Thoughts on switching to SWCG?

[HiddenRiver]

I have an old pool with an old DE filter (with “fingers”) and a new 1.5 hp Hayward single speed pump. I have only one skimmer working, not sure why the other skimmer doesn’t work. Two return jets work. One underwater light does not work. As you can see from my signature the pool is pretty big 40,400 gallons. Would you recommend a switch to SWCG? Is a good estimate between $600-$900 as I noted on another thread for someone else’s pool?

The pool will also need a replaster before too long. Does a SWCG have any effect on the condition of the plaster? So three items that need work, and one somewhat major change to SWCG. What is the general thought/recommendation on the sequence to have this work done? Replaster, light, skimmer, SWCG?

 

[mknauss]

The biggest issue I see with a SWCG in your situation is a large pool with a single speed pump. The largest SWCG available will need to run 12+ hours per day in the summer to provide sufficient chlorine. So if running the pump that much each day is not an issue, the other items are not a show stopper.

It does make sense to do everything at once. If funds permit.

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You will spend north of $1000 for a large SWCG.

 

[HiddenRiver]

The biggest issue I see with a SWCG in your situation is a large pool with a single speed pump. The largest SWCG available will need to run 12+ hours per day in the summer to provide sufficient chlorine. So if running the pump that much each day is not an issue, the other items are not a show stopper.

It does make sense to do everything at once. If funds permit.

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You will spend north of $1000 for a large SWCG.

Wow, OK. If we got a larger or variable speed pump would this lower the amount of time to run the SWCG? I try to run 6-8 hours per day normally.

Another question. Our pool store advertises “salt water pools”. Do you think this is the same as an SWCG?

Thank you for your advice—greatly appreciated!

 

[mknauss]

A Salt Water Chlorine Generator (SWCG) is what pool stores call Saltwater Pools.

A VS pump would allow you to run at a lower RPM and thus a fraction of the electrical use to create the chlorine and clean the pool. You would still need to run the pump longer.

 

[ajw22]

Wow, OK. If we got a larger or variable speed pump would this lower the amount of time to run the SWCG? I try to run 6-8 hours per day normally.

A SWG is designed to continuously generate a small amount of CL for a long time. You need to run the SWG and pump for sufficient time to meet your pools CL needs. The specs on SWGs assume you are running them at 100% 24/7. If you installed a 60K SWG cell in your 40K pool then you would need to run it at about 2/3 capacity. That means the SWG at 100% output for 16 hours or the SWG at 66% output for 24 hours.

The VS pump lets you run your SWG for those times using a low RPM and much less electrical cost then a single speed pump. Depending on your electrical cost you can decide if it is worth the cost to replace an operational single speed pump with a VS pump. Or keep using the single speed pump with slightly higher electrical cost and then replace it with a VS when it dies. You can find an spreadsheet to calculate pump electrical costs and other information in this thread --> Hydraulics 101 - Have you lost your head?

 

[HiddenRiver]

Thanks ajw22 and mknauss!!