I Love TFP But...

[Dave1096]

...I have no idea how those without a SWG do it. I couldn't use mine for the first 30 days after plaster, so I was manually dosing with liquid chlorine as many of you do. It wasn't the worst thing in the world, but man do I LOVE the convenience of my SWG these past few weeks. No more dragging dozens of chlorine bottles around, measuring/ pouring, filling my recycle bin up, driving from Walmart-HD-Lowes trying to find the one that has liquid chlorine in stock that day. The only downside I've noticed so far is I have to make more of an effort not to get complacent with my pool and still check my skimmers and measure ph daily.

I've seen some comparisons on here of SWG first cost vs. total cost of liquid chlorine over a time span. For me the convenience of a SWG alone sells itself. I wouldn't ever be without one.

 

[cowboycasey]

I have to agree with you, best decision I ever made...

 

[Texas Splash]

Yeah, it took me about seven years to make the change. Fortunately for me, I did it just before COVID hit. Perfect timing.

 

[Newdude]

For some people, it doesn’t make sense to spend an amount equal to what the pool cost. Or a big fraction of it. (Even so….. there are many that still do it). But I get all those that don’t.

I’ve lost count of how many builds I’ve seen where folks penny pinched on the equipment with an $80k-$100k build. Just to put 4, $1200 loungers on the patio afterwards. And maybe even $15k of other designer brand patio furniture.

The equipment is the backbone of your backyard paradise. Make it as hefty and easy as can be. *Then* consider any other detail about your build.

I put my money where my mouth is. I had my SWG, pump and filter in hand before I even signed the contract on my next build.

 

[revitup]

My PB pushed for a SWCG hard and we’re so glad he did.

 

[Katodude]

I could not live without my SWG. And LC is cheap and very available here. I just cant be bothered to go and get it.

And while we are talking about do-overs, I would have upgraded my filter when we did our pool renovation.

 

[Selenap]

I don’t have one and use roughly one gallon of bleach a week. I seem to deal without swg’s just fine. When I go grocery shopping, I get a couple gallons. When I test my water, I may add bleach. Or not.

 

[drsipe]

When we built our pool, SWG were an expensive option and the cells did not have a long lifespan, so we opted for the automatic tab feeded. We struggled with trichlor tabs and maintaining stabilizer levels for 16 years. When we changed the liner in 2020, the guys who installed the liner educated me on stabalizer/chlorine levels and the one guy told me about TFP. So last year for the first time I used sodium hypo exclusively and it was a great year, but handling all the sodium hypo is labor intensive and I ruined a few shorts & shirts from splashing. This spring, I installed a SWG, the Circupool RJ60 Plus, and life is soooo much better. My water chemistry is easier to maintain, since I'm not adding as many chemicals, no more going to the stores for chlorine every week. I wish I would have changed to SWG years ago.

 

[Newdude]

I don’t have one and use roughly one gallon of bleach a week

That’s a recipe for disaster. One gallon and one cup for you is 4ppm. You should be adding that daily (or close to it) being the peak of the season.

A solar cover will reduce your FC demand, but maybe down to half (3 gallons a week) and not 1/7th with 1 gallon a week

 

[Selenap]

That’s a recipe for disaster. One gallon and one cup for you is 4ppm. You should be adding that daily (or close to it) being the peak of the season.

A solar cover will reduce your FC demand, but maybe down to half (3 gallons a week) and not 1/7th with 1 gallon a week

Perhaps but I’m not burning through chlorine. I maintain 5-7 ppm daily. Every third day I add about a half gallon. Hard to believe huh? I was just commenting on not having a swg. Know what else? I don’t cover my pool either. I just keep it clean. peace bro.

 

[AK-]

That’s a recipe for disaster. One gallon and one cup for you is 4ppm. You should be adding that daily (or close to it) being the peak of the season.

