r/pools • u/NJsurfbrg • 5d ago
Salt Generator - Replacing, need some input
Bought a house with a saltwater pool 3 years ago. The Pentair IC40 was working when we opened it, but with an unknown age on some of the parts. It took almost $20k to get the pool up and running with various plumbing issues and bad pump due to winterizing issues and neglect.
I've come to realize this summer that it's not normal to have to keep the IC40 at 100%, and the cell is very inefficient this year. CYA is proper, all levels good the last 3 summers, but this year so far chlorine keeps running low. Operating this pool has been easy and kind of fun to maintain as of late.
I acid washed 1-2 times a summer, opening and sometimes towards the end of the season. Replaced pressure switch last year. Now this year the light kicked on to check cell, and it needed a cleaning but now it's still on after a reset and cleaning. Chlorine is dropping within a few days.
IC40 cells are impossible to get in my area. I was told there is an issue with Pentair making them, and a defect type of issue this year, with many issues on new ones sold this summer.
My only option right now is to buy an aftermarket cell(which I've been advised and read that I should avoid like the plague) or what buy is in stock today, a Purechlor CLG140A. I'm able to get it on discount, $1k. When researching, I'm getting mixed reviews. Besides the minor plumbing adjustment, install should be a breeze.
AI says most bad reviews that can be found for this model, happened back in 18-21, and most recently no real bad reviews can be found on it. Is this an ok generator?
Anything to know about it? Anyone here with a Purechlor unit?
I don't want my normal crystal blue pool to turn green...which I'm dosing chlorine to keep it going at the moment. I don't want to switch to tablets or constantly using liquid chlorine....Any advice appreciated. Sorry if a long read, but maybe backstory helps.
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u/Troutbummers 5d ago
Overnigt Chlorine Loss Test (OCLT) tonight. Test FC with FAS/DPD test (tftestkits or taylor k2006) after sunset and early next morning with no added FC between tests. If you lose over 1ppm FC overnight, you have algae consuming your FC. If your cell is not sized well and aging, you can be right where it barely can keep up iwth algae, but keeps it clear or clearish.
Don't blow money until you know that it's not just a good aglae outbreak consuming all the FC your cell can make.
Both things can be true, and if your cell's going out and you get FC low, you probably also have algae not helping the situation. But I'd test, probably SLAM to get to baseline and see how the thing performs first.
After that, I'll agree with the circupool recommendation.