Salt water pool cost to run
Running a salt pool sets you back roughly $49 yearly in cell electricity, plus $150 to $400 for salt. Set money aside for the eventual cell swap and that tacks on $364 a year.
Salt water pool cost to run per year
Your money goes toward 3 things. You're covering electricity for the cell, topping off salt and replacing that cell down the road.
Running a 186 watt cell 8 hours daily across a 180 day season draws roughly $49 worth of power. Salt will set you back $150 to $400 yearly. Spread a $1819 Pentair cell across 5 years and it works out to $364 annually.
Power used by the cell
The spec sheet puts the Pentair IntelliChlor Plus40 cell at 186 watts. Imagine it going 8 hours daily across 180 days. That comes to roughly 268 kilowatt hours per year.
Electricity averages 18.31 cents a kilowatt hour, based on the EIA table. At that price, expect around $49 yearly. Your own rate appears on your bill, so look there.
How much does salt run per year?
Salt comes next among your expenses.
Angi's cost guide puts yearly salt refills at $150 to $400. At the register, one bag of pool salt runs $11.99. Check the water first, then add bags at the deep end.
The cell on its own
At some point a replacement cell becomes necessary. River Pools and Spas says swapping out a worn salt cell runs $700 to $1100. The Pentair IntelliChlor Plus40 carries a $1819 price at Leslie's Pool Supplies.
Expect a cell to hold up 3 to 7 years. A $1819 cell surviving 5 years works out to $364 annually. Save that $364 every summer so you're not blindsided when the swap comes due.
Questions people bring to the counter
What drawbacks come with salt water pools?
Once your salt cell wears out, buying a new one becomes your big bill. A standard swap runs $700 to $1100, while a bigger Pentair unit costs $1819. Then there's lugging salt bags priced at $11.99 apiece, with refills running $150 to $400 annually.
Does a salt water pool pay off?
It hinges on your current chlorine spending. Powering the cell runs only about $49 yearly at the average 18.31 cent rate. Factor in $150 to $400 yearly for salt plus a cell swap every 3 to 7 years.
How long each day should a salt water pool pump run?
How long you run things depends on what your pool calls for. Running a 186 watt cell 8 hours daily across a 180 day season adds up to roughly 268 kilowatt hours.
What does a saltwater pool generator cost?
You'll pay $700 to $1100 to swap out a salt cell. Leslie's sells the Pentair IntelliChlor Plus40 for 40,000 gallon pools at $1819. Divide a $1819 cell across 5 years and it runs about $364 annually.