Need Recommendations on Reburbishing Pool and Transition to Saltwater.

We just purchased a house which came with a beautiful pool in HORRIBLE condition. We know we need to get the pool retiled (and maybe new plaster). The filter and pump are close to 30 years old.

It took us a month, but be finally got all of the algae and debris cleaned out. Went swimming for the first time yesterday- YEAH! Now we are trying to figure out what we should invest in and how to spread out payments. We were thinking of installing a saltwater system now (so we can keep using the pool for Aug and Sept) and then get the pool tile fixed in the fall when we winterize it. Then get a new pump/filter in the fall. Is that a good order to do things?

Any recommendations on salt water systems? We have a 36,000 gallon concrete pool.

Hayward AquaRite 40000? Jandy AquaPure 1400? Others?

Welcome to the Forum!

Sorry to have delayed answering for a couple of days but my weekend is Tues and Wed.

If it's only an aesthetic issue, and you can live with it while you use the pool, waiting until you close to address the tile/ plaster is a GREAT idea! Why loose a week of using the pool when you can have the repairs done during the 'off season'?

As for SWCGs - the Jandy and Hayward models you gave are both good units and will do what you want. Please remember that they are sized for a 40,000 gallon pool, running 100% 24/7 - this would mean that you'd have to run your pump almost 24/7 to generate enough chlorine (the Hayward will produce 1.45 lbs of chlorine in 24 hrs, which is equivalent to 1 gal of 12.5% liquid chlorine - IIRC) Of course your chlorine demand might not require you to run the unit 24/7 and you can always supplement with bleach.

There are others here who know the chemistry better than I, if I've misrepresented something, I'm sure they will correct me:)

If you have further questions, please ask them.

I've got the AquaRite with the 40k cell (t-15) and love it. There's definitely a few things you need to consider before going salt; primarily what metals the salt water will come into contact with and thus corrode. Do you have a heater? How about a metal ladder in the deep end or an automatic cover? You need to consider that anything metal will corrode much faster and thus need much more frequent maintenance or replacement.

I'm not trying to talk you out of a swcg, because as I said I really like mine - just don't be surprised at the corrosive qualities of salt water is all.

You don't need an SWCG to swim into September, you just need warm enough water. The SWCG doesn't warm the water, just chlorinates it. You can use bleach instead of, or even with the SWCG to add chlorine.

Carl