What is a salt water pool / chlorine generator?

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This review contains information I wish I had two years ago when first starting out and I hope it helps you learn about this technology quickly! It is written in two sections: A general explanation, and then my ownership experiences.

Friends, if you appreciate this guide then please take a moment to give it a Yes vote -- thanks in advance.

I first learned about saltwater pools from a friend who's summer project one year was about $120,000 worth of backyard landscaping which included, among other things, a saltwater pool with a waterfall. I had never heard of a saltwater pool before, and he explained that the main reason he used a saltwater solution in his pool was to reduce the operating costs. I thought saltwater pools were exotic technology but it turns out they are definitely cheaper to operate and maintain than traditional treated pools. Thankfully Intex, and many other manufacturers, make this equipment at a reasonable price so you don't have to be a millionaire to enjoy the technology.

1. General Explanation:

A chlorine generator is a new type of support equipment for recreational pools that eliminates the cost of purchased chlorine. Pools equipped with a chlorine generator, available in either stand alone units or in combination with a pump, generate chlorine automatically using the pool water itself and thereby avoid the cost associated with purchasing chlorine.

In order to utilize a chlorine generator, the pool water must be converted from a freshwater pool to what is called a "saltwater pool". This is accomplished by adding approximately 20 lbs of salt per 1000 gallons of fresh water. The salinity (saltiness) of the pool may be adjusted up and down according to the requirements of the manufacturer of the chlorine generator. Techncially, this low level of salinity is still considered fresh water by drinking water standards.

The chlorine gener...

Polaris 380 Automatic Inground Pool Cleaner

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Should I buy a new Polaris 380 or a used One? Should I buy a different pool cleaner? What pool cleaner is right for my pool? Is one model better than another? What is the difference between Polaris 180,280, 340, 360,380, 480, 65, 165, Turtle? All of these are good questions. One we are sure you asked yourself.

We here at East Coast Pools, Patio & Grills  answer these questions everyday.  We want to sell product as much as the next guy.  But we want our customers to make an educated decision, before they spend those hard earned dollars. So we are going to try to answer some of these questions for you. We hope  this information helps you make the right buying decission.

Should I buy a new Polaris 380, or used?

First you need a little history. Polaris 180 was the first pressure side pool cleaner that ran from a booster pump. The Polaris 180 has only 1 jet that creates the cleaning power.  It has a narrow throat, which allows leaves to clog it up.  It works very good, and is easy to repair.   It is old and out dated.  But it was the best at the time.

Polaris hoses! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. Hose's on old Polaris go bad. Don't waste money buying alot of hose parts. Replacing Back up valves, swivels, and sweep tails is ok. But if your floats are sinking,
dragging the hose on the bottom, buy a new hose kit. The old floats were a type of  foam that got water logged, causing them to sink .  Don't waste money buying floats for the hose's , the old ones are way to hard to take off.

Polaris 360 & 380 were the next units to hit the market. These are 3 jet cleaners. The 380 In-ground requires a booster pump as does the 180 and 280, 480.  The 360 works off the return lines. The 340 work off t...

Automatic Pool Cleaners

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So you are tired of the manual cleaning process of your swimming pool. Thinking about buying a new pool cleaner, or replacing a worn out one? Here is a basic primer on the pool cleaners.
Suction Side - Usually the cheaper priced models because they have less moving parts. These either hook into your skimmer via an attachment, or a dedicated suction side port on your pool. The dedicated port is a much better way to go on this as it does not render your skimmer useless while the cleaner is in use. Since the water is being sucked in (think vacuum cleaner) the debris is carried with the water to your filter where it is removed.
Types with Wheels or Feet (Examples: Hayward navigator (feet), ThePoolCleaner (wheels)) suck water and moves by a turbine inside the cleaner, causing it to spin, which drives the cleaner. Use a programmed drive box to randomly cover the pool.
Disk Type (Examples Kreepy Krawly, Barracuda) use a valve to open and close the water flow, causing the unit to jump (looks like vibration). Unit follows the hose around the pool.
Pressure Side - Cheaper models use your pools return (Polaris 360 as an example) to power them. Better models use a dedicated pump. As in the suction side cleaners, the moving water spins a turbine (depends on brand, but that is basically it) or uses water jets for movement. These usually have an external bag, that jets of water cause the debris to wash up into. The amount of debris the bag can "catch" is limited by the size of the weave, usually allowing smaller particles to pass through. Some have a tail whip used to stir up this small debris so your pump will draw it in via the inlets and the filter will catch it. Use a programmed drive box to randomly cover the pool.
Robotic - These are typically self contained cleaners with their own motors and pumps. They have brushes (basically) that spin and use water jets and bags like the pressure side cleaners. These plug into an ou...

