Hi all. For those that have the system, what are your thoughts on it vs regular chemical stabilization? Is it really worth it, as they aren’t cheap to install of course. Is the Aquapure the way to go as well?
Opinions on SWG
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We changed over to a SWG in 2018. I never really minded adding chlorine daily and had zero problems on liquid chlorine, I just got tired of buying cases of it and having to load and unload it from my car all the time.
My SWG has never impressed me. It has never produced as much chlorine as I think it should, even though it’s rated for over twice the size of my pool. When this one dies, I will be changing to a different make.
The good thing about the SWG though, is when it is working right, I don’t have to worry about getting someone to dump chlorine in my pool if we go out of town.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,053
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Once you get an SWG and experience the convenience of automated chlorine production, you'll never look back. There are lots of makes & models out there, so I would suggest going to Discount Salt Pools online. Look for the "Comparisons" tab which lists many of them for easy viewing. Of course an SWG has an up-front costs, and it is another gadget in your arsenal of pool equipment that could potentially go bad at some point, but it sure is nice to not have to buy and lug chlorine jugs around.
Pool Care Basics
Pool Care Basics
- May 23, 2015
- 25,721
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Please fill out your signature in your profile with your pool equipment and specs. We can’t help you make good decisions without knowing anything about your pool. In some situations, a specific brand of SWG recommendation may be warranted based on how your pool is configured, what other equipment you have, etc.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,664
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
In some cases, you want the brand of your SWG to match the brand of your automation controller and/or main filter pump...
[And @JoyfulNoise beat me to it! He types faster!!]
Even if you don't yet have automation, but might consider it someday, you'd want to plan ahead and buy a compatible SWG for the automation controller you'll someday own. So please do fill in your signature, something like mine or Matt's, and we can better assist. Try this link:
[And @JoyfulNoise beat me to it! He types faster!!]
Even if you don't yet have automation, but might consider it someday, you'd want to plan ahead and buy a compatible SWG for the automation controller you'll someday own. So please do fill in your signature, something like mine or Matt's, and we can better assist. Try this link:
I travel back and forth between 2 homes and I leave my pool for 2 or 3 weeks all the time. When Inleave my FC is 7. When o come back it’s still 7 and the water is crystal clear.
Before I got it the tablet feeder always seemed to run out when I left and came back to a mess.
But the biggest thing I like is no chlorine smell and the water is smooth.
Jim ha a quote “ when you swim in a chlorine pool you feel Like you need a shower, when you swim in a salt pool you feel like you took a shower”. I could not agree more!
Before I got it the tablet feeder always seemed to run out when I left and came back to a mess.
But the biggest thing I like is no chlorine smell and the water is smooth.
Jim ha a quote “ when you swim in a chlorine pool you feel Like you need a shower, when you swim in a salt pool you feel like you took a shower”. I could not agree more!
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- Jan 7, 2012
- 2,128
- Pool Size
- 21000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
There are tens of thousands of SWG owners on this forum. You'd have to search very hard to find a single one that regrets getting a SWG.
I would probably fill in my pool if I didn't have a SWG. I have had one going back to 2006.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,726
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
A SWCG is a no-brainer anywhere, but especially an obvious choice if you live somewhere hot. I am so sick of jug lugging it's ridiculous. I would already have a SWCG, but I have to do some serious replumbing to fit it in somewhere and I'm not touching any of that until it cools off.
It's my very next major purchase.
It's my very next major purchase.
My final straw was opening the bucket of pucks and even though I always stand back it still burnt my nose and eyes for 5 minutes. And people worry salt is bad 
red-beard
Gold Supporter
- May 27, 2019
- 1,624
- Pool Size
- 25000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite Pro (T-15)
I finally switched over to TFP methods in 2020 after suffering for YEARS. By August of 2020, I decided to switch over to a Salt Water Chlorine Generator.
So, no more finding and lugging home Liquid Chlorine. No more daily adds of chlorine. No more finding a friend to dose while away or dosing with trichlor if I can't find one...No constant checks of FC. Yes it takes a while to dial it in.
I did find a deal on a SWG system. It was nearing end of season and I found an AquaRite system for about $900. What I didn't know was my Automation System could be converted with just a Hayward Salt Cell....Oh Well. I installed the system in a couple of hours by myself. I think I needed 15 bags of Salt at $5 each. I calculated the savings at less than 5 years. Of course, that is less now with the price of Liquid Chlorine going up. Also, no gas money or time spent finding and lugging LC. No more finding a friend to put in LC. Mostly I just adjust pH on a weekly basis. Everything else is just daily skimmer checks, weekly brushing, quarterly cell check and 6-month filter cleaning.
