I've got a 36'x18' foot inground with an 8 foot deep end with sloped sides, vinyl lined. I'm getting the liner replaced and they've also quoted me to a saltwater conversion. By my math it has roughly 27k gallons, he's proposing installing an AquaRite S3 Salt System 40,000 gallon system. Fully installed including salt is $2290. I'm in central North Carolina. Any thoughts on going this route, the system itself, and that quote? I got quotes from four different companies for the liner replacement and he was under them all by $1k but has also so far been the most responsive and helpful as far as working with the epoxy resurfacing company doing the fiberglass steps and coping and the water tanker company in terms of lining those up. Other companies were kinda leaving those pieces to me to work out.
Saltwater conversion quote
- Thread starter CapnFritz
- Start date
That's about 1.5X and you'll need to run the pump 16+ hours a day in the peak season. The lifespan will be reduced like a gas tank from longer run time. The pros typically don't care about longevity or your electric bill.
We recommend a 2X unit. I'd go 3x in a heartbeat for ROI but they top out at 60k for residential units.
He may be locked into a supplier and without automation, you don't need a Hayward SWG. Circupool RJ60+ and Pentair IC60 / intellichlor plus 60 are what you want. See if he can get them or install what you provide. The install should be similar across the board for parts/labor. He shouldn't care which unit he is installing.
That's helpful information, thank you. Would you say the pricing is fair just undersized? I estimate I've been spending around $600 per season on liquid chlorine the last two seasons but I think I've also had a somewhat significant leak possibly at the light in the deep end. We've had to add an inch or two of water regularly about every 2-3 days over the last two summers so I'm sure that was diluting my chemicals more quickly. Hopefully the new liner will put a stop to that and chlorine spend will go down. So far prices of liquid chlorine in my area look unchanged this year at $5.47 a gallon at Walmart. Just trying to figure the math to understand if it makes sense financially to convert and also how it improves my ownership and enjoyment of the pool. My wife is keen on less harshness so that may be enough right there but I'm a cheap ******* so money is always top of mind for me lol.
Note that a salt pool needs the same amount of chlorine as a non-salt pool. If your wife was experiencing harshness, it means the water was not be properly chlorinated, likely under chlorinated with respect to how much stabilizer was in the water. Keep your FC/CYA relationship in check and it’ll help whether you convert or not. (I’d recommend converting)
Also, I recently learned bonding of a pool was a thing and an unbonded pool could be more corrosive to metal parts with salt water. The pool was put in circa 1984, how can I determine if it is bonded?
That's tricky because his supplier cost is likely more than we can get for online.
Then the install may need a few extra parts or feet of wiring, or very little.
But yeah, I'd pretty much be happy having any 40k system installed for $2290.
Want maths ?
*cracks knuckles*
A 40k Hayward cell will produce about 2916 FC in its expected lifespan.
That's 729 Walmart jugs costing you $4266.76 with your 7% sales tax.
A 60k cell would produce $5852.90 worth of Walmart jugs but cost nowhere near $1586 more.
Replacement cells don't need the $500ish controller, or the install and make stupid BANK.
To *not lug* 700 or 1000 jugs.
Perhaps but I've used the tfp method with pool math app and TF-100 test kit for years and am usually pretty dialed in on my numbers. Though I have always struggled with total alkalinity reading being high but all other tests stay where they should be.
"make stupid BANK" meaning the real payoff comes in the second cell? Lugging chlorine is definitely a pita, I usually load up several cases in April before they start to become scarce (though that wasn't as much of a problem last year), then do another buy around early August when I can project how much more I'll need to finish out.
You said running the pump 16+ hours on the 40k system to generate enough chlorine, so would a 60k system be a reduction of 1/3 the time in your estimation, more like ~10 hours? I usually run the pump now between 10 am and 8 pm. It's a variable speed, I usually run it high rpm first couple hours to skim the top and then drop it down fairly low the remainder of the day.
Texting with the pro installer, he said he didn't know they made 60k systems (red flag?). I sent him the two mentioned here, the Circupool RJ60+ and Pentair IC60 / intellichlor plus 60. His response:
"I can get the pentair, but I don’t necessarily prefer those systems. The control and cell are built together so when your cell goes out you have to replace the whole thing. And I can’t get the first one you mentioned.
$2,525 plus tax for the IC60 system.
That replacement cell is $1,550
Hayward replacement cell for the 40k system is $1,050"
Getting the feeling maybe I should look at other install quotes. Any recommended installers to check out around Alamance County area of NC?
"I can get the pentair, but I don’t necessarily prefer those systems. The control and cell are built together so when your cell goes out you have to replace the whole thing. And I can’t get the first one you mentioned.
$2,525 plus tax for the IC60 system.
That replacement cell is $1,550
Hayward replacement cell for the 40k system is $1,050"
Getting the feeling maybe I should look at other install quotes. Any recommended installers to check out around Alamance County area of NC?
The first cell with controller and install generally pays back around 2 :1. The replacement cells can be 4:1 +. For some of the circupool cells you only replace the guts for $750, then it produces $4k to $6k in FC (model depending).
But the first cell now will still be great from economics alone. The intangibles like not lugging and stable chemistry make SWG flat out priceless for most of us.
Exactly. 50% 'larger' makes 50% more FC in the same runtime, allowing a proportionately lower runtime.
Ok so it really doesn't matter then. I run 24/7 and never even see it in my electric bill. It's probably in the $20s a month.
Single speed pumps see a big jump in electic running longer with a smaller cell.
So 10.3% more cost gains 50% more lifespanspan. If anyone can argue that, I'll wait.
Replacement cells are about even Steven from this guy with 50% more for 50% more. But. Either makes over 3x its cost in Walmart bleach, purchased from a dealer at top dollar. It's still a big win.
If he prefers Hayward then he probably doesn't install many Pentairs. Tell him the circupool has the best output for the lowest long term cost. Ask if you can get secure the circupool and he install it. If so how much to install it.
Thank you for your helpThe first cell with controller and install generally pays back around 2 :1. The replacement cells can be 4:1 +. For some of the circupool cells you only replace the guts for $750, then it produces $4k to $6k in FC (model depending).
But the first cell now will still be great from economics alone. The intangibles like not lugging and stable chemistry make SWG flat out priceless for most of us.
Exactly. 50% 'larger' makes 50% more FC in the same runtime, allowing a proportionately lower runtime.
Ok so it really doesn't matter then. I run 24/7 and never even see it in my electric bill. It's probably in the $20s a month.
Single speed pumps see a big jump in electic running longer with a smaller cell.
So 10.3% more cost gains 50% more lifespanspan. If anyone can argue that, I'll wait.
Replacement cells are about even Steven from this guy with 50% more for 50% more. But. Either makes over 3x its cost in Walmart bleach, purchased from a dealer at top dollar. It's still a big win.
If he prefers Hayward then he probably doesn't install many Pentairs. Tell him the circupool has the best output for the lowest long term cost. Ask if you can get secure the circupool and he install it. If so how much to install it.