This will be my fourth time cleaning this SWG. Every time it’s a royal pain in the butt to get the thread on the left of the pic (behind the heater) free. If I don’t over tighten it leaks. Every time sane thing. Unfortunately my pool builder decided to put it so there is not much distance between my wall and the heater so it makes it hard to position. I can get the upper union on right to loosen no problem but the other will not loosen this time. I’ve tried tapping it, turning it from different angles, etc. it’s been hard to get loose every time but this time I can’t loosen and I’m a pretty strong guy. My forearms are pretty much burnt out. Anybody have any ideas what I can try? Again not a lot of room to get one of those strapped wrenches (whatever they r called) in to maneuver.driving me nuts..
Can’t get SWG union free
- Thread starter Bvacchiano
- Start date
Put up a few pics from different angles so we can see what you're up against. 
OK it uploaded. Ooof.
OK it uploaded. Ooof.
Last edited:
- Jul 21, 2013
- 53,130
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Get a strap wrench...
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From the top, gently. And I mean gennnnnnnnnnntly. Tap a #3 flathead screwdriver (the big/wide one) on the fin pointing to the side.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,648
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
What is telling you to clean it? A properly managed pool water chemistry will allow you to never have to 'clean' the SWCG.
Absolutely nothing. Everything working great. No issues. I cleaned the filter today as part of my yearly cleaning and they were pretty good. I just typically do it yearly when I do the filter. You are right though every time I take it off there is nothing inside the SWG to clean, no scale, etc. it looks perfect. Again I just check as part of a yearly maintenance. I have often wondered why I do it every year….lol
- May 23, 2015
- 24,474
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Two things -
1. The plumber, or PB, or both, was an idiot for installing it like that. So what you really need to do is raise it up away from the heater.
2. If you have to overtighten plumbing unions to get them to seal, then they are hosed and you need to replace them. Sad, but that’s the only way to fix it.
You can pull the rubber o-ring out and try to get one that is a bit fatter in the hopes that more “meat” exposed will help seal it better but the ultimate solution is replacing the unions. And, to add insult to injury, those unions are non-standard thread so you have to get them from Pentair, standard plumbing unions won’t work.
1. The plumber, or PB, or both, was an idiot for installing it like that. So what you really need to do is raise it up away from the heater.
2. If you have to overtighten plumbing unions to get them to seal, then they are hosed and you need to replace them. Sad, but that’s the only way to fix it.
You can pull the rubber o-ring out and try to get one that is a bit fatter in the hopes that more “meat” exposed will help seal it better but the ultimate solution is replacing the unions. And, to add insult to injury, those unions are non-standard thread so you have to get them from Pentair, standard plumbing unions won’t work.
Maybe a good time to get new unions and extend it out 6” with a small piece of PVC and a coupler, assuming you have space on the other side
I’d be curious how many people on here actually take them off to “inspect”/do maintenance if their cells are working properly and follow the TFP proper water chemistry…Im starting to agree with MKNauss that what’s the point if their aren’t any issues? Seems like a piece to leave alone unless u need to do something.
- Jul 3, 2013
- 9,028
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool SJ-40
That is one reason I really love the Circupool cells, I can see inside them.. I never cleaned my SJ 45 in 7 years..