If you’ve decided to have an inground pool built into your backyard, or if you just bought a home with an inground pool as part of the property, you’ve got some choices to make. One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make now is whether you’ll choose a salt-water pool or a traditional chlorinated pool.

Salt-water pools are becoming more and more popular nowadays as more people are discovering the potential dangers as well as inconveniences associated with traditional chlorine and chlorinated pools.

However, keep in mind that salt-water pools are not actually free of chlorine, despite what its name suggests and the fact that it is generally used as an alternative to chlorine pools. Salt-water pools use chlorine generators (which are actually not new pieces of pool equipment, but they do continue to improve over time). By using a “salt chlorinator,” not only are you able to chlorinate your pool without the harmful effects of regular chlorine—such as red, burning eyes and itchy, irritated skin—but it requires much less hassle to operate and maintain.

So what do chlorine generators actually do, and how do they work? Chlorine generators essentially do what the name implies: generate chlorine! But why wouldn’t you just stick with chlorine pools? The reason is simple: most chlorine generators are specifically designed to produce chlorine for your pool on a continual basis while the pool is pumping, which means that you don’t have to buy and store chlorine, and handle it on a regular basis when cleaning the pool. This is not only more convenient, but is also safer, and even more effective than traditional methods of using chlorine in swimming pools because the residual, continuous chlorine pumped through a generator helps prevent the growth of algae without you needing to do any extra work.

How do chlorine generators work? Through electrolysis, the non-chlorinated, salt water that passes through the generator makes chlorine, which is turned into hypochlorous acid, which in turn sanitizes the pool and kills the algae and other potentially junk in your swimming pool.

However, it’s important to understand that while many consumers love salt-water pools and chlorine generators, these systems do require proper care and maintenance even though you don’t need to handle the chlorine yourself. For example, in order for the chlorine generator to operate to its maximum capacity and keep generating chlorine effectively and continuously (and thus, keep your pool clean), the generator’s cell must be cleaned and maintained, and kept free of mineral deposits such as calcium. In addition, your swimming pool’s pH balance must be maintained, because the overall effectiveness of the generator hinges on your pool’s water conditions and balance.

When choosing a chlorine generator for your salt-water pool, consider a unit that requires 3,500 parts per million (ppm) or less in order to function, since humans reportedly have a “salt taste threshold” of about 3,500 ppm. Some chlorine generators require up to 6,000 ppm, which may be hard to handle and make your pool unpleasant to swim in. However, there are other considerations to keep in mind with respect to choosing the right chlorine generator for your pool, so take your time in this important decision.