, they do less, and the water is noticeably better to swim in. Here's what that actually looks like.
Table of Contents:
You Spend Less on Pool Chemicals
The average pool owner can easily spend $200–$800 per year on chlorine products (it's going to depend on your pool size). But with a salt system, that drops to $0–$50 annually. Why? Because a salt pool system is simply an electronic chlorine generator - it makes the chlorine your pool needs, directly within the pool system. You don’t have to regularly buy chemical chlorine which has been manufactured, packaged, transported, and sold at retail. You don’t have to regularly shock the pool. Instead, the salt chlorine generator converts a low level of natural salt within the pool water into a pure form of chlorine (even better, the salt doesn’t get used up)!
Over the lifespan of the system, industry estimates are that pool owners can save as much as 40–50% on chemical costs. That means it's possible for a salt pool system to pay for itself, and then some.
→ See the full cost breakdown: Salt Water Pool Cost vs Chlorine Pool Cost
You Do Less Pool Maintenance — Including No Routine Chlorine and No Scheduled Shocking
No Routine Chlorine and No Scheduled Shocking
The chemical savings are just the beginning. Salt systems also reduce the time you spend on maintenance, and help prevent the frustration of reactive chemistry cycles.
A salt chlorine generator produces a precise amount of chlorine continuously while your pump runs. You set the output level. The system handles the rest. When properly sized and maintained, you shouldn't need to add any chlorine regularly — the chlorine generator keeps your pool’s “shields” up and provides consistent results so the water stays blue and the pool stays swimmable.
Think of the difference with a traditional chlorine pool, where you're constantly reacting. Chlorine levels drop. You add more. Sunlight burns it off. Levels drop again. If it’s not kept up with all the time and done just right, you're fighting cloudy water & algae. Next, you’re forced to heavily shock the pool to recover — more work, more spending, and pool days lost.
Salt systems flip that dynamic. The chlorine generator quietly helps to maintain sanitizer levels whether you're home or not. What that means is that the salt cell's consistent chlorination helps prevent and break down any buildup of chloramines (the harsh byproducts that accumulate in traditional chlorine pools). So as a matter of course — properly maintained salt pools don't need recurring scheduled shocking. No sky-high chlorine levels keeping you out of the water. You can use the pool when you want to.
Since you don’t need to be regularly adding conventional chlorine, you don’t need to store chlorine chemicals. You might not realize the danger present in storing pool chemicals — but chlorine is a strong oxidizer. Improper storage can cause fires, toxic fumes, or accidental exposure. Eliminating that from your garage or shed isn't just convenient. It's meaningfully better for your household.
The one maintenance task unique to salt systems is occasional cell cleaning. Calcium scale builds up on the cell plates — your system alerts you when it's needed, usually one to two times per season. About 10–15 minutes: unscrew the cell from the plumbing fittings, soak in cleaning solution, reattach. Essentially, that’s the seasonal tradeoff for eliminating the weekly chlorine cycle.
→ Learn more: The Essential Salt Water Pool Maintenance Guide for Beginners
A Genuinely Better Swimming Experience For You, Family, and Friends
Residential salt pools run at 2,700–3,500 ppm — far below what you'd taste or feel as salty. What swimmers notice is that the water feels soft, smooth, and gentle. Skin doesn’t dry out. You can open your eyes underwater without discomfort. No harsh chemical smell. So not only does the pool stay looking beautiful, the water is more enjoyable for any of your swimmers.
Chloramines are why conventional pools feel harsh. They form when chlorine combines with sweat, sunscreen, and other contaminants — and they're responsible for red eyes, itchy skin, bleached swimsuits, and that sharp chemical smell. They're practically inevitable with manual chlorination.
Salt systems produce chlorine at a steady, controlled rate, which means fewer chloramine spikes and fewer algae problems. Consistent chlorine levels keep the water clear because sanitation never lapses — your “shields” are always up and there's no gap for algae to take hold. As water passes through the salt cell, it actively breaks down chloramines already in the water — so swimmers feel the water, not the chemicals in it. Especially noticeable for children, frequent swimmers, and anyone with sensitive skin.
There's also a practical enjoyment benefit that doesn't get named often enough: you can swim whenever you want. With a chlorine pool, shocking means sky-high chlorine levels that keep you out of the water for a day or two. Salt pools don't have that problem. The water is ready when you are.
Salt water pools are also well-suited for households with pets — many dog owners find their animals also enjoy the benefits of salt pool water better than heavily chlorinated water. For more on what to expect, see Are Salt Water Pools Safe for Dogs & Pets?
Important note: as with any health-specific concern, consult your doctor if you have particular sensitivities or medical considerations.
A More Predictable Ownership Experience
Put it all together and the pattern is consistent. Salt pool owners spend less on chemicals — up to 40–50% less over the life of the system. They spend less time on maintenance — the generator handles chlorination automatically so they're not constantly reacting to changing water conditions. And the water is clearer and more comfortable — consistent sanitizer production means fewer algae problems, less chloramine irritation, and water that genuinely feels good to swim in day after day.
After a few seasons, this is what most salt pool owners come back to. Not the chemistry — the peace of mind.
That’s probably why as of 2007, about 75% of new pools were built as salt pools - their benefits make them the go-to choice for pool owners who want to take control of their pool and be able to consistently enjoy swimming.
→ Learn more: Salt Water Pool vs Chlorine Pool: The Complete Comparison
Use our smart tool to get recommendations of salt chlorinator models that fit your pool size, climate, and pool usage.
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FAQs
Yes. The difference is how the chlorine gets there. Instead of you buying, storing, and manually adding manufactured chlorine, a salt system (electronic chlorine generator) creates its own pure, continuous supply of chlorine from a very low level of dissolved salt in the water. Because a salt water pool gets precise consistent chlorination, you don't typically get the harsh effects like red eyes, dry skin, chemical smell, and more.
No. Residential salt water pools operate at a very low salinity level between 2,700 and 3,500 parts per million (ppm), which is about 1/10th the salinity of the ocean (35,000 ppm). The human taste threshold for salt is typically around 4,000 ppm. Its safe for equipment and pool surfaces, and to most swimmers the water doesn't taste salty at all—it simply feels remarkably soft and silky on the skin.
Absolutely. Converting from traditional chlorine to a salt system is one of the most common pool upgrades and is completely straightforward. You don't even need to drain your pool. It simply requires installing a salt chlorine generator and adding the appropriate amount of pool-grade salt to the water.
Who We Are:
At Discount Salt Pool, we're pool owners who want to help other pool owners enjoy the simplicity and the savings of saltwater chlorine generators. Unlike the pool store or pool pros, we're not the last step of a long & overpriced distribution chain. We're lifelong swimming pool enthusiasts & experts with decades of experience in the industry who want to give other pool owners direct access to the best pool technology that's out there- along with unlimited access to our friendly customer support and online DIY resources. Discount Salt Pool is a BBB member with an A+ rating.
Did You Know?
DiscountSaltPool.com is America's largest specialty provider of saltwater swimming pool equipment. Since 1997, we've helped hundreds of thousands of people convert their pool to salt! Order online today, come visit our Texas headquarters, or call in for personalized help and recommendations.
