First closing, Salt Cell Storage

[DieselBeast]

Hi all,

I have the nature 2 fusion salt generator + mineral pack. I removed mineral pack immediately, now that the pool has been closed by the installer I have been told to store my salt cell indoors.

Do I need to do anything special to “clean” my salt call for storage? CLR? Anything?

Any tips? This is my first season with a pool and the builder / installer was mediocre at best lol

 

[mknauss]

You can check the cell and see if there is any scale buildup. If so, try using a wooden popsicle stick or similar to scrape out some of the scale. Otherwise, no treatment is necessary.

 

[Newdude]

Hey DB and welcome back !!

Your unit can withstand the elements just fine. Being so easy to bring indoors though, it certainly won’t hurt. Kinda like your car, it can handle it too, but why not garage it if you can for the blizzard ?

You have 2 options for plugging the line. I used rubber wing nut winterizing plugs, or you could purchase a dummy cell which is just a pipe with the right unions to screw in place of the cell.

I too was told to clean my cell every year (and mid season) whether or not it was needed. It never once actually needed the cleanings and unbeknownst to me at the time I was acid washing the precious plates too, needing a new unit sooner. I honestly believe the pool store didn’t know this but just knew that if everyone cleaned the cells, they had less complaints. If they did know, they sure didn’t mind folks buying new cells early. Lol. But yeah. If you have buildup, knock it off like Marty said above and then give it a MA bath. It will fizz like a kids science experiment and the second the fizzing stops you are clean. Stop immediately and rinse it well. The plates are never shiny so don’t think the dull metal-y coating is ‘dirty’. You’ll see toothpaste like gunk if there is buildup

 

[DieselBeast]

Hey DB and welcome back !!

Your unit can withstand the elements just fine. Being so easy to bring indoors though, it certainly won’t hurt. Kinda like your car, it can handle it too, but why not garage it if you can for the blizzard ?

You have 2 options for plugging the line. I used rubber wing nut winterizing plugs, or you could purchase a dummy cell which is just a pipe with the right unions to screw in place of the cell.

I too was told to clean my cell every year (and mid season) whether or not it was needed. It never once actually needed the cleanings and unbeknownst to me at the time I was acid washing the precious plates too, needing a new unit sooner. I honestly believe the pool store didn’t know this but just knew that if everyone cleaned the cells, they had less complaints. If they did know, they sure didn’t mind folks buying new cells early. Lol. But yeah. If you have buildup, knock it off like Marty said above and then give it a MA bath. It will fizz like a kids science experiment and the second the fizzing stops you are clean. Stop immediately and rinse it well. The plates are never shiny so don’t think the dull metal-y coating is ‘dirty’. You’ll see toothpaste like gunk if there is buildup

Thanks guys!!!

Mine is not an “inline” but rather a container with the cell hanging down inside. For “winterizing”, they drained it and then sealed the top with a plastic bag & the screw on lid. Leaving me with the cell inside my home.

Cell looks clean to the eye so I will probably just leave it alone.

Otherwise, the TFP fam kept my water crystal clear all year & super easy to maintain!

Closing was fairly simple (included the first year) although the lazy closing team did not want to take the LED’s out and seal with the winterizing caps. Regardless I did it myself after they left.

Then they wanted to drill 44 holes in my monolithic Cantilevered concrete which was not an option… so … I told them to leave the pool uncovered and did it myself without holes.

I know it’s not “the norm” but, I created 24” anchor spikes out of 1/2” rebar & sank them into the ground where needed around the slab, then used ratchet straps to “tie it down”.

I was told the clip in traditional cover was not an option due to my overhanging concrete, and the only real option was drilling 44 holes for the safety cover.

What I did is good enough for me, I won’t be walking on it but I am confident the straps are just as strong as the concrete anchors for my use.

I’m glad I found this forum, the pool companies seem to just want to sell sell sell, regardless of what is actually best for the customer / end user.

 

[Newdude]

Holy Ratchet straps Batman !!! Glad you found a hack that worked for you.

I’m not following why regular anchors wouldn’t work unless you are just anti-hole in that beautiful patio, but I’m a simple man and will go back to simple man-ing now. Lalalalalalala.

 

[DieselBeast]

Holy Ratchet straps Batman !!! Glad you found a hack that worked for you.

I’m not following why regular anchors wouldn’t work unless you are just anti-hole in that beautiful patio, but I’m a simple man and will go back to simple man-ing now. Lalalalalalala.

Strictly aesthetics. I didn’t / don’t want the holes & for the winter .. I don’t care how ugly the straps are lol. So yes .. strictly .. I don’t want holes in concrete. Ha ha ha ha

 

[wireform]

I'd treat the steel before you use them so you don't get any rust stains from over the winter on the deck.

 

[DieselBeast]

I'd treat the steel before you use them so you don't get any rust stains from over the winter on the deck.

Paint? Or just an anti rust oil spray? I was thinking about that!! Or maybe wrapping them in plastic or something.

 

[DieselBeast]

Holy Ratchet straps Batman !!! Glad you found a hack that worked for you.

I’m not following why regular anchors wouldn’t work unless you are just anti-hole in that beautiful patio, but I’m a simple man and will go back to simple man-ing now. Lalalalalalala.

Quick question for you good sir, do I need to do anything to “winterize” my skimmer ?

The hoses are plugged but all the rain has filled up the “basin” again.

 

[ajw22]

Quick question for you good sir, do I need to do anything to “winterize” my skimmer ?

The hoses are plugged but all the rain has filled up the “basin” again.

Put some cut up pool noodles in the skimmer or a half filled plastic jug. Either one provides a crush area for ice to expand into.

 

[ajw22]

Paint? Or just an anti rust oil spray? I was thinking about that!! Or maybe wrapping them in plastic or something.

I would put on Rustoleam rust neutralizer.

 

[DieselBeast]

I would put on Rustoleam rust neutralizer.

Put some cut up pool noodles in the skimmer or a half filled plastic jug. Either one provides a crush area for ice to expand into.

Ok, so stuff them down into the water? Like wedge them in there so they don’t just float?

 

[ajw22]

Ok, so stuff them down into the water? Like wedge them in there so they don’t just float?

Suck water out of the skimmer with a shop-vac. Put the pool noodle around the side in a ring.

 

[SunnyP2000]

Strictly aesthetics. I didn’t / don’t want the holes & for the winter .. I don’t care how ugly the straps are lol. So yes .. strictly .. I don’t want holes in concrete. Ha ha ha ha

you could have ordered the cover with extra long straps. my PB suggested he doesnt want to drill the tile and have holes all over the place so he said he will order with built it long straps. it was another $300 for longer straps. Which is great because i was going crazy trying to figure out what to do , i didn't want any holes drilled on my porcelain patio. Look's like you have the same cover, Merlin smart mesh in gray.

 

[Newdude]

Ok, so stuff them down into the water? Like wedge them in there so they don’t just float?

Figure out how many pieces and what layout will fill the skimmer mouth horizontally. Duct tape it like a brick of Dynamite and insert. Repeat for the leftover horizontal part. You can even duct tape the 2 halves together so the top one floats less.

 

[DieselBeast]

you could have ordered the cover with extra long straps. my PB suggested he doesnt want to drill the tile and have holes all over the place so he said he will order with built it long straps. it was another $300 for longer straps. Which is great because i was going crazy trying to figure out what to do , i didn't want any holes drilled on my porcelain patio. Look's like you have the same cover, Merlin smart mesh in gray.

I was told “cannot make longer straps”. The PB was useless lol
I am bringing it to a place for strap extension next year.