Thinking about converting to a SWG pool

[eugchen]

i inherited a chlorine pool about 2 years ago and spent the first 1.5 years basically just trying to take the easy way out and using chlorine puts. a large tub of them cost me around $200 and i still have about 1/3 of them. i admittingly didnt use enough and wasnt using the tfp method. i found out later that this action was increasing my CYA, thereby needing alot more FC to sanitize which i wasnt getting the FC up to par. so algae would grow every once in a while. i decided to drain 1/2 of the pool and get on the tfp method, complete my SLAM and have been so for the past few months. so now i use exclusively liquid chlorine, and my level necessary is 9-11. i find that i pour in a gallon of LC, get it to 16 or so, then wait 3-4 days to let it drift back down to 9-10, and then repeat cycle. each gallon cost me around $6 and so im calculating around $600-700 a year on chlorine and then add in maybe 100-200 for acid needed to buy each year. for me, id like a simpler cheaper option with a bit less maintenance, as i sometimes go out of town for a week or two at a time.

many have asked me if i have considered a SWG pool system and i honestly hadnt. i used to own a SWG but i never maintained it myself so i have no idea what goes into it. can someone tell me the process of what needs to be done? i wont be converting myself, so does anyone have an estimated cost on alteration to a SWG system, estimated cost each year or month, and the amount of time i need to spend on it?

thank you

 

[Mdragger88]

I see you have Jandy equipment, do you have automation? If so you should go with a Jandy Swcg as that would be the easiest solution. These can only be purchased through dealers & must be professionally installed to retain the warranty.
In that case The aquapure 1400 would be a good choice & give you plenty of fc even when run at a lower percentage. This would mean the cell’s finite (8-10k hr @100%) life span isn’t depleted as quickly so your cell lives longer in people years.
If no automation then you can purchase any brand you wish - you just want to be sure it’s rated for at least 2x’s your pool’s volume for the reason listed above.

There’s really no constant maintenance that needs to be done for a swcg aside from managing your pool’s chemistry parameters as you are now (which will now include salt) & possibly having to clean the cell occasionally (although with proper chemistry management that shouldn’t happen very often). The cell will just be dosing the pool with chlorine for you.
You will still need to test regularly & tell the swcg how much fc to make (adjust it on occasion). Obviously you should give it a look over now & then like any other equipment.
You will also still need to manage ph & all the other parameters as you should already be doing.
As for cost to run the swcg - they use very little electricity.
& You seem to have a variable speed pump which can run at low rpms around the clock for very little expense allowing you to always be producing fc with no real added ongoing cost. (Add that exact model to your signature btw)
With a swcg you’re essentially paying for the several years of fc up front when you buy the cell.
* Before adding any salt you should test your pool’s current salinity.
All forms of manually added chlorine add salt so you may be surprised how much you already have.

 

[sande005]

I'm in a whole different area, with a very different pool, and very different climate, and we don't know all the details or configuration of your equipment...so with those disclaimers....

I did the SWCG install myself this past spring. Used to go through 60-80 lbs of tabs in a season. Plus lots of liquid Cl to fight algae. The unit cost $1,600 plus $900 for an electrician to install the timers I needed and rewire everything.
Chemical expense for the year was about $250, for the initial salt, a couple cases of liquid Cl, and some acid. I drain my pool partially for the winter, so some salt, CYA, and acid next year. So perhaps $100 max next summer. More for liquid Cl if I really ignore it, and have to SLAM it, but I'll try hard not to be that bad of a pool owner. I oversized my generator, so easily expect 5-8 years out of it. Replacement cells are currently $700.
IF your pump is variable speed, you can dial it way down, and run it 24/7, giving you huge energy cost savings, also.
My time for maintenance shrank from a couple of hours per week, to about 1/2 per week (!)

Brands vary in cost, and you'll pay for someone to install, so likely not as inexpensive as mine. But even if you double all the costs.....

 

[Newdude]

So. No matter which way you chlorinate, you need to match the daily FC / UV loss of that part in the season. There can be whoopsie weeks from time to time, but for the most part it's a bell curve across the season needing little at the ends, and alot in the middle.

With the SWG you set it to match the recent loss (plus a little wiggle room), and it's good for 2 to 6 weeks on its own. You test FC and as long as you're still matching the loss, no adjustments are needed. My new pool is full sun and didn't need an adjustment for June, July, Aug and half of Sept. I was here watching it, but I could have been away. Lol.

For the first half of the season, you're turning it up to increase production to match the longer days and higher sun angle. For the back half of the season, it's adjusting it down to produce less FC.

For an easy cost estimate, double the online price you find for any given unit.

 

[Mdragger88]

Assuming you have automation & go with Jandy - go Here to find dealers in your area & get at least 3 quotes. All you need is the swcg system so it should be fairly simple.
If you don’t need to match your automation/dont have that then The same can be done for other big names- hayward & pentair. Find dealers & get multiple quotes.
Circupool is diy so you could attempt that on your own as many tfpr’s do or hire an independent pool person to install what you buy.
Let us know what you currently have & we’ll guide you from there. Take pictures of your equipment panels.

 

[HermanTX]

each gallon cost me around $6 and so im calculating around $600-700 a year on chlorine and then add in maybe 100-200 for acid needed to buy each year. for me, id like a simpler cheaper option with a bit less maintenance, as i sometimes go out of town for a week or two at a time.

many have asked me if i have considered a SWG pool system and i honestly hadnt. i used to own a SWG but i never maintained it myself so i have no idea what goes into it. can someone tell me the process of what needs to be done? i wont be converting myself, so does anyone have an estimated cost on alteration to a SWG system, estimated cost each year or month, and the amount of time i need to spend on it?

A SWCG is prepaying your Chlorine upfront - for the next 4-7 years (depending on use).
WIth a Jandy ePump, you must have some automation to control that. If not let us know, and maybe there are other options

I converted to a SWCG and since I had Jandy AquaLink automation, I purchased the Jandy 1400 kit - see link Jandy AquaPure Complete System with 14 Blade Cell PLC1400
That will cost about $2000. I installed it myself (plumbing and electrical) but would estimate another $500 if someone did it for you. A good handyman could do it if he understands about plumbing and electrical. Polytec is an authorized seller of Jandy which got warranty updated.

Your pool is about the same size of mine - the Model 1400 is rated to 40k gals which is perfect. I run my pump 23 hrs a day and my SWCG is always putting out a little chlorine consistently. I have left for 10-14 days with no issues - however, since I do not have autofill, I did have a neighbor check my water level every 5 days or so when I was away in heat of the summer.

 

[Mdragger88]

Herman you’re a super hero! Great to know about polytec & jandy swcgs . Thought Jandy stuff was still super locked down even more so than the others to authorized installers.