Best Waterco Chlorinators

I realized this is the same chlorinator that I reviewed under another brand, still being sold online by swimart, even though my local swimart said… Read more

they no longer carried our chlorinator: https://swimart.com.au/product/electrochlor-mineral-chlorinator/

The "new" version still suffers from the same main problem, namely requiring 30% more salt than others to keep the chlorine levels reasonable (see the screenshot of the "new" brochure). Since I wrote the below, keeping the salt levels so high has obliged me to buy cheaper salt, because there has been a shortage in the area, and now my pool has mineral stains. This is why I've downgraded my review rating from 2 stars to 1. I wouldn't buy this chlorinator. Period.

4000 ppm of NaCl is the norm. This chlorinator's 5500 ppm is well beyond that. (I realize the brochure says 4000-6000 but have been told by the tech on numerous occasions to keep the salt level above 5000).

Previous review below:

I'm not sure what brand to label this chlorinator under, as it appears to be rebranded every so often. The same looking chlorinator goes under various names (here is another weblink, for example: https://www.waterco.com.au/pool-spa/water-sanitisers/electrochlor-salt-chlorinators/electrochlor-mineral-chlorinator).

But one thing is certain, none of the pool shops I went to recommended adding nearly as much salt as the specs of this chlorinator requires. We had the service person come out on 2 occasions because the chlorine output just couldn't keep up with the pool's requirements, and both times were told basically the chlorinator WOULD work properly if ONLY WE ADDED MORE SALT. Not once were we given a low salt warning, mind you.

Most pool shops will tell you to keep the salt between 4000 and 5000 ppm, but this chlorinator needs between 5000 - 6000 ppm, and states it is optimal at 5500ppm.

Sure enough, when I added 6 more bags, at $18 per bag, the chlorine levels rose, but I still need to run it at 100% for 13 hours per day. And unlike any of the pools we've had since 2008 - over 15 years now! - the water tastes and feels salty again.

So, yes, it does the job, but not without compromise and extra expense.

Also, from the get go, the screen was very dim, very difficult to read. I think others have had this problem. The problem was sort of downplayed by the pool builder and Waterco until, at one point, I was advised to open up the case and use a screwdriver to turn the contrast dial up to max, and while that helped, it was far from perfect - it was barely legible, but at least I could see what I was doing. See the photos. When a service person finally came out, they saw what we meant and replaced the screen. That made all the difference.

All in all, I wish I had been consulted by the pool builder as to what make and model chlorinator I desired for our new pool. There is very little information about this chlorinator available, and that always concerns me. I doubt I would have chosen this one simply based on that. And I think I would have found a more satisfying option. But we'll keep using this as long as they honour the warranty. Rob B