Should you keep your salt cell chlorine generator or just use your pool guy?

🌀 Option 1: Salt Cell Chlorine Generator (Saltwater Pool)

✅ Pros

• Consistent chlorine: The system makes chlorine every day as water flows, so the pool stays balanced without big ups and downs.

• Softer feel: The small amount of salt in the water (about 1/10th of ocean salt) makes it feel smoother on skin and eyes.

• Less chemical handling: No need to haul jugs of liquid chlorine or tabs.

• Good for swimmers: Less smell and irritation compared to manually dosed chlorine.

• Long-term savings: After the upfront cost, it often pays for itself in 2–3 years because you buy less chlorine.

❌ Cons

• Hard water + scale: In AZ, high calcium levels coat the salt cell plates with white scale, making the cell work harder and wear out faster. This means more frequent acid cleanings and eventually replacing the cell (every 3–5 years, ~$600–$900).

• Upfront cost: Installing a salt system runs about $1,500–$2,500.

• Still need maintenance: You’ll need to check salt levels, cell condition, and still balance pH and alkalinity.

• Metal and stone damage: Salt can be harsh on stone decking, spillways, and metal equipment if water splashes and dries.

🧴 Option 2: Pool Guy Supplies Chlorine (Traditional Chlorine Pool)

✅ Pros

• No scale-prone equipment: You don’t have to worry about calcium clogging up an expensive salt cell.

• Lower upfront cost: No salt system to buy or maintain.

• Easier in hard water areas: Chlorine dosing is less affected by calcium buildup compared to a salt cell.

• Your pool guy handles everything: You don’t buy, store, or clean anything—just pay for the service.

❌ Cons

• Chlorine swings: Between service visits, chlorine can dip low (hot sunny AZ days burn it off fast). This can mean algae risk if the pool guy only comes once a week.

• Chemical handling: Your pool guy is carrying/storing chlorine—less of a problem for you, but it’s still more chemical-dependent.

• Over time, cost adds up: You’ll always be buying chlorine, and in Arizona summers, pools eat a lot of it.

• Smell & irritation: When chlorine isn’t managed as evenly, swimmers may notice the “chlorine smell” more than with a salt system.

⚖️ Bottom Line

• If you want a “luxury feel” and don’t mind maintaining equipment: Go with a salt cell. The water feels better, chlorine is steadier, and it’s more hands-off—but in a hard water area, be ready for frequent scale cleaning and cell replacements.

• If you want simple and don’t want extra equipment headaches: Stick with your pool guy supplying chlorine. Especially in hard water areas, it may actually be cheaper and less hassle long term.

👉 In Anthem or NW Phoenix (super hard water), many pool pros recommend sticking with liquid chlorine service unless you’re willing to budget for regular salt cell care and replacement.

🌀 Option 1: Salt Cell Chlorine Generator (Saltwater Pool)

✅ Pros

• Consistent chlorine: The system makes chlorine every day as water flows, so the pool stays balanced without big ups and downs.

• Softer feel: The small amount of salt in the water (about 1/10th of ocean salt) makes it feel smoother on skin and eyes.

• Less chemical handling: No need to haul jugs of liquid chlorine or tabs.

• Good for swimmers: Less smell and irritation compared to manually dosed chlorine.

• Long-term savings: After the upfront cost, it often pays for itself in 2–3 years because you buy less chlorine.

❌ Cons

• Hard water + scale: In AZ, high calcium levels coat the salt cell plates with white scale, making the cell work harder and wear out faster. This means more frequent acid cleanings and eventually replacing the cell (every 3–5 years, ~$600–$900).

• Upfront cost: Installing a salt system runs about $1,500–$2,500.

• Still need maintenance: You’ll need to check salt levels, cell condition, and still balance pH and alkalinity.

• Metal and stone damage: Salt can be harsh on stone decking, spillways, and metal equipment if water splashes and dries.

🧴 Option 2: Pool Guy Supplies Chlorine (Traditional Chlorine Pool)

✅ Pros

• No scale-prone equipment: You don’t have to worry about calcium clogging up an expensive salt cell.

