Chlorination Quandary

[chiefwej]

It's possible that the fact that liquid chlorine doesn't store well at higher temperatures has something to do with that.

Talk about sun, I'm in Tucson with 300+ days a year of blazing sunshine, a "nice summer day" is 104 degrees. My pool is 19,000 gallons, is in direct sun each day until after about 5pm. I have a Hayward AquaRite T-15 SWG, rated at 40k. Mid summer my pump runs 8 hours and my setting on the SWG never exceeds 70%. So based on that, yes I think a SWG would have no problem, as long as you go with 40k or higher rated ones.

You only lose salt by backwashing, splash out, leaks, or draining water. No salt is consumed in the SWG process. It's not quite set it and forget it, but fairly close. You need to adjust the output level occasionally. Check and clean the cell every few months (keep the balance right and it stays clean). The SWG seems to cause some additional pH rise, so you use a bit more acid. You can help offset that by lowering the TA, or even adding borates if need be.

I've had pools with and without SWG. If I didn't have a SWG, I doubt I would have a pool. If my salt system blew up today, I would have a new one ordered before the day was over.

 

[mknauss]

Silly question perhaps, but I think I have noticed a pattern: pumps and auto-chlorination systems seem to be more popular in the less sunny areas and SWG seem to have a loyal following in the sunshine states. Is that just my errant assessment?

To get back on topic - I am in north Texas (DFW area) so lots of sun. Rainey this year, but we all know how the weather can and will just screw with our chemistry plans. So, I am still on the fence about a SWG. A few years ago, we replaced the pump with a high-efficiency pump. I am pretty sure it is single speed but it does not cost too much to run and I run it 8 hours per day. Will this be enough to keep a SWG happy with a 15K pool, direct sun, no shade?

Also, something in this thread caught my attention - what chores come with a SWG? With chlorine, I have to add every day. With a Stenner or other auto-chlorination system, someone has to check and fill the reservoir weekly I presume. How often does salt have to be added with a SWG? Does salt degrade or is it like CYA, once there it is there until it is flushed or dumped? Do I have to add something to my test kit to check for salt?

A SWCG is really nice here in the sunny desert because we keep the pool open year around. I do shut it off from December to early March - our 'winter'.

Salt does not degrade. If you drain water you need to add it but that is rare for me.

You have to add acid as your SWCG does tend push your pH up. But that also depends on your fill water. I have high CH and TA fill water. So acid is added at least weekly.

The most testing I do is during spring and fall when I have to adjust the output of the SWCG to the FC needs of my pool. But not a big deal.

FYI -- we leave for up to 3 months at a time. I have a pool service that keeps the pool clean and adds acid each week. Could not do that without a SWCG.

Take care.