Salt water pool conversion is one of the most frequently requested upgrades from Margate’s retiree community. The appeal is genuine: salt water pools do feel softer, require less hands-on chemistry management, and are gentler on eyes and sensitive skin at the chlorine concentrations required for safe pool operation. But there are trade-offs and misconceptions worth understanding before converting.
At Pool Service Fort Lauderdale, we help Margate homeowners evaluate whether salt water conversion makes sense for their specific pool and usage patterns. This guide covers what’s real and what’s marketing when it comes to salt water pools in South Florida.
How Salt Water Pools Actually Work
The name is slightly misleading. A salt water pool uses a salt chlorine generator (SCG) — an electrolytic cell that passes salt water (sodium chloride dissolved in pool water) over electrically charged metal plates. The electric current breaks the salt molecules apart and produces hypochlorous acid — the same active sanitizer as liquid chlorine or dissolved tablets.
The pool still contains chlorine. The difference: the SCG produces small amounts of chlorine continuously, maintaining a steady low level, rather than the higher-concentration spikes that occur after a tablet dose or liquid chlorine addition. This steady low-level approach is what produces the softer feel — you’re swimming in 1-2 ppm free chlorine instead of the 3-5 ppm that often follows a manual chlorine addition.
The salt concentration in a salt water pool is approximately 3,200 ppm — about 1/10 the salinity of ocean water. This is the concentration most people describe as “barely perceptible” — lower than ocean water, higher than fresh water, but not distinctly salty-tasting.
Conversion Cost for Margate Pools
The main cost components for converting a Margate residential pool to salt water:
- Salt chlorine generator unit: $600-$1,500 depending on pool size and brand. Quality brands (Hayward AquaRite, Pentair IntelliChlor, Jandy TruClear) at the $800-$1,200 price point represent the best balance of reliability and service life for Margate’s pool size range.
- Installation labor: $150-$400. The SCG cell installs inline on the return plumbing after the filter and heater; the control box mounts on the equipment pad wall and wires to a 120V or 240V circuit.
- Initial salt fill: 400-600 lbs of pool-grade sodium chloride (Morton Pool Salt or equivalent) for a standard Margate pool. Cost: $40-$80. Available at pool supply stores and warehouse clubs.
- Total initial conversion cost: $800-$2,000 depending on unit and existing electrical infrastructure.
Ongoing Costs After Conversion
- Replacement electrolytic cell: Every 3-7 years depending on water chemistry management and cell quality. Cost: $200-$600 per cell. This is the main ongoing cost of salt water ownership and should be factored into the total cost of ownership calculation.
- Annual salt addition: Replace salt lost to backwash, splash, and rain dilution — typically 50-100 lbs/year for a standard Margate pool. Cost: $5-$10/year.
- Supplemental chemistry: SCGs do not manage pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, or cyanuric acid. These still require periodic adjustment — either via a service provider or by the homeowner.
What Salt Water Does NOT Do Well in Margate
Salt water is corrosive to certain materials that may be present in Margate’s older pools:
- Natural stone coping: Travertine, limestone, and some natural stone copings absorb salt-laden splash water and can develop surface deterioration over time. Sealed natural stone or synthetic coping is more compatible.
- Older heater heat exchangers: Some older heater heat exchangers (not rated for salt water) corrode faster in a salt water environment. Check your heater’s salt compatibility rating before converting.
- Galvanized or lower-grade steel components: Any galvanized fittings, light fixture housings, or ladder components not rated for salt water will corrode faster.
Pool Service Fort Lauderdale helps Margate homeowners evaluate their pool’s compatibility before salt water conversion and provides ongoing service for salt water pools throughout Margate. Call (954) 501-2754 or visit our Margate pool service page. Full coverage at poolservicefortlauderdale.us.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is salt water chlorine-free? No — generates chlorine on-site from salt. The difference is continuous low-level production (1-2 ppm) vs manual-addition spikes.
Conversion cost in Margate? $800-$2,000 total (unit + install + initial salt). Replacement cells every 3-7 years add $200-$600 per cycle.
Easier to maintain? No more chlorine purchasing or adding, but pH/alkalinity/calcium still need periodic adjustment. Reduces hands-on work, doesn’t eliminate professional service needs.
Better for sensitive skin/eyes? Generally yes — steady low chlorine concentration is gentler than post-addition spikes.
Will it damage older equipment? Check heater salt compatibility and coping material before converting. Natural stone coping and older non-rated heat exchangers are vulnerable.