Long time pool owners - TFP Newbies

[rockisland]

Hey there almost half a million other pool owners!

We’re in the small town of Escalon in the Big Valley of Central California, surrounded by tens of thousands of almond orchards which are absolutely gorgeous when blooming and a dust nightmare during harvest which lasts from August until early November. Keeping the pool clean and balanced in this area is a challenge and we’re hoping to find sage advice through this forum.

We have a 12.5K gallon in-ground plaster pool, suction side pool sweep with an in-ground spa. Installed in April of 2001, it has a Hayward gas heater and Hayward cartridge filter system and an upgraded Pentair variable speed pump. No chlorine generator (yet) and mostly over the past 24 years we’ve used stabilized chlorine pucks but have grown weary of battling the CYA buildup and drain down and are switching away from stabilized pucks to liquid chlorine and maybe a chlorine generator (opinions welcome on that matter).

Our grandson learned to swim in our pool and this summer we’re hoping that our granddaughter will learn too. Grandma, my wonderful wife was raised around pools in Southern California where her father owned a pool construction company. She’s the pool guru and I’m the labor…we make a great team.

We’re looking forward to learning from all of you out there and the many roads you’ve all been down in the land of pool ownership.

Cheers!
Donald & Nancy

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Great to have you on the forum.

 

[Newdude]

Hey RI and Welcome !!!

my wonderful wife was raised around pools in Southern California

Are you from IL, or does the username mean something else ?

switching away from stabilized pucks to liquid chlorine and maybe a chlorine generator (opinions welcome on that matter).

I had a SWG for 8.5 years and moved. I had my 2nd one onsite before inking the build contract. Anyone could have built me a pool but not everyone could get them during the shortages. It was *that high* on the priority list after having one for so long.

Mine makes 1000 jugs worth of FC. (If 10% liquid chlorine). They'd cost $6166 at Walmart, and need to be lugged home and poured into the pool. 1000 jugs. One. Thousand. For $6166.

Pucks or powdered bags of shock have different #s but a similar theme. Pay more and have to do stuff about it.

 

[rockisland]

Hey RI and Welcome !!!

Are you from IL, or does the username mean something else ?

Hey there Newdude!

Born in Rock Island, IL, but only lived there my first year...family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and except for 1st and 2nd grade in Ashland, OR it's been sunny California ever since. I did get back there twice, once when stationed for training at Chanute AFB, outside of Rantoul, and once more many years later for my grandmother's 90th birthday celebration.

 

[rockisland]

I had a SWG for 8.5 years and moved. I had my 2nd one onsite before inking the build contract. Anyone could have built me a pool but not everyone could get them during the shortages. It was *that high* on the priority list after having one for so long.

Mine makes 1000 jugs worth of FC. (If 10% liquid chlorine). They'd cost $6166 at Walmart, and need to be lugged home and poured into the pool. 1000 jugs. One. Thousand. For $6166.

Pucks or powdered bags of shock have different #s but a similar theme. Pay more and have to do stuff about it.

I like the math on that one, having an accounting background, numbers tell me very convincing stories. I'll be shopping for a SWG for sure! Any recommendations? I'm a DYI guy, so I'll be doing the install.

 

[rockisland]

Welcome to TFP! Great to have you on the forum.

Thanks...looking forward to learning!

 

[Newdude]

Born in Rock Island, IL,

My old man spent some time at the Arsenal and it came up in stories more than some other places.

I like the math on that one

There's no two ways about it, barring a power surge or such killing it early. But for the overwhelming majority, its a slam dunk and it doesnt even matter what the pool builder/store charges for install. Its even better for DIY-ers.

Any recommendations?

If automation is in your future, you want them all to talk to each other like a TV / DVD / Sound bar / etc.

With no automation you are free to shop around and Circupool is hard to beat. The RJ45+ would be a beast for you and have a hefty ROI. They cost a fraction of the lifespan gained to upgrade.

Its currently on sale Here for cheaper than the RJ30+ at the other manufacturer website Here (circupool and DSP are the same). So going with the 45 today, you get 50% more lifespan and also save $50. SIGN ME UP Lol.

 

[rockisland]

With no automation you are free to shop around and Circupool is hard to beat. The RJ45+ would be a beast for you and have a hefty ROI. They cost a fraction of the lifespan gained to upgrade.

Its currently on sale Here for cheaper than the RJ30+ at the other manufacturer website Here (circupool and DSP are the same). So going with the 45 today, you get 50% more lifespan and also save $50. SIGN ME UP Lol.

Wow...a great price, an awesome warranty, and a nice long life span for our itty bitty pool. Kinda blows all the other options clean out of the water! Looks like I found a SWG and a project to work on.

 

[sande005]

Welcome!
I was a 30 yr puck guy, and finally made the jump to a SWCG and TFP methods. It gets boring - all I do is look at the pool, and wonder how to spend my time. And all the money I no longer spend at the pool store!

 

[Newdude]

It gets boring

Somebody once PM'd me exactly that after switching. The story arc took place over a week :

Day 1 : this thing is pretty cool
Day 3 : i'd fill my pool in without it
Day 7: SWGs are boring.

Thats when I said 'OMG you finally GET IT !!!!' I had tried to explain it many times but nobody grasps how boring it is, and THATS what is so magical about SWGs. Not lugging the jugs you're not adding makes it even more boring.

 

[TinFoilHat]

except for 1st and 2nd grade in Ashland, OR it's been sunny California ever since.

I did my early formative years in Medford, OR up until 4th grade when we moved to Phoenix. We spent tons of time in Ashland as my Aunt, Uncle and cousins lived there. Lots of good memories from southern Oregon to be sure.

 

[Newdude]

Wow...a great price, an awesome warranty, and a nice long life span for our itty bitty pool

They fluff their #s claiming 50% more production than the others, for 50% longer. (Of course they say so. )

But even so, at worst they are a little better than the others and the price was a bunch better. Any production over that is all gravy.

 

[dereksanders]

. . . once when stationed for training at Chanute AFB . . .

I was stationed at Scott AFB from 80-83, making us almost neighbors!

I also have family living in the East Bay.

 

[rockisland]

I did my early formative years in Medford, OR up until 4th grade when we moved to Phoenix. We spent tons of time in Ashland as my Aunt, Uncle and cousins lived there. Lots of good memories from southern Oregon to be sure.

Yeah, beautiful place...fully gentrified now, but still beautiful!

 

[rockisland]

I was stationed at Scott AFB from 80-83, making us almost neighbors!

I also have family living in the East Bay.

Haha...almost and from those dates a couple of OGs too!

We sure do spread out family in this great big country of ours!

 

[rockisland]

Welcome!
I was a 30 yr puck guy, and finally made the jump to a SWCG and TFP methods. It gets boring - all I do is look at the pool, and wonder how to spend my time. And all the money I no longer spend at the pool store!

Maybe I'll finally learn how to play that piano we use to stage family photos!