A solar cover will reduce your FC demand, but maybe down to half (3 gallons a week) and not 1/7th with 1 gallon a week

I agree that low chlorine is a recipe for disaster, but my own experience with my solar cover is a reduction of chlorine loss way beyond half.

When bad weather is in the forecast I bring my FC to shock level (SLAM level), put the cover on and turn off my heater. Four days later I lost about 4ppm…. It may be the unique conditions of sunlight exposure and type of cover, but it is impressive how much it preserves my FC.

 

[Newdude]

Perhaps but I’m not burning through chlorine. I maintain 5-7 ppm daily. Every third day I add about a half gallon. Hard to believe, huh?

If you are staying on top of it, and testing frequently then I am THRILLED that the pool gods smiled upon you with a very low chlorine demand / need. That’s awesome.

If we see something we are obligated to point it out. And your low demand stood out like a pink neon sign. Lol.

 

[setsailsoon]

I was a slow learner too. After 5 years I switched. No more jug lugging!

 

[AK-]

I planning to install a SWG if prices ever go back something normal-ish. I have no issues dosing LC. Actually all days last week I just doses directly from the jug without measuring and was very close to the mark to the point add LC now takes about 30 seconds (including the time to grab the jug and putting it back on its place).

When LC is plenty available and I can restock weekly along of groceries even that is not an issue, but back in early May I had to hunt for LC in multiple stores and had to deal with purchase limits. I don’t want to go over that again.

 

[revitup]

I don’t understand how ‘jug luggers’ maintain their pools when they go away for a week or two. Impose on family or a neighbor and train them to test and dose while they’re gone? SWCG also stands for Sure We Can Go!

 

[AK-]

I don’t understand how ‘jug luggers’ maintain their pools when they go away for a week or two. Impose on family or a neighbor and train them to test and dose while they’re gone? SWCG also stands for Sure We Can Go!

Normally run with a lower CYA, bring to shock level before leaving, put tablets from heck on floaters and deal with the CYA demons when back.

 

[Dave1096]

One of the biggest inconveniences for me with LC was the constant yo-yo'ing between the upper/lower limits of my range... nice and high after an addition and near the low end 24 hrs later or especially after having alot of swimmers in the pool. Now with my SWG I stay consistent pretty much all the time and could probably get away with just checking my FC 1-2x per week. Nothing against using LC, if I didn't have a SWG that's what I would use, and it wouldn't be THAT bad. But after making the switch...what an improvement of convenience.

 

[AK-]

One of the biggest inconveniences for me with LC was the constant yo-yo'ing between the upper/lower limits of my range... nice and high after an addition and near the low end 24 hrs later or especially after having alot of swimmers in the pool. Now with my SWG I stay consistent pretty much all the time and could probably get away with just checking my FC 1-2x per week. Nothing against using LC, if I didn't have a SWG that's what I would use, and it wouldn't be THAT bad. But after making the switch...what an improvement of convenience.

I run hot. The yo-yo’ing effect still happens, but I’ll never be anywhere near a level that I need to worry about. With an SWG I’ll still have yo-yo’ing as I won’t run my simple speed pump all the time.

 

[Dave1096]

When LC is plenty available and I can restock weekly along of groceries even that is not an issue, but back in early May I had to hunt for LC in multiple stores and had to deal with purchase limits. I don’t want to go over that again.

I had to travel for work in May before we were using our SWG, and due to poor planning was trying to grab LC the night before my flight so my wife would have it on hand to use while I'm away. Nobody had liquid chlorine in stock. I drove to every Walmart, HD, and Lowes within 10 miles of my house hunting. My wife ended up finding some at a pool store that next day, but I'm there with you on not wanting to deal with that headache again.

 

[Dave1096]

I run hot. The yo-yo’ing effect still happens, but I’ll never be anywhere near a level that I need to worry about. With an SWG I’ll still have yo-yo’ing as I won’t run my simple speed pump all the time.

Makes sense