Best for Hot Tubs & Spas: Saltron Mili Salt System

Let’s talk salt chlorine generators!

If you own a hot tub or pool, you know that keeping it clean can be a hassle. Harsh chemicals like bromine can be hard on skin and hair. Salt chlorine generators are a solution—not only do they require less maintenance, but there is no heavy chlorine smell. And no need to purchase expensive bromine tablets.

Salt chlorine generators convert sodium chloride (otherwise known as table salt) into chlorine by electrolysis. When the salt water is electrically charged this causes the salt atoms to split and turns it into chlorine.

Water goes through the cell and over blades coated with either ruthenium or iridium. The blades are charged by the control board’s electricity. The control board can control the amount of chlorine in your pool. Some control boards can control the salt chlorinator with a remote or a mobile device.

The control board is typically connected to a pool automation system. You still have to check your chemicals in a salt chlorinated pool and you have to inspect the cell every 3-6 months to make sure there isn’t excess calcium build-up on the blades (can be cleaned with a special cleaner). You may have to add more salt to the pool at times. Of course, table salt is much less expensive than other chemical solutions like bromine.

After interviewing three long-time veterans of the spa business and asking our readers for their real-world experiences, we picked the Saltron Mili Salt System as the best bet for hot tubs and spas.

What We Liked

• Easy to install.

• Simple upgrade for most hot tubs.

• Easier to clean.

• Warning if salt is too low or high.

What Needs Work

• Power cord could be longer.

• Learning curve to get the chemical balance just right.

Best For Pools: BLUE WORKS Saltwater Generator Chlorinator

This is our pick for pools—it works up to 40,000 gallons. This model came highly recommended by several of our readers and we agree: the design and build is excellent.

What We Liked

• Easy to install.

• Keeps salt levels at consistent level.

• Self-cleaning.

• Works with current filter and pump system.

• Displays shows average salt level and water temperature.

What Needs Work

• Instructions could be more detailed.

• Pricey.

Best User-Friendly: CircuPool CORE356 Salt Chlorinator System

Yes, some salt chlorine generators can be complicated to install and run. This model by CircuPool is dead simple—simple to install and simple use, according to the experts we interviewed for this article. Yes, it is bit more pricey than others we researched, but we think the trade-off may be worth it for folks.

What We Liked

• Easy install.

• One-piece design—no separate control unit.

• Waterproof design.

• Easy to read controls.

• Works for pools up to 35,000 gallons.

• USA-made titanium cell.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

Best for Above Ground Pools: Hayward W3AQ-TROL-RJ AquaTrol Salt Chlorination System

Yes, this unit is designed specifically for above-ground pools—and we liked the overall quality and construction. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Plug and play design.

• Affordable.

• Easy to install.

• Can be set to auto, off or super chlorinate.

What Needs Work

• Only works on pools up to 18,000 gallons. 

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!