switching to saltwater

[JimK]

I'm in the process of switching to SWCG as well. I have the plumbing done. I just now need to hook up the electrical and mount the panel...and add salt to my pool. I have a Taylor test kit and it reads 600ppm. So I've got 400# of salt in my truck to add.

It's not a cost savings. The salt cost alone is about a season's worth of chlorine. It's the convenience because I cannot test the water everyday.

I agree all things considered (cost of unit, cells, etc) it's not likely you would save much, if any, over more traditional methods. However, cost of salt isn't a big deal. While you may have to add several hundred pounds initially, after that its just a matter of maintaining the level. And as mentioned, salt is only lost when you lose water due to splash out, back washing to waste, lowering the water level due to excessive rain, etc.

[CarlD]

No way the math works out to save me money versus daily checking and using LC. The initial cost of the SWCG would buy me 10 years of chlorine--15 if I had had someone else install it. Plus a new cell every 5 years costs about the same as 5 years of LC, so it's NOT a cost savings in any way, shape or form.

But, I'm going to be away for a couple of weeks at a time this summer and I won't always have someone to add half a gallon of LC every two days, so this gives me a MUCH easier to maintain pool when I cannot give it daily attention.
While my water is great (FC: 12.5, pH: 7.3, T/A:70, CH: 150, CYA: 70) I still have to work out the optimal settings..otherwise it's going great!

[JimK]

No way the math works out to save me money versus daily checking and using LC. The initial cost of the SWCG would buy me 10 years of chlorine--15 if I had had someone else install it. Plus a new cell every 5 years costs about the same as 5 years of LC, so it's NOT a cost savings in any way, shape or form.

But, I'm going to be away for a couple of weeks at a time this summer and I won't always have someone to add half a gallon of LC every two days, so this gives me a MUCH easier to maintain pool when I cannot give it daily attention.
While my water is great (FC: 12.5, pH: 7.3, T/A:70, CH: 150, CYA: 70) I still have to work out the optimal settings..otherwise it's going great!

Agreed. . I was mearly pointing out that the cost of salt, over time, isn't a big factor. As you said, the biggies are the cost of the system and the cells.

The pool stores like to say you will save money, but as you pointed out its not true. For me, having a SWCG is about convenience (I like the way the salt water feels as well, but I guess you could do the same with a traditionally chlorinated pool).

[CarlD]

The math flat-out doesn't add up--not even close. It's the convenience factor that does it. I've said for years now I couldn't justify the cost, because I had no need for the added convenience. Now I do. So far, so good, too.

[JimK]

The math flat-out doesn't add up--not even close. It's the convenience factor that does it. I've said for years now I couldn't justify the cost, because I had no need for the added convenience. Now I do. So far, so good, too.

Which CL generator did you go with?

[CarlD]

An Autopilot digital, upgradeable to run an acid pump and control the two speed pump.

[Charlie_R]

Glad you pointed out the lack of cost saving, CarlD. I had been considering spending the $$ for the Intex SWCG for my pool. Not sure I would do that now.