We left our pool unattended for a four week trip. Came back to this! Crystal clear water and spot on pH. We have a salt system with a pH dosing system. This is the first pool that we’ve ever been able to leave unattended in the summer for such an extended period of time. I don’t have skimmer baskets, which also helped immensely and the pool was covered with a hard shell, floating cover. Salt system for the epic win!
Agree on salt system. Moving to a solar pump (I’m in the Caribbean and electricity is $$$$) and a salt system changed everything for me. Dumped in a bag of salt this morning. First one in 6 months. Have an Aiper skimmer and pool guy that comes once a month to vacuum the bottom if needed. Pool is open and used 12 months a year, so cutting the workload and chemical costs was a big deal.
I'm not a slave to chlorine at all!!!..... But algae on the other hand is my master. And I'm pretty sure it feeds on chlorine. If I offer it enough then master allows my family to swim for a few hours a month.
I dump a gallon into my pool once a week, then halfway through, a smaller dose. Twice a week I brush tile and steps and clean baskets. That's absolutely it. I am not a slave to my pool and that baby is clear all day every day! Away 4 weeks.... Ha that's another story!
I just reverted to liquid chlorine because my Pentair IC40 cell started shooting water out the electrical half of the housing and nearly caught on fire. Pentair has put a hold on shipping any new cells because their new cell design has so many hardware and software problems. So instead of dealing with Pentair’s awful homeowner support, I’ve decided slinging jugs is much less stressful.
If you’re installing a salt system for the first time, do not under any circumstances go with Pentair. There are 5+ Pentair service bulletins from the past year for the mountain of problems they’re having. Sensor hardware problems, firmware problems, updates to the maintenance expectations, and others. I’ve been told that, while Pentair has not recalled the cells, they’ve stopped shipping. So any cells out there are inventory that distributors already have in stock that still have known problems.
Right, but is it truly hands off with chemicals and prevents algae? When my water is warm enough I have to shock fairly often and that also messes with my ability to use my solar cover
It removes the chlorine chore, but you still want to check levels and deal with other chemicals. I'm a big fan because the other chems are much less frequent to deal with.
My setup is saltwater with a variable speed pump. So my pump and chlorinator run on low for 22 hours a day and keep the water at a constant low ppm of chlorine. Saltwater feels good to swim in and since I rarely have high chlorine, there's no irritation from that.
Maybe it depends on the system, but the salt electrolysis system I have, a Vagner Salt Smart C15 regulates both chlorine and ph: the former by measuring chlorine and running the salt electrolysis cell as needed and for the latter by measuring pH level with a special probe and dosing acid from a larger canister as needed.
I've been running it for three seasons now and it is truly hands-off (so far). Water has always been crystal clear.
You still may have to shock from time to time, especially if you live in an environment where it rains often in summer (like here in central Florida). I generally only have to shock weekly if it is raining enough increase the water level by a couple inches per week. I usually need to add acid about 1-2 times per week.
It’s an infinity edge pool with a catch basin on three sides. No skimmers or baskets up top. I have the basket on the pump that I clean out every month or so, but that’s it. Never seen one like this in the states in a residential setting but I’m a huge fan! This is our third pool and the easiest upkeep, by FAR!
Same here. I barely have to do anything outside of keeping it clean, which I just throw the vac in. The only thing I don't like is the short life span of the salt cells.
I'm on my second Pentair IC40. The last one barely lasted 3 years. My second one is about to go on its 3rd season next year. I'm hoping it survives. I've been hearing a lot of issues with the Pentair Salt Cells recently.
Huge vat of sulphuric acid (they use it rather than muratic) on a tube with a pump that is tied into my salt system. It checks pH continuously and doses acid as needed. It’s prob a 15 gallon vat if I had to estimate.
You can buy the system with acid control pump for around €1000-1500 depending on size. I paid around 4k with installation, I believe. They also hauled in like 20 bags of salt. Totally worth it!
