Info Library

SALT/CHLORINE GENERATORS: Electricity passed through a solution of salt and water (called brine) produces three things: hydrogen gas (H2) and sodium hydroxide (also called caustic soda – NaOH) at the negative electrode; and at the positive electrode, chlorine gas (C12). THE IN-LINE SYSTEM: In-Line chlorine generators produce chlorine directly in the pool from salt added to the pool water. Electrolysis takes place in an electrolytic cell installed in the plumbing line in the recirculation system=thus the name, In-Line.

A salt concentration of 2,500 to 4,000 parts per million (ppm) is needed in the pool for the unit to operate efficiently, this means adding between 200 and 250 pounds of salt per 10,000 gallons of water. As the salted pool water passes through the cell of an in –line chlorine generator, direct current (DC) electricity is applied to the cell plates-the salt and water produce chlorine gas, caustic soda and hydrogen gas – except the three reaction products are not separated. They all are introduced into the flow of pool water.

To prevent scale buildup on the plates of the generator, many chlorine generators periodically reverse the charge on the plates. This sloughs off any calcium or magnesium that has built up on the plates. NOTE: Please keep in mind that salt generators are for chlorine only. Additional chemicals like PH, Alkalinity and Stabilizer will be needed to keep your pool chemistry in balance in separate applications.

CHLORINE GENERATORS COSTS: There are four costs connected with a chlorine generator: 1. The cost of the unit itself 2. The cost of the installation 3. The cost of the salt 4. The cost of the electricity to run it Most residential chlorine generators cost between $1,000 and $3,500 retail. Commercial units can cost $10,000 up to $75,000 depending on bather load and gallons of water. Installation can be a simple as cutting the return line, plumbing in the unit, hanging the power supply on the wall and plugging it in or it can involve a major plumbing change. Electrical consumption, depending the area of the country runs from 6.6 to 22.6 cents per day. Once it’s on line, a chlorine generator can produce chlorine at a cost of 25-79 cents a pound. Considering that liquid chlorine goes for a bout $5.37 a gallon (and there is about 1 pound in a gallon). That’s very cost effective.

ADVANTAGES TO HAVING A CHLORINE GENERATOR: Cost of chemicals is a definite advantage of installing a chlorine generator. Better water quality is maintained because the unit is chlorinating continuously instead of once a week or whenever someone remembers to add chlorine. That means more protection. A chlorine generator eliminates transportation, storage and handling of hazardous or dangerous chemicals. It can also eliminate personnel hazardous material training, purchasing and training of safety equipment, elimination of hazmat permits, and community right-to-know compliance.

DISADVANTAGES: The disadvantages are that chlorine generators are devices and as with any device, they can break down. They need preventive maintenance and occasionally need repair. They put out a fixed amount of chlorine. This may not be enough to overcome a sudden large organic load from a large number of swimmers that may enter the pool. Units should be sized for pools that can replace 1-2 ppm of FAC in that pool in one hour. SALT: Table salt is not 100-percent sodium chloride. It also contains a compound called tricalcium phosphate, added to prevent caking. It’s insoluble so it could wind up on the bottom of the pool. Only granulated, evaporated, non-iodized salt should be used. Nobody recommends using rock salt or water-conditioner salt.

SHOCKING & SUPER CHLORINATION: Pool water passing the chlorine generator injection point is subjected to a very high concentration of chlorine and can serve like superchlorination. This of course happens on the small amount of water passing by the injector when the chlorine generator is on and producing chlorine.

The energy created at the cells or electrodes is considerable. The mixture of chemicals in the pool water is endless. When electricity is applied to pool water containing salt it is possible to create more than just chlorine, hydrogen and caustic. Depending on chemical composition, amount of current, duration, electrode distance, electrode design, electrode material and many other variables, more than just chlorine and hypochlorous acid can be produced. They can produce small amounts of ozone, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, nascent oxygen, some peroxygen species and others.