Is Bigger Always Better?? Not Always! Pool Equip Sizing

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Having the right equipment for a swimming pool and/or spa can mean the difference of not only money but safety as well. Is bigger always the best way to go when picking a pump and filter for your swimming pool and or spa?? The answer is..........Yes & No!

Water clarity is optimized when the water is being turned over completely in the allotted time of equipment operation . If the water is being blasted at too high of a G.P.M.(Gallons per minute) thru the filter, The filtering action is greatly diminished. Moving the water thru the filter as slowly as possible while turning over the...

Intex Easy Set Inflatable Swimming Pool

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Take the plunge! This product is amazing! I bought one 8 feet wide and 30 inches deep two years ago for my granddaughter, who was six at the time. It cost $99 and  was an instant hit with her and her friends.

Swimming Pool Pump Replacement. Which is right for me?

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* Aqua-Flo 'A' ...

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What is a Sump Pump?

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A sump pump keeps the space beneath your basement, and your basement itself, from flooding during excessive storms. The sump is a small reservoir under your basement that is meant to fill when groundwater levels rise, instead of letting the water seep into the basement and cause damage. Using a sump pump to move that water forces it up to ground level far enough away from your house to properly drain. Many houses in wet climates are built with a sump that drains the basement and the area under the footings of the foundation of excess water. The sump collects water flowing in, as during storm flooding, as well as water rising up from a saturated ground supply. Installing a sump pump ensures that whether water comes from above or below, your basement will remain dry and structurally sound. Standing water in a basement is not only inconvenient, but over time it can begin to affect the integrity of your foundation. There are two main kinds of sump pump. The submersible variety combines the pump and the waterproof motor in one unit that completely fits inside the sump, so it can get wet. The pedestal, or upright, type puts the pump inside the sump with the motor perched on top of a column that extends above the floor of the basement. The motor on a pedestal sump pump is not meant to get wet. Both types connect to a long outlet pipe that carries the water to an area at least 20 ft (6 m) from your house, preferably somewhere it can drain. The capacity of a sump pump is related to the strength of the motor, specified in horsepower, as well as the size of the outlet pipe. Most sump pumps are powered by electricity. Sometimes people prefer to have an emergency back-up sump pump that runs on batteries, in case a storm knocks out their power. A plastic or rubber floater, like the one found in the tank of your toilet, typically triggers sump pumps. When the water rises above the critical level, the floater rises and flips a switch that starts the motor pumping. Most pro...

How to buy a pre-owned spa or hot tub

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Buying a used spa or hot tub can be risky! There are many things to look for when shopping for a used spa. What size is the pump/motor? Does the pumps work? How big is the heater? Does it work? Are there any hairline cracks in the shell which can get bigger? Who is the seller? Do they have experience in selling spas? Beware of most used spa deals that do not give as much information as possible. There should be pictures that show the spa upclose and descriptions of the photos. Buy a spa with a warranty when at all possible. Remember about picking up the spa or having it delivered. Spas are very heavy and awkward to move. You should have a professional spa moving company do this. The cost to move a spa can be expensive. We move spas starting at $200 going up to $550 depending on the size and destination. You may want to ask if the spa needs a crane to remove it. Check out our spas on ebay for the spa deal of your life. All our spas come with a warranty, free delivery in Southern California and extra freebies.

Leisure Living poolsupplies.com

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Poolsupplies.com,  sells inferior quality products, they don't respond to customer service issues and then they won't stand behind their warranty.  If you buy from them, you can expect the product to be short lived and you'll be replacing it the following year. I do not recommend buying from this company.

Used Hot Tubs / Spas And Their Repairs - $ave Money!!!

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$ Do - It - Yourself - Hot Tub / Spa Repair $avings

Clean a whole apartment with eight items!

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Have you ever had the task of cleaning an apartment and felt like this was just too big a task to undertake and you would need a ton of stuff to do the job?