We can't decide if it's wise to convert our concrete IG pool to salt/SWG (Ontario Canada). It's our second pool and it's not open yet.
First, I wanted to just say hi...I just joined the forum the other day after spending many hours reading about SWG and some long "discussions" about the good and bad of salt residue and possible corrosion of stone and tile above the waterline.
Any thoughts about the tiles/grout (stone and concrete too) specifically if we convert to salt water?
I'm proceeding with caution - I want to do my homework on this before I shell out for a SWG.
Here's pictures taken last fall before we got the house (the pool was closed when we moved in).
DSC_9194-pool.jpg
DSC_9196-pool.jpg
DSC_9199-poolsteps.jpg
and some other background...
Previous pool experience (what is this a resume? :? )
Our first pool was a new 15 foot diameter AG resin pool w/ a SWG. My father and I installed it ourselves (he lives far away and never got to swim in it, so I get reminded of this now and again).
We loved it and so did our two girls! It was easy to look after and I liked the SWG. We had it for 2 years, so that's the extent of my pool experience. It was easy to balance 18,000L (yup we're in Canada - near Toronto).
Now we have a concrete IG pool :-D
We moved last fall and now we've graduated to a 25,000gal (95,000L) concrete IG pool probably built in the 70s. The pool has no automatic chorinator, just pump, sand filter, and gas heater.
We budgeted to install a SWG (and possible a new heater) since we have experience running a salt pool and everyone loves the "salt pool feel".
The heater is old, so our local pool shop warned us that salt will likely accelerate the corrosion of the clunky old heater. This triggered me to do some other research which led me here.
To convert to salt or not?
I was going to install a SWG before we open in the next couple weeks, but now I'm not as sure. We are hesitating now on the SWG because we're not sure what the long term effects might be on the tile above the waterline and stone around the pool. (I don't know what kind of stone it is yet)
We want to take good care of the pool and avoid costly repairs in the future.
I'm guessing that we won't be diligent at washing down the tile and stone either...we'll try since I hear it is good practice regardless, but we're busy to say the least.
Again, thoughts about the tiles and grout specifically if we had salt water?
We're still leaning to salt, but I'm sure we'd enjoy a well balanced pool without it too. Sometimes it's best not to fix what's been working.
Thanks!
-Dennis
First, I wanted to just say hi...I just joined the forum the other day after spending many hours reading about SWG and some long "discussions" about the good and bad of salt residue and possible corrosion of stone and tile above the waterline.
Any thoughts about the tiles/grout (stone and concrete too) specifically if we convert to salt water?
I'm proceeding with caution - I want to do my homework on this before I shell out for a SWG.
Here's pictures taken last fall before we got the house (the pool was closed when we moved in).
DSC_9194-pool.jpg
DSC_9196-pool.jpg
DSC_9199-poolsteps.jpg
and some other background...
Previous pool experience (what is this a resume? :? )
Our first pool was a new 15 foot diameter AG resin pool w/ a SWG. My father and I installed it ourselves (he lives far away and never got to swim in it, so I get reminded of this now and again).
We loved it and so did our two girls! It was easy to look after and I liked the SWG. We had it for 2 years, so that's the extent of my pool experience. It was easy to balance 18,000L (yup we're in Canada - near Toronto).
Now we have a concrete IG pool :-D
We moved last fall and now we've graduated to a 25,000gal (95,000L) concrete IG pool probably built in the 70s. The pool has no automatic chorinator, just pump, sand filter, and gas heater.
We budgeted to install a SWG (and possible a new heater) since we have experience running a salt pool and everyone loves the "salt pool feel".
The heater is old, so our local pool shop warned us that salt will likely accelerate the corrosion of the clunky old heater. This triggered me to do some other research which led me here.
To convert to salt or not?
I was going to install a SWG before we open in the next couple weeks, but now I'm not as sure. We are hesitating now on the SWG because we're not sure what the long term effects might be on the tile above the waterline and stone around the pool. (I don't know what kind of stone it is yet)
We want to take good care of the pool and avoid costly repairs in the future.
I'm guessing that we won't be diligent at washing down the tile and stone either...we'll try since I hear it is good practice regardless, but we're busy to say the least.
Again, thoughts about the tiles and grout specifically if we had salt water?
We're still leaning to salt, but I'm sure we'd enjoy a well balanced pool without it too. Sometimes it's best not to fix what's been working.
Thanks!
-Dennis