So within a few weeks, the temp in the pool will be down to where it isn't fun anymore even with a wetsuit. We had some very significant rain Friday night that dropped the temp 10 degrees and it hasn't been sunny since. (Also did a number on my salt level).
So last year I just kept the system on all year long, but I've come to understand that the salt cell doesn't run/generate anything under 50 degrees anyhow. So it would seem to make sense to just unplug it for the winter and go with straight chlorine. Save the wear and tear on the salt cell and actually provide chlorine in the timeframe where the salt cell wouldn't be making any.
So if (a) that's the right thing to do, then (b) what's the best way to do that?
I've seen some threads in here refering to something called a trichlor (sp?) puck but that seems to have problems by raising your CYA up to levels it shouldn't be, making the chlorine ineffective anyhow, right? I suppose those are the pucks that they used in the chlorinator when the pool was first started? Are there different types of pucks? Advantages / disadvantages?
Or do I toss in liquid bleach all winter long?
How often do I test things during the winter? Am I still going for the same levels as during the summer and swimming months?
So last year I just kept the system on all year long, but I've come to understand that the salt cell doesn't run/generate anything under 50 degrees anyhow. So it would seem to make sense to just unplug it for the winter and go with straight chlorine. Save the wear and tear on the salt cell and actually provide chlorine in the timeframe where the salt cell wouldn't be making any.
So if (a) that's the right thing to do, then (b) what's the best way to do that?
I've seen some threads in here refering to something called a trichlor (sp?) puck but that seems to have problems by raising your CYA up to levels it shouldn't be, making the chlorine ineffective anyhow, right? I suppose those are the pucks that they used in the chlorinator when the pool was first started? Are there different types of pucks? Advantages / disadvantages?
Or do I toss in liquid bleach all winter long?
How often do I test things during the winter? Am I still going for the same levels as during the summer and swimming months?