Considering a SWCG. Thoughts?

[Padle]

I know this is off topic. I am considering a SWG because it seems to me that if I e can afford it, it is well worth the cost. Are there any dissenting views on that? I haven't found many of TFP

 

[Jimrahbe]

P,

My initial thought is why have you waited so long..

I have three saltwater pools and I'd rather fill then all in with dirt as to have them not be saltwater pools. I have had zero issues with corrision, decking or equipment. In "total" they have been saltwater pools for over 25 years.

There are three downsides

1. Initial cost
2. Might need to run the pump longer, but that is why you buy a cell rated for at least 2 x the volume of the pool.
3. They do not work when the water temp is below 52 degrees. For me this means using Liquid Chlorine about 3 months out of the year, but in the winter, there is very little chlorine loss.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Griswald]

Don't even hesitate...get one.

 

[wireform]

Seems like your decision is made go for it and you'll never look back.

 

[Newdude]

When I wanted to build pool #2, I got my SWG. Then I went and shook hands with the builder and signed the contract. Having had one for 8+ years, it was that high on the priority list.

 

[PoolStored]

Are there any dissenting views on that?

Maybe, but not from me. After @Newdude forced me to buy one against my will, it is now on my "If you take it away, I will fill in the pool" list.

 

[Padle]

Thanks everyone! Sure seems everyone is all in on SWG. One thing I have noticed though, is there isn't much consensus as to which ones to get. Is that because they are all decent, so it boils down to personal preference?

I hate too many options

 

[Padle]

P,

My initial thought is why have you waited so long..

I have three saltwater pools and I'd rather fill then all in with dirt as to have them not be saltwater pools. I have had zero issues with corrision, decking or equipment. In "total" they have been saltwater pools for over 25 years.

There are three downsides

1. Initial cost
2. Might need to run the pump longer, but that is why you buy a cell rated for at least 2 x the volume of the pool.
3. They do not work when the water temp is below 52 degrees. For me this means using Liquid Chlorine about 3 months out of the year, but in the winter, there is very little chlorine loss.

Thanks,

Jim R.

I just started taking care of the pool that's why

Regarding number 3, I don't think the pool will get below 52 for more than a week if at all here. It's already mid December, and the pool has been a steady 73 (no heater).

So I guess that leaves just two cons...

 

[PoolStored]

boils down to personal preference?

Should boil down to your needs too. I bought the circupool RJ-60+. I have a 30K gallon pool, we size at 2x the pool size and it was one of the few that was a 60K cell. The other reason I chose it is that it has 5% increments to the adjustment, the others had 20 and 25%. Finally, I don't have automation. If you have automation, probably best to get something that will integrate with your automation. Added bonus, it will run with 2800ppm salt.

This page/site is a little biased as it is run by Circupool. However, really the only site I know that has a comparison table (link below).

Whatever you get, make sure to get at least 2x your pool size. For you, you want a 40K cell.

Compare and Review Saltwater Chlorine Generator Prices and Features | DSP

www.discountsaltpool.com

 

[Newdude]

One thing I have noticed though, is there isn't much consensus as to which ones to get

Everybody has a different system, or different system requirements. People who already have automation need to stay with that brand. People who may oneday get automation need to stay in that family also. Others just like the brand they are already using. Other others don't like the brand they already have.

I hope this helps.

On a serious note, most people just get what the builder gave them and they become lifers with that brand. I'm a Pentair guy because of it, even when the PB became a Jandy guy. What he gave me last time worked and I was familiar with it and I wanted it again.

 

[bradgray]

I've noticed universal love for SW pools here as well. They're a great option! No dissent from me, but in our area, we have a hard time keeping calcium and TDS below a reasonable level and adding salt just makes that worse.

We've had 2 pools this year that have needed to be "downgraded" to a liquid chlorine diet after filtering the water through a reverse-osmo truck in order to get the TDS down some. Corrosion was unusually high for these and eliminating salt helped tame that a little bit just by extension of reducing conductivity. We have lots of happy salt pools; but it's definitely not a set-and-forget system.

I'd humbly suggest keeping an eye on those variables as you make plans so you can reap all the perks of a SWG without a downside!

