Why do they call them “Salt water generators” and not Chlorine generators?

[Decoy205]

I’m not sure if this is a rant or not but just some marketing thought.

It’s not until I came to this site that I learned that “salt water pools” are just pools that use generators to convert salt to chlorine.

I even know people who own salt pools and think that their pool is salt water like a fish tank. My daughters friend has a in ground, salt pool. She said she can’t come into my pool because she’s allergic to chlorine. And I said, well your pool does have Chlorine in it because your salt system makes it.

I feel like if they changed the name more people would get it and maybe invest in one.

Maybe the people who make chlorine tabs purposely named it to keep their crazy market of buying tabs and hitting trouble to force people to buy more Crud they don’t need?

 

[Newdude]

You are absolutely right, but there is precident. We call our portable generators either a gas generator or propane generator when they don't produce either. It should be a electricity generator powered by propane (etc).


But yeah. In the SWG case, people thing they are creating salt and for some reason it doesn't need chlorine.

 

[markdpratt]

I’m not sure if this is a rant or not but just some marketing thought.

It’s not until I came to this site that I learned that “salt water pools” are just pools that use generators to convert salt to chlorine.

I even know people who own salt pools and think that their pool is salt water like a fish tank. My daughters friend has a in ground, salt pool. She said she can’t come into my pool because she’s allergic to chlorine. And I said, well your pool does have Chlorine in it because your salt system makes it.

I feel like if they changed the name more people would get it and maybe invest in one.

Maybe the people who make chlorine tabs purposely named it to keep their crazy market of buying tabs and hitting trouble to force people to buy more Crud they don’t need?

I’ve seen them referred to as “salt chlorine generators” or “saltwater chlorine generators” but not as salt water generators.

 

[generessler]

As you know they use a bit of salt in the water to make chlorine, so it's not dishonest. Just confusing.

I'm sure it started as a marketing thing and stuck. "Chlorine" makes people flinch because the chloramines in badly run pools cause irritated eyes, dry skin, etc. etc. Salt water is the ocean and nature.

 

[Homebrewale]

I’ve seen them referred to as “salt chlorine generators” or “saltwater chlorine generators” but not as salt water generators.

Many people use the acronym SWG instead SWCG. It's even in the title of this forum. Salt Water Chlorine Generators (SWG)

 

[Decoy205]

I guess it’s the misconception that the salt is what sanitizes the pool when it’s being converted to chlorine that bugs me.

 

[dfwnoob]

The "SWG" acronym has always bugged me incessantly for this reason lol, hence I use SWCG.

 

[Saturn94]

The "SWG" acronym has always bugged me incessantly for this reason lol, hence I use SWCG.

Same here!

 

[JamesW]

Home Depot sells Whole home generators, but they don’t generate homes.

They sell natural gas generators that don’t generate natural gas.

They sell propane generators that don’t generate propane.

 

[Saturn94]

Home Depot sells Whole home generators, but they don’t generate homes.

They sell natural gas generators that don’t generate natural gas.

They sell propane generators that don’t generate propane.

I think most people understand those generators generated electricity, but don’t understand what a salt water (chlorine) generator does. Just us pool geeks are in the know.

It’s funny…back when our pool was new my spouse kept telling our friends/family that we had a salt pool instead of a chlorine pool. I don’t remember how many times I had to correct him before he got it!

 

[mgtfp]

I think it should be obvious that a Salt Water Generator doesn't generate salt water. If it is not clear to someone what it generates, a quick glance into the manual should help.

I do not know what most CEOs do all day long, but I don't think changing their 3 letter job title to a 4 letter title would help clarifying that.

 

[bradgray]

An embarrassing number of our clients call them "saltinators". I don't know why they all end up at that name, but I wish they wouldn't...

I hear Arnold's voice when they say it, every. single. time.

 

[Decoy205]

Home Depot sells Whole home generators, but they don’t generate homes.

They sell natural gas generators that don’t generate natural gas.

They sell propane generators that don’t generate propane.

Just cuz that’s what they call ‘em, it doesn’t mean they’re good or informative names!

 

[needsajet]

One two three four, who are we for, SWCG, SWCG
Two four six eight, who do we appreciate, SWCG, SWCG

 

[jesse-99]

FWIW, since reading this thread, I am trying to remember to use the SWCG acronym! ( I was one who always used SWG)

 

[JamesW]

I call it a TMTMCBUETCCICBRAEFTOVSOTCI.

(The Machine That Makes Chlorine By Using Electrolysis To Convert Chloride Into Chlorine By Removing An Electron From The Outer Valance Shell Of The Chloride Ion).

 

[Decoy205]

Now you have to call it that every single time.

 

[Saturn94]

I call it a TMTMCBUETCCICBRAEFTOVSOTCI.

(The Machine That Makes Chlorine By Using Electrolysis To Convert Chloride Into Chlorine By Removing An Electron From The Outer Valance Shell Of The Chloride Ion).

So when can we expect Pool School to be updated with the new acronym?

 

[JamesW]

So when can we expect Pool School to be updated with the new acronym?

I submitted the idea for approval to the committee.

Here is the response:

Thank you for submitting your idea to the committee. Unfortunately, your idea is way too stupid to be implemented at this time. Please feel free to submit any new ideas you have for improvements. Yours Truly, the committee that decides stuff like this.

Oh well, that was idea #1,252 that I have submitted and had rejected.

One day, they might actually like and use one of my ideas.

Maybe I should submit my idea for an employee lounge to be added to the cafeteria.

 

[Smalldog3]

Maybe because you have to add salt, a number of 40 pound bags of salt, so the generator ( some call it a pump, a saltwater pump) which has titanium blades that convert the saltwater into chlorine. Without the salt, and the pool pump, it wouldn’t generate chlorine.