I'm having to replace my liner unexpectedly & will therefore have to start from scratch when the pool fills up. Prior to springing a leak, we had the water tested at the local store & the guy told us that our CYA was too high. He said to stop using chlorine tablets all together & just shock the pool 1x/wk. When we had a different pool guy come to look at the liner, he told us to get an automatic chlorinator. We've had issues in the past with chlorine burn on the liner from the shock too. I've read some of the posts on here about chlorinators & am wondering, what do most of you do for chlorinating your pool as regular maintenance? Will automatic chlorinators not help the CYA issue? Do you pour a gallon of liquid chlorine in 1x/wk? Any advice would be appreciated!
How do you chlorinate your pool?
- Thread starter Cynister
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 58,648
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Welcome to the forum!
www.troublefreepool.com
The two best ways are to install a SaltWater Chlorine Generator, or add liquid chlorine every day. 1 time per week will not work.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
How to Chlorinate Your Pool
Before chlorinating your pool, you should know these simple tips. Learn the best way to add chlorine to your pool.
www.troublefreepool.com
The two best ways are to install a SaltWater Chlorine Generator, or add liquid chlorine every day. 1 time per week will not work.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
+1 for the salt water generator, it's the easiest way to keep your chlorine where you want it without having to add yourself.
For those saying SWG, we had inquired about switching our pool to SW many years ago & were told it was extremely costly because we couldn't reuse what we had (if I remember correctly, there was also something about the piping needing to change?). If that's still true, then it wouldn't be an option for us.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,648
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Post a picture of your pool equipment pad. If you want a SWCG, I am confident our members can work out a plan.
Or just add liquid chlorine EVERY DAY the pool is open.
Or just add liquid chlorine EVERY DAY the pool is open.
As Marty said above, I'll add we need you to fill in your signature to know all about your equipment for all forthcoming questions. It'll make it that much easier for us.Ty
Shocking the pool once a week would be like only eating one huge meal a week. Not a good idea. Best to add chlorine continuously, whether it’s liquid chlorine once a day or with a SWCG.
Selenap
Well-known member
I just use bleach. I am leery of SWG’s, mostly because every other question in this forum starts as “What is wrong with _________ on my SWG?” It has scared me away. YMMV but my use of bleach is not quite a gallon a week of 10% currently. My pool doesn’t see much human activity other than me and it’s sporadic. Really I’m a bad example of bleach usage. I burn 1ppm a day in bleach. It’s really an anomaly. I’d say if your pool eats chlorine like no tomorrow perhaps the swg is the way to go.
- Oct 16, 2020
- 262
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
My pool is just a little over one month old so I am no pro, but I have been using bleach. I typically put in about 1/2 gal a day. I like to spend a little time with the pool, brushing and bonding, once the kids are in bed so I am out there anyway. I guess the routine might get old at some point but I am waiting on a SWG. A part of it is on backorder, with no given timeline on when it will arrive so it realistically could be next summer.
@Selenap you must understand that people don't write a post just to rave about their SWG. Those with problems are a very small minority, many who don't understand how the device works. Those of us who love our SWGs have no need to start a thread and write a post saying so. My SWG for example worked flawlessly for 9 years, then it was time to replace the cell and so far its working flawlessly again.
Do give the SWGs another think.
Maddie
Do give the SWGs another think.
Maddie
What Maddie said, I have 4 pools with SWCG. When you have it down to a science you scratch your head to see what else there's to do. I check on them once a week-10 days unless I'm called Upon for some issue. Most negativity you hear is from people that have no guidance and or no understanding what to or not to do.
Ditto above..and we are in the hot fla sun. I think bird cage screen enclosure helps. I like the idea of SWG's but compared to $4.00 for 2.5 gallons of 10.25% LC (ACE hardware bulk) ..thats $1.59/ wk...well we'll stay with that for now. I am tinkering with a slow drip in pool liquid chlorine dispenser in case we leave for a week or so.
I scratched my SWG right under his lil SWG ears. Who’s a good boy ??? YOUS am good boy !!!! Yes YOU !!!
There's a tab feeder installed in our plumbing and bucket of old pucks out back but we don't use either. Just regular old liquid chlorine - it's ten minutes a day to test and add chlorine.
DIYLinerPool
Well-known member
Been using liquid Chlorine, I get 12.5% for $3.99 (plus there is the 11% rebate) at the Menards by me. I am the kind of person to check the chemicals every day regardless of my setup, so if I am out there checking, that takes longer than pouring a little bit of chlorine in. Might get a SWG one day but the liquid is doing well for me as of now!
