salt or chlorine, sand or cartridge filter.

[tmb418]

Getting a new pool. Last was a chlorine pool. Once I found this forum I did start using some everyday chemicals instead of pool company chemicals. Now am debating salt or chlorine. Also I am leaning towards sand rather than a cartridge filter. Any thoughts?

[PoolDoc]

You've misunderstood: 'salt' pools -- pools using SWCGs (Salt Water Chlorine Generator) -- ARE chlorine pools! An SWCG is simple a *method* of chlorinating your pool.

Some of the early SWCG makers worked pretty hard to deceive people into thinking that a "salt pool" was a "natural" and even "non-chlorine" alternative method of sanitation.

SWCG +'s:
=> more consistent chlorination than with most other methods
=> easier to maintain the pool if owner/caretaker is gone for a week.
=> somewhat lower monthly expense.

SWCG -'s
=> Large initial expense
=> Increased corrosion (less of a problem on a PROPERLY equipped new pool)
=> Operational problems because owners tend to think the SWCG will supply all their chlorine. (During algae episodes, spring clean-up, etc manual chlorination is needed!)
=> Short SWCG cell life: most SWCG's barely last till the end of the warranty period.

Tips:
+ Insist on brass, not aluminum, ladder and rail anchors.
+ Plan on regularly rinsing off any natural stone that is exposed to pool water. (Salt water drying on stone can cause problem. This is more of an issue in arid regions with little summer rain.)
+ Use the Hayward Universal heater, if a heater is intalled (Cupro-nickel salt-resistant heat exchanger for no extra fee.)
+ Avoid low grade stainless: insist on US-made name-brand ladders, rails & lights.
+ Get the largest possible SWCG, and turn it down. (Cell life is a direct function of "ON" time -- big units run shorter intervals, and so they last longer.)

Regarding filters: in Georgia, EITHER get a sand filter OR a DE filter. Cartridge filters are a PAIN to clean and expensive to service, but eliminate the issue of backwash discharge. But there are few areas of Georgia where that's a problem. Make SURE your filter is full-sized or oversized. (24" for 16K gallon or less, 30" otherwise.

Regarding pumps: insist on 2 speed pump -- either a Hayward SuperPump or a Pentair Whisperflo. Single speed pumps waste electricity; VS (Variable speed) pumps are very expensive, and do not hold up well in areas where summer thunderstorms (= voltage surges) occur). Running a 2-speed pump on LO most of the time will give you extremely good filtration and make SWCG operation flexible, since the pump will be ON most of the time. Do NOT get a pump larger than needed: it will make operations worse, not better.