 

[generessler]

No qualms here. We've used a Jandy AquaPure system for 2.5 years, received broken with the pool. Easily fixed with a sensor replacement from Amazon.

Total work has been adding some salt maybe twice a year (to offset rain overflow) and one disassembly each year to check the plates. So far - knock on wood - no problems beyond some tree seeds to poke out with a chopstick.

The rest is tweaking the generation rate at most every several days if the FC level trends up or down. About 20 seconds with the app. And you do need a plan for months - if any - when water temp is below about 50F; most cells shut down.

Compared to finding, hauling, and adding liquid chlorine every couple of days, this has been great. A side benefit is no worries about going out of town for a week or two.

The down side is that when they do give out, it's not a small expense. Put the dollars you're saving on LQ in an envelope for the next cell replacement.

 

[jark87]

Like others have said, I wouldn’t own a pool without a SWCG. My pool maintenance takes all of about 10 minutes each week. No regular trips to the store to buy and store chlorine. No worrying about chlorine levels when I’m away for weeks at a time. My only repetitive water chemistry chore is adding a little muratic acid weekly to keep pH in check.

Once you have one, you won’t go back.

 

[Saturn94]

Another SWCG fan here. Our pool, installed in early 2004, has always had a SWCG (Goldline Aqua Rite [now Hayward]). I wouldn’t have a pool without one!

 

[Padle]

So are the only benefits not having to lug bottles of chlorine and daily testing?

(I would consider the saltwater feel a subjective benefit)

The reason I ask, is we live in a new age.

I have Walmart plus, so Walmart can deliver chlorine to my home for free (free delivery not free chlorine and I have a water guru. Assuming the levels it measures are close enough, it would remove daily testing.

Just a thought.

 

[PoolStored]

So are the only benefits not having to lug bottles of chlorine and daily testing?

For me, the fact I can go on vacation and only have a neighbor empty my skimmers is a huge bonus.

Btw, I still test daily.

 

[Padle]

For me, the fact I can go on vacation and only have a neighbor empty my skimmers is a huge bonus.

Btw, I still test daily.

Definitely a important consideration for many.

For me, due to my work, I have not taken a vacation of more than two weeks, and even that is rare, I do many short getaways, but the pool can handle that.

 

[Newdude]

@Padle you have some excellent counter points. At the end of the day, people either want a SWG or they don't. If they want it, they'll make excuses why, and the same if they don't want it.

Look at the folks who switched to salt. The overwhelming majority of them would never go back. That should tell you all you need to know.

 

[Mdragger88]

So are the only benefits not having to lug bottles of chlorine and daily testing?

(I would consider the saltwater feel a subjective benefit)

The reason I ask, is we live in a new age.

I have Walmart plus, so Walmart can deliver chlorine to my home for free (free delivery not free chlorine and I have a water guru. Assuming the levels it measures are close enough, it would remove daily testing.

Just a thought.

Free delivery is nice- if there’s any fresh liquid chlorine available…
The freshness & availability troubles of late have been a huge motivation for many to pull the Swg trigger & start making their own chlorine in their backyard.
Monetarily the roi on a swg has been getting more advantageous as well since the price of liquid chlorine has pretty much doubled in the past couple years.
There’s lots of pros for swg’s , the main con is the upfront cost which can be mitigated some with a diy installation.
I personally live in both worlds because I currently have an undersized swg so in the middle of the pool season I must supplement with liquid chlorine. I am biding my time with my current set up but when it goes I definitely plan on getting a big girl swg that will handle all my needs. It’s very nice at the beginning & end of the season to not have to deal with liquid chlorine so I look forward to enjoying that experience in the middle of the season too.

 

[jark87]

So are the only benefits not having to lug bottles of chlorine and daily testing?

Not only lugging the bottles, but storing and having to add it to the pool on a regular basis. And I test my pool at least 3-4 times/week, if not daily, during the summer. My comment about 10 minutes/week is because it only takes a couple of minutes to test. I don’t test

It’s really a peace of mind thing for me. I just don’t have to worry about chlorine levels. The summer sun here in Texas is intense, so I’d have to add chlorine daily, even with proper CYA.