Swcg before heater

[UKjames]

I know best practice is after the heater but How bad is this in practice if your pump is always set to run when the swcg is running plus a bit of pump overrun when the swcg turns off.

I had seen somewhere in here I think that the after heater is based on puck feeders that are acidic and so bad for copper heat exchangers.

A lazy plumbing approach for me would be to put it before as that’s where there’s more space.

 

[Texas Splash]

James, while it is true there is a district difference between the acidity of a tab feeder versus an SWG, placing the SWG at the end of a return chain of equipment is ideal. Some could argue that depending on the pump water movement (GPM) and output % setting of the SWG it may be okay, but that's a risk not usually taken. I think you'll find most, if not all, SWG instructions are very clear about placing the cell last. At best, there may be an option to run the cell in parallel to the heater, but not in front.

 

[Newdude]

You don’t want the ‘superchlorinated’ water/gas going through your heater core before it has a chance to mix well and be completely diluted

Can you install a vertical kit (possibly even sideways) ? Easy peasy and it buys everyone that extra space.

 

[Nikilyn]

You don’t want the ‘superchlorinated’ water/gas going through your heater core before it has a chance to mix well and be completely diluted

Can you install a vertical kit (possibly even sideways) ? Easy peasy and it buys everyone that extra space.

Vertical kit? Do you need something special for it to be vertical?

 

[Newdude]

Vertical kit? Do you need something special for it to be vertical?

It’s just two 90’s and a 2 ft loop. It’s called a vertical kit but you can use the loop sideways too if there is more room that way.

 

[sktn77a]

As you say, the concentration of chlorine generated by a SWG is much lower than that generated by a tab feeder (which is where the original recommendations came from). But if there is any opportunity to place it after the heater, I would do that anyway - the constant exposure to even low concentrations of chlorine isn't good for the copper heat exchangers in the heaters.