I could not be happier!
The only downside, I can taste a little "something" in the water, but only just as I get in. Once a little water in the mouth, I can't taste it.
So, no more finding and lugging home Liquid Chlorine. No more daily adds of chlorine. No more finding a friend to dose while away or dosing with trichlor if I can't find one...No constant checks of FC. Yes it takes a while to dial it in.
I did find a deal on a SWG system. It was nearing end of season and I found an AquaRite system for about $900. What I didn't know was my Automation System could be converted with just a Hayward Salt Cell....Oh Well. I installed the system in a couple of hours by myself. I think I needed 15 bags of Salt at $5 each. I calculated the savings at less than 5 years. Of course, that is less now with the price of Liquid Chlorine going up. Also, no gas money or time spent finding and lugging LC. No more finding a friend to put in LC. Mostly I just adjust pH on a weekly basis. Everything else is just daily skimmer checks, weekly brushing, quarterly cell check and 6-month filter cleaning.
I could not be happier!
The only downside, I can taste a little "something" in the water, but only just as I get in. Once a little water in the mouth, I can't taste it.
A week or two after every SWCG install the conversation is always "why haven't I been told about this...... or I can't believe the FC is there without adding it in daily.....
I can’t taste but my wife said she can but it s doesn’t bother her.
I did a drain and refill earlier this year and had Home Depot deliver my salt which was great. Estimated 18 bags and they dropped it on a pallet for $35. I can’t carry more then a few bags at a time in my car.
I did a drain and refill earlier this year and had Home Depot deliver my salt which was great. Estimated 18 bags and they dropped it on a pallet for $35. I can’t carry more then a few bags at a time in my car.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,050
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I still can’t see your signature to know what kind of pump / automation u have but if u have jandy automation & u want the swg to be integrated with that then you should go with the largest aquapure unit.
www.troublefreepool.com
Otherwise you are free to use any brand u like. You want to be sure to get a unit that is rated for at least 2x’s your pool volume - so 30k gal or more. More is better- especially in sunny florida with a long pool season.
All Swg cells have a finite lifespan of generally 8-10k hrs @ 100%
This means you will need to run it less hours/% to produce the daily fc needs if your cell is larger & it will last longer.
www.troublefreepool.com
The discount salt pool comparison chart linked above is a great tool to help sort through your options.
Jandy AquaPure SWG - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
All Swg cells have a finite lifespan of generally 8-10k hrs @ 100%
This means you will need to run it less hours/% to produce the daily fc needs if your cell is larger & it will last longer.
How to select pool equipment - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
Tcadwall0
Gold Supporter
- May 19, 2021
- 207
- Pool Size
- 12900
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-20
I did an above ground pool for 4yrs before pulling the trigger for inground. It didnt take me more than 2months my first season to realize one thing I would do is SWG. I did it for the above ground, and it was non-negotiable when I had the inground built. I would choose that every day over a robot vac.
Sorry I thought I did it. I’ll look again. I have a Jandy vsp with iAquaLink automation. Was going to install aquapure plc1400. I believe that’s good for 40k gallons. I have 15k gallon pool.I still can’t see your signature to know what kind of pump / automation u have but if u have jandy automation & u want the swg to be integrated with that then you should go with the largest aquapure unit.
Otherwise you are free to use any brand u like. You want to be sure to get a unit that is rated for at least 2x’s your pool volume - so 30k gal or more. More is better- especially in sunny florida with a long pool season.Jandy AquaPure SWG - Further Reading
All Swg cells have a finite lifespan of generally 8-10k hrs @ 100%
This means you will need to run it less hours/% to produce the daily fc needs if your cell is larger & it will last longer.
The discount salt pool comparison chart linked above is a great tool to help sort through your options.How to select pool equipment - Further Reading
You will be happy, hardest part for me as letting CYA go back to 70ish after spending years trying to make it go away 
2nd gotcha is thinking It’s constant so I can keep my FC low to keep the water smooth.
It’s smooth with a FC of 12 or more but it’s like going on a 300 mile car trip with the exact amount of gas one small issue and whoops
2nd gotcha is thinking It’s constant so I can keep my FC low to keep the water smooth.
It’s smooth with a FC of 12 or more but it’s like going on a 300 mile car trip with the exact amount of gas one small issue and whoops
