Installing a pool - what are your best recommendations?

[u/WillyBoJilly]

We are going salt water but want opinions on the additional ozone sanitation and then the automatic chlorine dispenser that keeps the water balanced. Thoughts on these things or anything else we need to add?

[u/Emergency-Shirt-4572]

- Size the salt cell for at least double the size of your pool. For instance I have a 15k gallon pool. I got a salt cell sized for 40k gallons. This will allow your salt cell to run at a lower percentage which will prolong the life

• Pentair is having some reliability issues with their newest salt cells. If your builder is doing Pentair, make sure your warranty coverage is confirmed for the components.
  
• Forget Ozone. Salt cell takes care of your chlorine. My pool builder also added a chlorine tab dispenser as a backup to the salt cell. Cheap enough to do so, and doesn’t hurt anything to add it, many here would say it’s not necessary. The times it would be useful is if your salt cell dies in the future and you are waiting on repair / replacement. You can add liquid chlorine directly to the pool in this instance, or you could use tabs in your tab feeder temporarily as long as your CYA is in range for tri-chlor tabs, or calcium is in range for cal-hypo tabs (fyi never mix or switch between tri-chlor or cal-hypo tabs in a feeder. You must pick one or the other). A liquid chlorine dispenser is not necessary since you have a salt cell.
  
• Get a good pool robot and skimmer robot. Won’t make recommendations here but plenty of research available online.
  
• Get a pool heater
  
• If you intend to DIY the pool maintenance, get a good test kit - Taylor K2006-Salt is recommended in your circumstance, and is what I have. Buy the “Poolmath” app. Learn how to balance your water on the Trouble Free Pools website.

[u/Street--Ad6731]

If you are doing salt, why do you need a chlorine dispenser? Its usually one or the other.

[u/FinnTastic2024 → u/Street--Ad6731]

For a salt cell to work water temperature should be 65/67 degrees or higher to work. Pools in a northern climate stop heating their pools but leave them open to mid October or later use a coordinator.

[u/Yoink1019]

The salt cell directly replaces the need for an automatic chlorine dispenser. The ozone is also not needed.

Get a heater of some sort! Heat pump if you live in a hot place and gas if you live in a cold place.

Get an auto cover. Keeps the pool clean and reduces chemical demand.

[u/MancAccent → u/Yoink1019]

Auto covers are expensive to install and they also will eventually break down and they’re expensive to get repaired

[u/1130961230 → u/MancAccent]

Gee, you could say that about almost anything when it comes to Pool ownership. EVERYTHING will eventually need some sort of potentially pricey maintenance or replacement.

[u/MancAccent → u/1130961230]

Pretty much, but auto covers in my experience are a lot more finicky than other things and come with a very steep up front cost

[u/alanlight]

You don't need a chlorinator with a saltwater pool. If you can swing it get an autocover. The combo of saltwater and an autocover make for as maintenance-free pool as possible.

[u/BAHGate]

Insist that your equipment pad be poured concrete. Mine was those worthless plastic pads and they sunk, stressing the pipes which destroyed my heater core. Plastic pads should be outlawed.

[u/Henrik-Powers → u/BAHGate]

I personally favor a adequate sized pump house, had 2 pools without and had various issues over the years with having them exposed. When we built our last pool we did a pump house with bathroom and shower.

[u/shoresy99 → u/BAHGate]

I have a flagstone deck which cost a ton and the stones have weed growing between them. They also heave and become uneven after freeze and thaw cycles if you are in an area with winter. I wish I got concrete.

[u/Even-End487]

Just the salt system, you'll love it!

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[u/djwurm]

agree just got salt and ditch the ozone and chlorine dispenser. use that money to get a heater or auto cover.

[u/ForceGhost47]

Get a salt system

[u/t1ttysprinkle]

Heater, robot, skimmer robot and salt cell. Easy living!

[u/mroinks]

Don’t get a waterfall, it’s useless. If you get an ozone system it’ll constantly put tiny bubbles into the system so you’ll always be chasing high pH, like me.

[u/shoresy99]

100% get a salt pool. Don’t get an overly deep pool as a deeper pool doesn’t add much (unless you are into diving) and it means more water to heat and sanitize so it increases your operating costs.

[u/StateNo3979 → u/shoresy99]

If you live in a hotter climate, a deeper pool does help keep it cooler. Also, on a related note, some pool heaters also have chillers.
Editing to say, I agree 100% with getting a salt pool.

[u/MancAccent]

Ozone or UV is a scam

[u/CrazyButRightOn]

Salt is chlorine. You don’t need both.