Pentair IntelliChlor Plus30
#4 in In-GroundFull review
A mid-size Pentair Plus system for pools up to 30,000 gallons, best bought through a pool pro to keep the 3-year warranty.
$1,675.50
The Pentair IntelliChlor Plus30 is the better salt chlorinator overall, rated 3.3 to 3.1. The Pentair IntelliChlor Plus30 leads on value. The Pentair IntelliChlor Plus30 costs $323.50 less ($1,675.50 vs $1,999).
Hayward AquaRite T-9 (W3AQR9)
#6 in In-GroundFull review
Hayward’s online-sold salt system for mid-size in-ground pools: a proven design, but with only a 1-year warranty bought this way.
Amazon $1,999$1,999
Prices were last checked October 27, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Pentair IntelliChlor Plus30 for value ($1,676 for 1.1 lb of chlorine a day ($1,523 per lb/day) vs $1,999 for 0.9 lb of chlorine a day ($2,221 per lb/day)).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every in-ground salt chlorinator; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | Pentair IntelliChlor Plus30 | Hayward AquaRite T-9 (W3AQR9) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.3/5 | 3.1/5 |
| Value 30% | 34 $1,676 for 1.1 lb of chlorine a day ($1,523 per lb/day) | 15 $1,999 for 0.9 lb of chlorine a day ($2,221 per lb/day) |
| Cell cost 20% | 27 Replacement cell $1,224 ($1,113 per lb/day) | 33 Replacement cell $899 ($999 per lb/day) |
| Warranty 20% | 50 3-year cell, 3-year control center warranty | 50 3-year cell, 3-year control center warranty |
| Features 20% | 75 Salt level readout, works with pentair intellicenter, pentair intelliconnect, pentair easytouch, pentair intellitouch, pentair suntouch, cold-water shutoff, flow sensing, boost mode | 75 Salt level readout, works with hayward pro logic, pentair intellitouch, polaris eos, cold-water shutoff, flow sensing, boost mode |
| Certification 10% | 100 Certified to NSF/ANSI 50 | 100 Certified to NSF/ANSI 50 |
Specifications
| Pentair IntelliChlor Plus30 | Hayward AquaRite T-9 (W3AQR9) | |
|---|---|---|
| Output | ||
| Pool type | In-ground | In-ground |
| Rated pool size (maker) | 30,000 gal | 25,000 gal |
| Chlorine output | 1.1 lb/day | 0.9 lb/day |
| Salt level | 3,000 to 4,500 ppm (ideal 3,600) | 2,700 to 3,400 ppm (ideal 3,200) |
| NSF/ANSI 50 certified | Yes | Yes |
| Electrical listing (UL/ETL) | Yes | - |
| Cell | ||
| Replacement cell | 523730 | W3T-CELL-9 |
| Replacement cell price | $1,224 | $899 |
| Self-cleaning | Yes | Yes |
| Plumbing size | 2 in | 2 in |
| Controls | ||
| Salt level readout | Yes | Yes |
| Flow sensing | Flow switch | Flow switch |
| Cold-water shutoff | Yes | Yes |
| Boost mode | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| App | Pentair Pool (via Pentair automation) | - |
| Automation compatibility | Pentair IntelliCenter, Pentair IntelliConnect, Pentair EasyTouch, Pentair IntelliTouch, Pentair SunTouch | Hayward Pro Logic, Pentair IntelliTouch, Polaris Eos |
| Voltage | 115/230 V | 120/240 V |
| Warranty and models | ||
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
| Warranty terms | TradeGrade product: 3 years or 10,000 operating hours, whichever comes first, when bought from and installed by a pool professional (Plus cells). Pentair's warranty page gives TradeGrade products bought online a much shorter limited warranty (60 days on the product page; 1 year, parts only, on the warranty page), so DIY online buyers get far less cover. | 3 years on the dealer-sold versions (AQR3XLCUL and siblings) bought from and installed by a pool professional; the online-sold W3AQR versions carry 1 year (manual, effective 03/01/12; Hayward's W3AQR15 page: 1 year parts, no labor). A replacement W3T cell bought alone carries 3 years parts. |
| Released | 2025 | - |