We had a SWCG for about 3 years - when it worked, it was nice not to have to worry about adding chlorine on a daily basis. After several returns under warranty, the third one developed severe cracks, the warranty gave out, so we pitched it and went back to conventional chlorine. One of the reasons we went with SWCG in the first place was for the feel of slightly salty water (soft water). Everyone who used the pool noticed how nice the water was on their skin. However, as someone on this forum pointed out, you can still get the feel of soft water by simply adding salt to about 2000 ppm, even if you are chlorinating with liquid or tri-chlor pucks. You don't need a SWCG to have soft water.
With the SWCG, we found we had to clean out the lime deposits with muriatic acid almost every other week, and it raised the pH such that we also had to add a pretty good dose of muriatic acid to the pool weekly. So, for us, the biggest negative (besides the cost) was the regular handling of muriatic acid - much more dangerous than handling chlorine bleach. But, you could add an automatic acid doser and reduce the handling.
We use tri-chlor pucks until CYA gets up to 40, then switch to liquid chlorine. A Liquidator would be a good way to reduce the liquid chlorine handling (one still has to load, or pour, the liquid chlorine into the Liquidator and you are still left with many empty jugs to deal with). We may get a Liquidator for the convenience, when the budget allows.
O
With the SWCG, we found we had to clean out the lime deposits with muriatic acid almost every other week, and it raised the pH such that we also had to add a pretty good dose of muriatic acid to the pool weekly. So, for us, the biggest negative (besides the cost) was the regular handling of muriatic acid - much more dangerous than handling chlorine bleach. But, you could add an automatic acid doser and reduce the handling.
We use tri-chlor pucks until CYA gets up to 40, then switch to liquid chlorine. A Liquidator would be a good way to reduce the liquid chlorine handling (one still has to load, or pour, the liquid chlorine into the Liquidator and you are still left with many empty jugs to deal with). We may get a Liquidator for the convenience, when the budget allows.
O