EmilyOTR
Bronze Supporter
- Feb 15, 2017
- 704
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
My SWG has had no issues at all and this is the 5th summer we've had it. No reason to post about it but I will rave about it to anyone that asks. I almost never even buy bleach.
drsipe
Gold Supporter
- Jul 24, 2020
- 384
- Pool Size
- 24500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Last year, I was in your situation, I replaced the liner and all my water, so I was starting with a clean slate. For 16 years, I struggled to keep the CYA under control with Tri-Chlor tablets.
When the liner was installed, I used bleach to get me up to the proper chlorine levels during the fill process. Then once the pump was in operation, I used tri-chlor tablets until the CYA reached 50ppm, then I switched over the 10% bleach. My pool looked better than it ever did. The water was crystal clear and had a sparkle.
I saw the reports on the chlorine plant fire in Louisiana last year and I realized that with the expected tri-chlor shortage, more people would be using bleach and I expected a bleach shortage. Due the expectation of the chlorine shortage, I purchased a SWCG last fall, and installed it this spring.
My experience with the SWCG this year has been fantastic, I brought the chlorine levels up to the proper level with bleach in the spring, and turned on the SWCG, and it has been maintaining between 4.5 & 7ppm chlorine for the season. I have added some di-chlor (just to use up my old stock & boost my CYA a little). We went on vacation for a week, and during that week we got 10" of rain, most of my chemistry levels were effected by the addition of almost 5000 gallons of water, but when I returned, my first chlorine reading was 5 ppm, exactly at my target level.
If and when this SWCG fails, I will immediately replace it. SWCGs are not perfect, but neither is manually dosing with bleach.
When the liner was installed, I used bleach to get me up to the proper chlorine levels during the fill process. Then once the pump was in operation, I used tri-chlor tablets until the CYA reached 50ppm, then I switched over the 10% bleach. My pool looked better than it ever did. The water was crystal clear and had a sparkle.
I saw the reports on the chlorine plant fire in Louisiana last year and I realized that with the expected tri-chlor shortage, more people would be using bleach and I expected a bleach shortage. Due the expectation of the chlorine shortage, I purchased a SWCG last fall, and installed it this spring.
My experience with the SWCG this year has been fantastic, I brought the chlorine levels up to the proper level with bleach in the spring, and turned on the SWCG, and it has been maintaining between 4.5 & 7ppm chlorine for the season. I have added some di-chlor (just to use up my old stock & boost my CYA a little). We went on vacation for a week, and during that week we got 10" of rain, most of my chemistry levels were effected by the addition of almost 5000 gallons of water, but when I returned, my first chlorine reading was 5 ppm, exactly at my target level.
If and when this SWCG fails, I will immediately replace it. SWCGs are not perfect, but neither is manually dosing with bleach.
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,211
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
+1 on the SWCG. Replaced earlier this summer after 7 1/2 seasons. I love taking care of my pool, but having to add something everyday is not my preference, thus the SWCG.
@Selenap you must understand that people don't write a post just to rave about their SWG. Those with problems are a very small minority, many who don't understand how the device works. Those of us who love our SWGs have no need to start a thread and write a post saying so. My SWG for example worked flawlessly for 9 years, then it was time to replace the cell and so far its working flawlessly again.
Do give the SWGs another think.
Maddie
Maybe we need a "I love my SWG" thread. I have been using a SWG (not same cell) for 16 years now. I couldn't image having to go out everyday to add a little chlorine to the pool. I know somehow life would interfere and I would miss some days and some of those days would be consecutive. The SWG is the lazy person pool.
Selenap
Well-known member
Maybe we all need to get off my case. The OP asked how people chlorinate. I gave my answer and why. I don’t check my chlorine everyday. I don’t have to. I add chlorine every two to three days. Since I, you know, use the pool, it’s not a big deal. It would cost me $1,500 to $2,000 for the double sized generator that I would need (according to the experts, you need one that handles twice as much as the pool volume). I’m no expert. I have no electrical skills or anyone with in 50 miles of me that that can come install one. I don’t want the issues people seem to have with them. I don’t need the aggravation of another piece of equipment that I have no knowledge of. So I’ll keep using the bleach method, which I was led to believe was the whole premise of this web site. So please, stop. To the OP. I’m sorry your post has been hijacked. Like I said, I don’t have the incentive for using SWCG’s and do just fine using bleach. No matter what you choose, I’m sure it will work great for you.