By the SLM Pool Services team · Updated
How each one makes chlorine
In a salt pool, water runs through an electrolytic cell that splits salt into chlorine, which then turns back into salt. Nothing about the sanitizer is different; the delivery is.
A traditional pool gets chlorine from tablets in a feeder or liquid chlorine added on each visit.
What changes in South Florida
Heat and long pump run times make a salt cell work hard here, and cells scale up faster in warm water. Expect to clean the cell regularly and replace it eventually.
Heavy rain dilutes salt as well as chlorine, so salt levels need checking after storm weeks.
What it means for weekly service
Both need weekly testing. Salt pools need pH brought down more often and the cell inspected; chlorine pools need chlorine added and stabilizer watched.
