What Is the Cost Of A Salt Chlorine Generator?

Here’s the thing, guys: there is nothing better at keeping pool water clean and clear than chlorine. You may have heard something about salt chlorination systems in pools before. Or perhaps you’ve heard the term “salt water pool” and leapt for joy at the notion of a chlorine-free pool.

The truth is that saltwater pools are chlorinated. Salt chlorine generators transform salt that flows through the cell into sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine).

Is there anything more satisfying than a crystal clear pool?? Okay, maybe there are a few things. A perfect rock skip; an out of the park home run; the ending of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. But that is all personal preference, though. If you’re reading this article, you love crystal clear pools. Or at least, you would love to have one.

Salt chlorine generators (also known as salt cells, salt generators, and saltwater chlorinators) are one of the premium pool sanitization options. These nifty little machines take the burden of having to manually add tablets and shock off your back. Salt chlorine generators constantly chlorinate pools to ensure consistent and correct chlorine levels (1 – 3 PPM).

Sounds pretty cool, right? A salt chlorine generator can make balancing your pool water chemistry easy, as long as you monitor and maintain the system properly.

If you’re digging the sound of a saltwater chlorine generator, you’re no doubt thinking about a very annoying question. So let’s not avoid it. How much does a saltwater pool system cost? Let’s dive in.

Price Range For Salt Chlorine Generators

As you may or may not know, prices for goods and services change all the time. The pool world is no exception. You see, there are a ton of different salt chlorine generators on the market. Some are strictly for above-ground pools, some are strictly for inground pools, some can be used on both, etc.

The range for a salt cell is vast. Depending on the type of pool you have, the brand of salt generator, and whether you choose to pair it with an automation system, you may spend anywhere from $500 – $4200 on a salt chlorine generator.

For an above-ground pool, most salt chlorine generators will fall somewhere between $500 and $1500.

For a higher-end salt chlorine generator for an inground pool, most start around $2000. If you decide to pair the salt cell with an automation system, that may drive the cost north of $3500, in some cases reaching up to $4200.

Pool Salt Cost? Type of Salt?

It’s imperative to purchase pool salt for your saltwater pool. Among the several different types of salt, there are three that you can use in salt-chlorinated pools. They are:

• Mechanically evaporated salt
• Mined salt
• Solar salt

Regardless of the type of pool salt you use, be sure that the salt is at least 95% pure salt to prevent staining and scaling, which may happen if the salt is impure and your water chemistry is unbalanced.

A bag of salt, roughly around 40 pounds, typically costs somewhere between $10 – $40. The amount of salt you need to add to your pool will be contingent on the number of gallons of water the pool holds.

Conclusion

There you have it, folks. Now that you know the rough cost of a salt chlorine system, you should be able to determine if one is worth it. The thing about salt chlorine generators is: they are not a maintenance-free product.

They do not balance your pool water; they just keep the pool chlorinated. Salt-chlorine pools do offer a silkier water texture and are not as harsh on the eyes as traditionally chlorinated pools, but they ultimately still use chlorine. If you’re interested in a completely chlorine-free option, a salt chlorine generator is not for you.

We hope this article was helpful. For more information about salt chlorine generators, check out the articles below. For even more educational content on all things pools and landscaping, dive into our learning hub at the top of the page. Have a great day!

How To Maintain a Salt Water Pool

What Are the Pros and Cons of Salt Generators in Pools?

Pros and Cons of Swimming Pool Automation

Written by Logan Edgemon