Do Salt Water Generators Reduce Flow?

[tonygret]

I have a new SWG and it seems to me the flow from the returns is notably reduced. The cartridge filter is clean as is the skimmer. The SWG replaced the chlorine tablet dispenser in the same exact spot with no new elbows, twists, or turns. So the question is, does adding a SWG noticeably reduce flow with everything else being the same?

 

[mknauss]

No. If anything it is far less restriction than a tablet chlorinator.

 

[tonygret]

Thanks for the quick response. Do you think that my 18-month-old Jandy pump could be coincidentally failing?

 

[mknauss]

More likely is the filter is plugging. Be sure your water does not have algae.

 

[tonygret]

The filter was just cleaned sparkling white.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Tony,

Let's see several pics of your equipment pad, including the new salt cell install.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Any device you add to the plumbing adds some amount of head loss. But I agree that an SWG would be no worse than a tablet chlorinator.

Question - did you remove the check valve that is typically installed before the tablet chlorinator? With an SWG those are unnecessary.

 

[tonygret]

Here is a pic of my setup. The chlorinator for tablets was where the SWG is now. Same exact place.

 

[ajw22]

Turn your cell 180 degrees so the hump is down. That ensures the cell plates stay covered with water.

What is the device between the cell and the heater?

 

[tonygret]

The device between the cell and the heater is a back flow preventor. It’s always been there and set at the weakest possible setting. I had my installation permitted and apparently local ordinance requires the check valve to keep chlorine from collecting in the heater coils. You. can see the flap through the top of the check valve and It appears to open fully when in operation.

 

[ajw22]

The device between the cell and the heater is a back flow preventor. It’s always been there and set at the weakest possible setting. I had my installation permitted and apparently local ordinance requires the check valve to keep chlorine from collecting in the heater coils. You. can see the flap through the top of the check valve and It appears to open fully when in operation.

That is what @JoyfulNoise was asking about.

With a SWG it is not needed. There is no chlorine or acid from a SWG to backflow into the heater coil when the pump is off.

With Trichlor in a tablet chorinator it will continue dissolving and create acidic water when the pump is off. The check valve keeps the acidic water from backflowing into the heater and damaging the coil. The problem is the acid in the Trichlor, not the chlorine. A SWG generates no acid.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Tony,

I don't see anything obvious...

The main thing that can cause low flow is the filter. How old is the cartridge? What is the filter pressure now vs. what it was when you had the tab feeder?

Pumps don't generally get weaker, they either work or they don't work. Did you check that the impeller is not clogged?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[mas985]

Was there a change in filter pressure from before vs after the SWG install?

 

[tonygret]

The filter is about 4 months old and I just cleaned it sparky white. Here are some images of the gauges. The only things I can see different is that the suction side is higher than before by about half and the pressure side is about 5 lbs higher also. It may be hard to see, but the back flow device is wide open, as it was before the SwG. The nice thing about that is I can pop off the cap and just remove the flapper without having to do any plumbing.

 

[mknauss]

Take the cartridge out of the filter and see what the pressure is.

 

[mas985]

The filter is about 4 months old and I just cleaned it sparky white. Here are some images of the gauges. The only things I can see different is that the suction side is higher than before by about half and the pressure side is about 5 lbs higher also. It may be hard to see, but the back flow device is wide open, as it was before the SwG. The nice thing about that is I can pop off the cap and just remove the flapper without having to do any plumbing.

The pump pressure is showing 28 PSI while the filter pressure is shown 20 PSI. 1 PSI is due to the gauge height difference but the other 7 PSI would be due to head loss between the gauges which seems a bit high. What is between the pump and the filter?

 

[ajw22]

The pipe from the pump to the filter goes behind the filter in this pic. Show us the connection behind the filter.

 

[mas985]

Brain f..t

 

[ajw22]

Also your signature shows a "Pentair FNS Plus 60 DE Filter" but that looks like an EasyClean DE filter in the photo. Did you recently change filters?

Mark, I think you are looking at my signature and not the OP.

The OP signature says - Jandy CS100 Cartridge Filter..

 

[tonygret]

There is nothing between the pump and filter. See the image.