Pros and Cons of Chlorine Erosion Feeder System, and other alternatives - Recommendations?

[kbuhagiar]

Hello Folks,

I am researching mechanical methods of pool chlorination and would like to hear from the experienced folks online.

Briefly: New to us pool, which is actually 22 years old but in excellent operating condition. I am a pool rookie but learning fast. Currently we have a weekly pool service but I hope to soon take over all maintenance full time.

I just recently became 'educated' about chlorination after the old out-of-service Rainbow Lifeguard 300 chlorinator developed a leak (the hoses disintegrated) and I was forced to bypass it completely in order to fix the leak. It hadn't been used in years so it doesn't affect the status quo, but it brought it to my attention.

Our pool service puts chlorine pucks in the skimmer whenever necessary; my research indicates that the pool pros are about split 50-50; some say it's a horrible thing to do and some say it's OK.

I'd just as soon use a mechanical system, like the Rainbow Lifeguard 300 already installed on our pool, but I have been told that they can cause serious damage to my pool heater, if they are plumbed incorrectly. On my setup, the intake is plumbed after the pump check valve but before the DE filter, and the output is connected to the spa bypass pipe after the check valve (and downstream from the heater).

Is the erosion feeder method OK if plumbed correctly?

I am also aware of the salt water chlorinator option but haven't researched them enough to form an educated opinion - can they be easily retrofitted to a system like mine?

Are there other factors I should consider before making a decision?

Thoughts? Ideas? Opinions?

Thanks!

 

[Bperry]

Hello Folks,

I am researching mechanical methods of pool chlorination and would like to hear from the experienced folks online.

Briefly: New to us pool, which is actually 22 years old but in excellent operating condition. I am a pool rookie but learning fast. Currently we have a weekly pool service but I hope to soon take over all maintenance full time.

I just recently became 'educated' about chlorination after the old out-of-service Rainbow Lifeguard 300 chlorinator developed a leak (the hoses disintegrated) and I was forced to bypass it completely in order to fix the leak. It hadn't been used in years so it doesn't affect the status quo, but it brought it to my attention.

Our pool service puts chlorine pucks in the skimmer whenever necessary; my research indicates that the pool pros are about split 50-50; some say it's a horrible thing to do and some say it's OK.

I'd just as soon use a mechanical system, like the Rainbow Lifeguard 300 already installed on our pool, but I have been told that they can cause serious damage to my pool heater, if they are plumbed incorrectly. On my setup, the intake is plumbed after the pump check valve but before the DE filter, and the output is connected to the spa bypass pipe after the check valve (and downstream from the heater).

Is the erosion feeder method OK if plumbed correctly?

I am also aware of the salt water chlorinator option but haven't researched them enough to form an educated opinion - can they be easily retrofitted to a system like mine?

Are there other factors I should consider before making a decision?

Thoughts? Ideas? Opinions?

Thanks!

The TFP chlorination method will advocate for either liquid chlorine or a salt water chlorine generator. All other methods of chlorination leave you with other stuff in the water that cause problems when used long term.

Any chlorinator you install (SWCG or trichlor) needs to be installed after all other equipment so it’s the last item in the system before water returns to the pool. Otherwise acidic or highly chlorinated water gets exposed to sensitive equipment like your heater.

That’s the reason you don’t put pucks in the skimmer.

 

[Lake Placid]

Cons of erosion feeder:
You‘re committed to trichlor.
You will eventually overdose your pool on CYA or have to stop using the chlorinator mid season and switch to another chlorination method to maintain a manageable level of CYA.
When you overdose your pool on CYA you will get to drain to some degree or another and refill with fresh water.
You can experience the joy of cleaning trichlor goo out of the erosion feeder when it fails to feed properly because it gums up.
The acidic stew created in the erosion feeder will wear plastic parts it’s made of and you get to replace them. This same acidic stew can be problematic for other equipment depending on the setup.

Pros of an erosion feeder:
They are on lots of pools?

I‘d suggest for your long term sanity and long term convenience seriously consider a SWCG. You’ll never regret putting one in once you have one.

You will regret putting in the erosion feeder, especially when you’re cutting it out to install something else later. If you’re a DIY’er like me the swap is actually is a fun project…maybe that’s a pro too…