Austin + Old Pool + SWG?

[milesandmiles]

Our pool is 50 years old. I’ve just cut the cord on weekly pool maintenance and am thinking about SWG. The main downside of SWG seems to be: Potential impact to pool material. Specifically we have some limestone around the spa and ceramic tile at the waterline. The limestone is already pretty banged up at the spa/pool spillway, but that is a small area and… it’s already washing out.

There seem to be a lot of upsides to SWG but I don’t want to upset what’s worked for 50 years. Any help thinking through gotchas appreciated.

 

[reggiehammond]

The downside you refer to is not due to salt water or a SWCG. It’s just water: see example, Grand Canyon. I have about a quarter acre of flagstone; it fails the same way next to my pool that it does across the property.

Your pool is already a salt water pool; you may already have the necessary amount of salt from years of tabs, shock, etc.

The key to understanding what to do next is a good test kit and learning what you have in the water today. It’s likely to have high CYA and might require some water replacement.

 

[reggiehammond]

Swimming Pool Test Kits Compared

What pool test kit should I buy? Why shouldn't I use test strips? Our recommended test kits will pay for themselves in no time!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[milesandmiles]

The key to understanding what to do next is a good test kit and learning what you have in the water today. It’s likely to have high CYA and might require some water replacement.

I’m feeling good about SWG and yeah - got a good kit and CYA is well over 150. I’m in the middle of a partial drain/fill and thinking I need to get that to a reasonable place before pulling the trigger on SWG.

Thank you for the perspective!