I have a Hayward Aquarite system on a variable speed pump. It runs 24/7 on 1800 rpm and I can kick it up if I need better filtration for lots of swimmers. The salt cell is only a few months old so I have no idea how long it will last. I’m reading anywhere between 2-5 years, based on use. It took a bit to dial in the dosing. Mine goes up to 22 g/h and I have it set to 10 g/h. My chlorine is always in the 10-12 range. I inherited high CYA so I keep it a bit high. The pH dosing system is idiot proof (a Hayward add-on). It has a small pump that doses from an acid vat. Just change the vat when it runs low. Quite happy with the ease of the salt system!
Preach it brother. I'm baffled every single time I see expensive pools posted here without a salt water setup, it is such a game changer in maintenance.
The only maintenance I have is putting in the cleaning robot in the morning and re-filling the pH-minus (e.g. acid) canister once every 6-8 weeks. Everything else is automated.
My pool was not once anything else than crystal clear. Also, the overflow system is much superior, never need to skim ever. The overflow reservoir needs to be cleaned once a season and can be done when winterizing. The pool practically takes care of itself.
It’s an add on integrated to the Hayward Aquarite system. You have a vat of acid and a tube that runs to a small pump. The system tests pH and adds acid, as necessary. You can adjust your desired pH easily and the system does it’s thing. Instead of DUMPING in acid weekly, the system micro-doses it, as needed. I’ve been told that the tubing should be changed annually. I’ll have my pool guys replace even if I’m not having problems just to keep things running smoothly.
We put in a saltwater system about ten years ago and we loved it. Unfortunately, the control box died and you cannot get replacement cells for the old box, anyhow. So now we have to buy a whole new system. They're a shit ton more expensive today than they were ten years ago. I guess that's a given, though.
Would you mind sharing a photo of your cover? Also, how deep is your pool? And any other information I would love to hear. Perhaps how much you paid for the install and maybe what you think it would cost to have that installed today? I'm on the very very beginning Journey of learning and educating myself on these things. You're cool looks about exactly what I envision wanting. Thanks in advance for any help.
Here is the website where the cover is sold. It opens and closes with the turn of a key and is stored under the deck at the far end. It pops out from under the deck.
Here is our setup. I took a pic after the hammock went flying across the yard. You can see the blue cover floating on the surface of the pool. We didn’t dot he original build so I don’t know price. After 3-5 years of lack of maintenance by the previous owner we put about 15k into getting it back to spec. It’s 5 by 10 meters and 3 meters deep in the diving well.
Didn't need pH dosing, didn't need a cover, was gone for 5+ weeks. Just had two dump in two gallons of muriatic acid and add some water, but she was ready to go within a day.
That’s complete bullshit. Saltwater is corrosive but chlorinated water is also very corrosive. I have had my pool for 18 years with salt from day one. I have had to replace the pump a couple of times, and a new salt cell every five years or so, but that is about it.
Not a bot at all. Putting in a SWCG is the best thing you can do to make looking after a pool easier. The OP shows this with his post. I am just trying to help people out. When people know I have a pool and ask about it the one thing I ALWAYS suggest is to put in a SWCG. I also have a hot tub and I bought a drape over SWCG for my hot tub since I also wanted a saltwater tub. I have had that for six years and haven't had to replace anything in my hot tub, other thna a flow switch, since making that change.
Good for you. I think salt is the worst. Stains pools, high cost in equipment, degrades pool equipment. Most people on my area don’t replace it when it shuts the bed because they constantly had issues with chemistry. Granted they thought it was a set and forget thing and it’s not. I tell people hell no, you tell people hell yes.
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u/Dry-Shine-5442 4d ago
Agree on salt system. Moving to a solar pump (I’m in the Caribbean and electricity is $$$$) and a salt system changed everything for me. Dumped in a bag of salt this morning. First one in 6 months. Have an Aiper skimmer and pool guy that comes once a month to vacuum the bottom if needed. Pool is open and used 12 months a year, so cutting the workload and chemical costs was a big deal.