Variable speed pump program

[BrantlyJ]

New pool and we got a Pentair SuperFlo VST pump.
Our installer set it up at 1925 rpm and said to just let it run there 24/7. I’m thinking that defeats the purpose of having VS!
So what would be the best program to run. We do have a heat pump and it shuts down due to low flow at about 1500 rpm, but I can bump it up to 1500 to get maximum heat transfer if it’s programmed lower.
We use BioGaurd sticks in the skimmer basket if it matters.
Thanks!

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
First, do not put trichlor in your skimmer. It can easily damage your liner, pump, heater, etc.

How to Chlorinate Your Pool

Before chlorinating your pool, you should know these simple tips. Learn the best way to add chlorine to your pool.

www.troublefreepool.com

As far as pump speeds, you run the pump for a purpose. The speed and length of run time is to create or distribute your chlorine, skim the surface, and heat the water. So you need to decide all of those factors and what speed and run time is needed to achieve them.

Determine Pump Run Time

To figure out how many hours you need to run your pump, you need to know how fast your pump works. You can find this here.

www.troublefreepool.com

I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.

 

[BrantlyJ]

How does trichlor damage all the things? In what way?
My wife is a CPO so she is responsible for keeping the levels where they need to be.
If only she could buy our chemicals direct from her bulk supplier.
Unfortunately she is down and out due to chemo and radiation treatments for cancer so I’m pinch hitting. She was dead set against a salt system and everyone I have talked to that had salt hated it and changed to chlorine.

 

[mknauss]

How does trichlor damage all the things? In what way?

Chlorine Pucks in Skimmer = Disaster

Found this picture on a group page. Poster was asking how this happened to her liner. Chlorine Pucks kept in a skimmer basket is my guess as well as not maintaining PH. Was so blown away by this photo I just had to share!

www.troublefreepool.com

If one runs their pool pump 24/7, then adding trichlor to the skimmer has less effect. If one has the pump off, then that trichlor creates a very acidic stew in the skimmer, damaging the plastic of the skimmer, the liner (as seen in the thread above), the seals in the pump, and the heater core if you have one.

Good luck.

 

[Jimrahbe]

everyone I have talked to that had salt hated it and changed to chlorine.

Really,

Kind of backward from real case facts..

You need to talk with people that have a clue what they are doing...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[BrantlyJ]

The biggest complaints were cost as the salt generator would Crud out in a few years and corrosion.

 

[chiefwej]

I , like many, many others on TFP, are using a Salt Water Generation system. My pool has been a salt pool from its first day in 2005. Salt cells are a consumable item. My experience has been an average life span of around 7 years. Based on replacement cost of cells, my operating cost for chlorine production is less than $100 per year in a 20k pool that is open year round. SWG works great, if you maintain proper water chemistry, and it can cost less than any other way of chlorinating a pool.