SWG and Puck Feeder?

[CarlD]

If a puck feeder sits with water and a puck in it, it may well clog up.

There are myriad reasons why I do not advocate puck feeders, the biggest is that it tempts you to keep using the pucks when it's bad for your pool.

My suggestion: Yank the feeder out and use the fittings for the SWG. Meanwhile, if you are worried about the SWG failing, buy a $10 floater with adjustable openings and use THAT if the SWG fails and you can't be there to add bleach.

[CanuckPool]

Or if you know you're going to be away for a couple of days why don't you just ramp up your SWG to produce a bit more chlorine and then right before you leave reduce it back down... or shock the pool with bleach before you leave... if your SWG decides to pooch it the second you walk out the door I think you should have enough chlorine reserve to keep you out of trouble for two days.

[catnip]

Thanks for the replies. I think the floater sounds like the best alternative if the SWG dies. I'd rather not have to bump the chlorine up with the SWG "just in case" every time I leave.

I didn't see anyone comment on the safety of have a SWG and puck feeder in the same line. Though I don't think I will do that now, I'd still be interested to know if doing so would be a safety issue.

[CanuckPool]

Would you have them running at the same time or one or the other... not that I have the answer to your safety question.

[tphaggerty]

Forget the floater, buy and store a few bottles of bleach. I do that anyway (most SWG users do) for very heavy loads (such as spring pollen season). If your SWG goes bad, you can easily maintain your pool using BBB for as long as it takes to get it fixed.

[CanuckPool]

I think he is talking about when he is away if it breaks since there will be no one home to pour the bleach.

[catnip]

Canuck, you are correct. I need a way to feed chlorine for up to a week while I'm away and the SWG is out of service. Obviously, if the SWG breaks while I'm gone, I'm out of luck until I get back, clean up any bad things that may have happened and then get the backup feeder going for any more away trips. I agree BBB would be the best choice while I'm home, but I need a backup method that can hold things for a week which I can invoke quickly.

[CarlD]

Forget the floater, buy and store a few bottles of bleach. I do that anyway (most SWG users do) for very heavy loads (such as spring pollen season). If your SWG goes bad, you can easily maintain your pool using BBB for as long as it takes to get it fixed.

Look, I hardly EVER use a floater. But if someone wants peace of mind about an SWG failing while he's away, I think a floater set to min chlorine is a heckuva lot better than an in-line puck chlorinator. It costs all of $10. --less than the bypass fittings originally discussed. It's simple, it's easy, it can be pulled out instantly.

I live and preach B-B-B but if you are going away, it's tricky to use bleach without an assistant or a peristaltic pump. Some have done it by putting a tiny hole in a bleach bottle and tying it to a ladder--but I haven't tried that. For a short time, a floater is a cheap, effective way to leave your pool.

[waterbear]

Poolsean, I would have to give a caution about the 3 month algaecide. I don't care what brand or manufacuters it is....it is going to be a copper algaecide!

Catnip, personally I wouldn't worry. IF the worse case scenerio happens that the SWG (or pump) fails (or the power goes off) while you are away it's really not a big deal to hit the pool with bleach and clear it. While you are doing that you can order any replacement parts that your need. I would suspect that they would be available locally without much problem! I believe you are in Marietta. GA. I am sure that ANY parts for a SWG would be available in Atlanta proper if you cound not get them more locally.(If I am not mistaken you are considered to be part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. I have a nephew in Woodstock. ) I live in St. Augustine, FL (want to talk corrosive environment? I live less than one block from both the Atlantic and the Intercoastal Waterway on the barrier island! Salt spray is a FACT of life here!) and I have NEVER had to go to Jacksonville to get anything for my pool. Our pool stores (inlcuding the one I work at) are serviced by the SAME distributors as the ones in Jacksonville. I suspect much the same exists in your area.

IMHO, put in the SWG, relax and enjoy it, and if in the rare event it malfunctions deal with it then! Like Poolsean said, you don't keep a backup pump and filter on hand. IMHO, I would be more likely to keep a few Jandy type valves, skimmer baskets, and multiport spider gaskets on hand. These are parts that are more likely to fail in my opinion.