It is very difficult if not impossible to determine all of these oxidizers in a sample of pool water. They are suspected by scientists. Some companies have tried to develop products that maximize production of these other oxidizers. Some companies have tried to maximize the production of just the chlorine.

In any case, chlorine is still up in the 90 percent and higher of what is produced. Otherwise, the water will need to be manually superchlorinated or an oxidizer added after a heavy bather load or after a rain. If you have other questions or would like to purchase and/or install a chlorine generator please contact us today and let us take you from green to clean.

Clearene has been increasing efficiency and productivity with the use of FleetBoss! FleetBoss Global Positioning Solutions is a transportation logistics pioneer and innovator in global positioning systems (GPS) technology. Since 1998, FleetBoss has provided GPS fleet management systems whose software provides vehicle tracking and information to increase productivity and efficiency.

FleetBoss’s detailed productivity reports show exactly how our technicians are operating by providing every detail of each driver’s service stops, non-service stops and actual length of a service call. Because of this, job productivity and efficiency are high at Clearene Pool and Spa Services.

What other companies have said about their experience with FleetBoss:
Just knowing what is going on “out there” is priceless. “The Boss system has been a great help in allowing [us] to oversee the activities of [our] crews and has provided an accurate record of the time a technician is on the job site, thereby verifying . . . billing records.” – Bobby Clark, Clark Heating & Air The FleetBoss system provides the exact time when the technician came on the job site and left, so the accuracy of payroll, job costing and billing was improved.

Overtime hours dropped because actual job hours are captured. “When I think about it, the FleetBoss system simply makes my business more efficient. We can make decisions based on actual data and best of all, I know that my employees are honest people and that feels good.” – David McCall, TCK Service Group, Phoenix AZ “The first week we used the units as timesheets we [found fewer hours] compared to what our employees “thought” they worked.. . . They have also helped us tracking the billing to our customers, because sometimes paperwork just doesn’t make it back to the office.

I would and have recommended these units to any company with a fleet to help keep an eye on their assets and employees when you can’t always be there.” – Mrs. Laura Porter, Eletrical Contracting, Woodstock GA The customer relations part of service calls performed by employees of Dr. Jack’s Pest Control and Lawn Care is crucial to this company’s success. Its technicians are required to spend at least 20 minutes on each service call they make. Dr. Jack’s GPS solution helped it discover problem technicians. These drivers were defrauding customers and harming the company’s reputation by spending only 5 minutes on a call. Dr. Jack’s was able to protect its good technicians by providing unimpeachable reports to clients that documented the exact time spent at each service call.

Let’s face it, spa filters are the lifeblood of any hot tub. If they are not maintained properly and changed regularly, they can completely shut down your spa. They are vital to keeping the water clean and can directly affect the efficiency and performance of your spa heater. Here are four simple things you can do to extend the life of your filter and subsequently your spa equipment.

1. Clean your Spa filter weekly – Spa filters are made up of a dense paper element designed specifically for your spas’ water flow. If the paper element is blocked by dead skin and body oils, it will severely restrict the water flow and slow down the heating process. Longer heating cycles means higher energy bills.

2. Soak your filter monthly – There are some fantastic solutions on the market today made to break down body oils and condition the filter for a prolonged filter life. Using these solutions can double the life of a hot tub filter. Don’t forget to clean deep into the pleats where the heaviest debris is.

3. Try the Dishwasher – A dingy filter is a good indication that it needs some special attention. Running it through the dishwasher will definitely open up the pores and make it white again. Take care not to run it through the drying cycle. Doing so can damage both the filter and your dishwasher.

4. Change the spa filter regularly – Using a filter beyond its lifespan will cause high energy bills and encourage calcium buildup on vital spa parts. By replacing the filters regularly, you are extending the life of your pumps, spa heater and sensors. Following this one simple rule can save thousands of dollars in future repairs. Your spa filter is the first line of defense not only for spa water clarity and safety, but also for all those vital (and very expensive) hot tub parts. Take the time to maintain your filters. It only takes a few minutes and the time you put into your hot tub now, will repay itself back with years of service. You’ll be glad you did!