I asked the PB again about SWG, here is the response. For those of you with a SWG and 2+ seasons in TX, please let me know your thoughts:
PB Response:
Having had a pool with a salt cell before, I’m not a big fan because:
1. You have to add acid each week to maintain the ph
2. The cell will need to be removed and soaked in an acid bath quarterly
3. The salt will corrode everything around the pool
4. The stone will need to be sealed and resealed every couple years
5. They don’t produce enough chlorine in the summer, so you still have to add chlorine
6. The cell will need to be replaced every 5-7 yrs
7. The upfront cost including sealing the stone is a little pricey (we usually sell it with the easy touch 4 or 8, but I’ll find out the stand alone cost)
It’s entirely up to you, and I know it sounds strange to not try to sell you one, but I don’t think they are worth the money.
If you’re looking for softer water, I recommend adding biogaurd during startup. We used to sell it, but sold off our chemical / supply business, but you can find it online.