• Lower upfront cost: No salt system to buy or maintain.

• Easier in hard water areas: Chlorine dosing is less affected by calcium buildup compared to a salt cell.

• Your pool guy handles everything: You don’t buy, store, or clean anything—just pay for the service.

❌ Cons

• Chlorine swings: Between service visits, chlorine can dip low (hot sunny AZ days burn it off fast). This can mean algae risk if the pool guy only comes once a week.

• Chemical handling: Your pool guy is carrying/storing chlorine—less of a problem for you, but it’s still more chemical-dependent.

• Over time, cost adds up: You’ll always be buying chlorine, and in Arizona summers, pools eat a lot of it.

• Smell & irritation: When chlorine isn’t managed as evenly, swimmers may notice the “chlorine smell” more than with a salt system.

⚖️ Bottom Line

• If you want a “luxury feel” and don’t mind maintaining equipment: Go with a salt cell. The water feels better, chlorine is steadier, and it’s more hands-off—but in a hard water area, be ready for frequent scale cleaning and cell replacements.

• If you want simple and don’t want extra equipment headaches: Stick with your pool guy supplying chlorine. Especially in hard water areas, it may actually be cheaper and less hassle long term.

👉 In Anthem or NW Phoenix (super hard water), many pool pros recommend sticking with liquid chlorine service unless you’re willing to budget for regular salt cell care and replacement.

🌀 Option 1: Salt Cell Chlorine Generator (Saltwater Pool)

✅ Pros

• Consistent chlorine: The system makes chlorine every day as water flows, so the pool stays balanced without big ups and downs.

• Softer feel: The small amount of salt in the water (about 1/10th of ocean salt) makes it feel smoother on skin and eyes.

• Less chemical handling: No need to haul jugs of liquid chlorine or tabs.

• Good for swimmers: Less smell and irritation compared to manually dosed chlorine.

• Long-term savings: After the upfront cost, it often pays for itself in 2–3 years because you buy less chlorine.

❌ Cons

• Hard water + scale: In AZ, high calcium levels coat the salt cell plates with white scale, making the cell work harder and wear out faster. This means more frequent acid cleanings and eventually replacing the cell (every 3–5 years, ~$600–$900).

• Upfront cost: Installing a salt system runs about $1,500–$2,500.

• Still need maintenance: You’ll need to check salt levels, cell condition, and still balance pH and alkalinity.

• Metal and stone damage: Salt can be harsh on stone decking, spillways, and metal equipment if water splashes and dries.

🧴 Option 2: Pool Guy Supplies Chlorine (Traditional Chlorine Pool)

✅ Pros

• No scale-prone equipment: You don’t have to worry about calcium clogging up an expensive salt cell.

• Lower upfront cost: No salt system to buy or maintain.

• Easier in hard water areas: Chlorine dosing is less affected by calcium buildup compared to a salt cell.

• Your pool guy handles everything: You don’t buy, store, or clean anything—just pay for the service.

❌ Cons

• Chlorine swings: Between service visits, chlorine can dip low (hot sunny AZ days burn it off fast). This can mean algae risk if the pool guy only comes once a week.

• Chemical handling: Your pool guy is carrying/storing chlorine—less of a problem for you, but it’s still more chemical-dependent.

• Over time, cost adds up: You’ll always be buying chlorine, and in Arizona summers, pools eat a lot of it.

• Smell & irritation: When chlorine isn’t managed as evenly, swimmers may notice the “chlorine smell” more than with a salt system.

⚖️ Bottom Line

• If you want a “luxury feel” and don’t mind maintaining equipment: Go with a salt cell. The water feels better, chlorine is steadier, and it’s more hands-off—but in a hard water area, be ready for frequent scale cleaning and cell replacements.

• If you want simple and don’t want extra equipment headaches: Stick with your pool guy supplying chlorine. Especially in hard water areas, it may actually be cheaper and less hassle long term.

👉 In NW Peoria, AZ, (super hard water), many pool pros recommend sticking with liquid chlorine service unless you’re willing to budget for regular salt cell care and replacement.