How much work is it to maintain a salt pool.

[BasicTek]

I would think just not having to buy a constant source of chlorine alone is reason enough to switch to SWG. In FL where the summer is so consistent (high of 90 low of 78 from June to October). I'm testing about every 2 weeks. I have to add a little acid about every 2 weeks (10-15 oz), I have to add CYA about every quarter (my pool eats up about 10 ppm CYA a month), and if no hurricanes I have to add salt (1 - 40 lb bag for $4) about twice a year. I think the consistent climate in FL combined with screen help keep things very simple. I did test every other day at 1st but just don't seem to need to anymore. I do use the pool 3-5 times a week so if I sense anything is not perfect I can always test more often.

A SWG may end up costing a little more when you add initial costs plus maintenance of equipment (mainly occasional cell replacement) but it's certainly worth it to never have to buy chlorine. On the off chance I may need some extra chlorine (like a hurricane Irma in 2017) my leftover 50lb bucket of pucks will probably last me another 10 years....

 

[Rossterman]

Okay maybe I was thinking to critical and will give the stenner another shot.

That would be my plan. Stenner has the advantage of not having to extend circulation run times to generate enough chorine like a SWG cell sometimes requires. Salt is also a little more corrosive than freshwater if you have natural stone coping (sandstones and some travertines are more susceptable), finally, there is the cost of the system and periodic cell replacements when they wear out. I’m on my 3rd SWG system in 12 years and when this one goes, I’m going the stenner route.

 

[Dirk]

For your pro/con list. How's your winters? How cold does your water get? SWG don't work below somewhere in the 50s (depending on brand), so if your water temp drops in the winter, then you'll be manually dosing. If you close, maybe no big deal. But I don't. So I get SWG goodness about nine months a year, then have manually dose through the winter months. Never had a Stenner, but I would expect they could work all-year-long...