PowerClean TAB Ultra in-line chlorinator Needed?

[LSU]

New pool owner here. Water goes in pool on Friday. The pool builder has added a PowerClean TAB Ultra in-line chlorinator in our plumbing, but we also have an Intellichlor SWG. Is the powerclean needed here? I guess I am confused as to why that is included in the plumbing. I would appreciate any advice prior to the water going in on Friday. If I don't need this I want them to remove it and refund my money for it. Thanks!

 

[mknauss]

There is no need for it. Get a floating chlorinator if you wish to use trichlor in the winter.

 

[LSU]

There is no need for it. Get a floating chlorinator if you wish to use trichlor in the winter.

I am new, so I have no idea if I would need to do that. If it needs to be there with the SWG, thats fine, but if its just extra garbage that they are installing and upselling me on that is not really needed, then I will tell them to remove it prior to water going in.

 

[mknauss]

It is a Texas thing. Pool builders put them in so you can use them in the winter when your SWCG is off (low water temperature). But you only have to add chlorine every week or so when the water is cold. So dumping in some liquid chlorine is no big deal. And if the CYA can handle it, you can put a puck or two in a floating chlorinator.

If you use an in line tablet chlorinator, you must never turn your pump off. The acidic stew can backfeed to a heater or other equipment and slowly destroy them.

 

[LSU]

It is a Texas thing. Pool builders put them in so you can use them in the winter when your SWCG is off (low water temperature). But you only have to add chlorine every week or so when the water is cold. So dumping in some liquid chlorine is no big deal. And if the CYA can handle it, you can put a puck or two in a floating chlorinator.

If you use an in line tablet chlorinator, you must never turn your pump off. The acidic stew can backfeed to a heater or other equipment and slowly destroy them.

Doesn't sound like I need that either. Sounds like it will cause excessive run time on the pump as well. And that's all that's used for, is in the winter? Here in Texas (East Texas) will I be running the pump much during winter? Not familiar with winter time operations. Your answer has me thinking and is very helpful. Trying to get as much info as I can.

 

[mknauss]

You will need to run the pump every day for some time. In the winter, it might be primarily for freeze protection. You will keep the pool open and skimmed, tested, and chlorinated. But things move slowly in the winter.
You will also need to be come very familiar with what actions are needed in freezing weather if you get a power outage. Lot's of lessons learned over the last several years. All documented in our Pool School and Wiki page.

 

[LSU]

You will need to run the pump every day for some time. In the winter, it might be primarily for freeze protection. You will keep the pool open and skimmed, tested, and chlorinated. But things move slowly in the winter.
You will also need to be come very familiar with what actions are needed in freezing weather if you get a power outage. Lot's of lessons learned over the last several years. All documented in our Pool School and Wiki page.

So in your estimation it is just as easy to put in liquid chlorine or drop a couple of pucks in a floating chlorinator rather than keep the inline one? Seems like it could be convenient, but during summer I assume you don't have to keep the pump running 24/7, so its concerning that it could damage equipment eventually if there are pucks in there and it basically becomes "super chlorinated" in there. Its confusing, lol. I would like the convenience, but not at the cost of running the pump more and wearing it out, increasing electric bill, etc.

 

[mknauss]

The pucks are very acidic. The acid is what damages things, not the chlorine.

 

[JJ_Tex]

Doesn't sound like I need that either. Sounds like it will cause excessive run time on the pump as well. And that's all that's used for, is in the winter? Here in Texas (East Texas) will I be running the pump much during winter? Not familiar with winter time operations. Your answer has me thinking and is very helpful. Trying to get as much info as I can.

You don’t really need it but it’s not bad to have. You just have to use it responsibly and only when you can afford to up your CYA.

I still run mine 24/7 at low speeds in the winter mainly to keep the skimmers going since that is when we get most of our leaves. I chlorinate using liquid chlorine and pucks in a floater as long as my CYA is good.

 

[LSU]

You don’t really need it but it’s not bad to have. You just have to use it responsibly and only when you can afford to up your CYA.

I still run mine 24/7 at low speeds in the winter mainly to keep the skimmers going since that is when we get most of our leaves. I chlorinate using liquid chlorine and pucks in a floater as long as my CYA is good.

So only using it when the CYA needs attention? I know that CYA protects chlorine from degradation. Just trying to understand it's value in the big scheme of things.

 

[JJ_Tex]

So only using it when the CYA needs attention? I know that CYA protects chlorine from degradation. Just trying to understand it's value in the big scheme of things.

Correct. Like most chemicals there is an ideal range. Some CYA is good and protects your chlorine, but too much also ties up your chlorine and raises your required chlorine levels to keep your pool sanitary.

Regardless of a floater, inline chlorinator, etc your pucks dissolve and add FC and CYA to your pool. The FC gets used up and the CYA remains and builds up in your water.

I personally use the winter time to use pucks and replenish my CYA level but I only do that with careful and accurate testing so I know when I have the right amount of CYA so I don’t overshoot the number. If I don’t need CYA I add liquid chlorine when my pool needs chlorine.

 

[LSU]

Correct. Like most chemicals there is an ideal range. Some CYA is good and protects your chlorine, but too much also ties up your chlorine and raises your required chlorine levels to keep your pool sanitary.

Regardless of a floater, inline chlorinator, etc your pucks dissolve and add FC and CYA to your pool. The FC gets used up and the CYA remains and builds up in your water.

I personally use the winter time to use pucks and replenish my CYA level but I only do that with careful and accurate testing so I know when I have the right amount of CYA so I don’t overshoot the number. If I don’t need CYA I add liquid chlorine when my pool needs chlorine.

Thanks for that clarification!

 

[1poolman1]

Doesn't sound like I need that either. Sounds like it will cause excessive run time on the pump as well. And that's all that's used for, is in the winter? Here in Texas (East Texas) will I be running the pump much during winter? Not familiar with winter time operations. Your answer has me thinking and is very helpful. Trying to get as much info as I can.

There's really no such thing as "excessive run time" on a pool pump. Like all electric motors, they actually "prefer" one of two states, on or off. Many, many people run their VSP 24/7, only turning them off to do service on the system, empty baskets, clean filters, etc. With a VSP, the running cost can be very minimal compared to the advantages of long, slow, run times.

 

[LSU]

There's really no such thing as "excessive run time" on a pool pump. Like all electric motors, they actually "prefer" one of two states, on or off. Many, many people run their VSP 24/7, only turning them off to do service on the system, empty baskets, clean filters, etc. With a VSP, the running cost can be very minimal compared to the advantages of long, slow, run times.

Excellent! Thanks for the info!