Ditch the CYA loaded, expensive pucks for healthier water
With rising chemical costs year over year, many HOA boards and their management companies are frustrated with their budgets. Typically, Colorado HOA pool maintenance companies use chlorine pucks consisting of the sanitizer Trichloroisocyanuric Acid, more commonly known as “tri-chlor” to keep their community pools safe and sanitary. While generally effective, there are some hidden costs to using these pucks to chlorinate your pool, above the hefty price tags they carry.
Let’s explore a potential way to save your HOA money and create healthier water at the same time.
The Trichlor Trap: Why “Pucks” Are a Double-Edged Sword
In Colorado, the go-to for many HOA pools is Trichlor (those 3-inch chlorine pucks). They are convenient because they dissolve slowly and stabilize the chlorine against the harsh high-altitude sun. However, Trichlor is roughly 50% Cyanuric Acid (CYA) by weight.
Why does it matter?
Cyuneric acid is like “sunscreen” for the chlorine in your community pool. Without CYA, keeping chlorine in the water can be almost impossible. This is because SUN, HEAT, and SWIMMERS remove chlorine from the water. In a hot Colorado summer, that trifecta burns through chlorine very quickly. One would think that 50% CYA in those pucks is positive.
BUT…. Too much of a good thing can become detrimental.
Once CYA levels rise above 40-50 ppm, the benefits of CYA turn from helper to handcuff. Think of your HOA pool as a battlefield. To kill algae or bacteria, chlorine has must be in its most aggressive form, Hypochlorous Acid. This is the “active” chlorine that actually does the work of the soldier in our analogy. The CYA that was once protecting your chlorine surrounds the chlorine so much so that the chlorine can no longer do its job. So even with chlorine in the water, bacteria still can thrive because the chlorine is being held captive by the CYA. Some professionals call this “chlorine lock”.
The “40 PPM” Rule: Understanding Chlorine Lock
Cyanuric Acid is often called “sunscreen for chlorine,” but too much of it creates a major problem known as Chlorine Lock.
- The Science: As CYA levels rise above 40–50 ppm, the CYA molecules begin to hold onto the chlorine too tightly. This prevents the chlorine from killing bacteria and algae effectively. At 40ppm CYA you need 3.0 parts per million chlorine to keep the pool safe. At 100ppm CYA you need 7.5 parts per million chlorine to get the same killing power.
- The Result: You might have a “high” chlorine reading on your test kit, but the water is actually unsanitized and unsafe because that chlorine is “locked” and inactive.
- The Solution (Traditional): Once CYA hits 100+ ppm, the only solution is to drain and refill thousands of gallons of water—a costly and wasteful practice in a semi-arid state like Colorado.
How Salt Water Generators Change the Game
A salt water generator (SWG) uses a process called electrolysis to create pure liquid chlorine from salt added to the water.
- Zero CYA Added: Salt systems produce “unstabilized” chlorine. This allows the Certified Pool Operator (CPO) to set the CYA level at a perfect 30–50 ppm and keep it there indefinitely.
- Consistency: Instead of the “highs and lows” of adding pucks or shock, a salt water generator provides a constant, steady stream of sanitation.
- Water Quality: Salt pools have a lower “saturation index,” meaning the water feels softer on the skin and eyes, which is a huge selling point for many HOA residents.
Key Takeaways for Your HOA Board
Water Savings: No more “drain and refill” cycles every 2–3 years to lower CYA levels.
Better Safety: Constant sanitation levels mean a lower risk of algae blooms or failed health inspections.
Cost Efficiency: While the upfront cost of the salt cell is higher, the long-term savings on chemicals and water usage are significant
The Perfect Pairing: Salt Generators + Chemical Automation
While switching to salt eliminates the headaches of Cyanuric Acid, it introduces a new variable: rising pH. To run a truly high-performing HOA pool in Colorado, a salt generator should almost always be paired with a chemical automation system.
The “Salt Side Effect”: Rising pH
A salt chlorine generator (SWG) creates chlorine through electrolysis.A byproduct of this process is the release of sodium hydroxide, which has a very high pH.
- The Upward Pressure: As the salt cell runs, it naturally pushes the pool’s pH upward.
- The Scaling Risk: In Colorado, our water often has high mineral content. When pH rises above 7.8, calcium becomes “unhappy” and falls out of suspension, creating scale. This white, crusty buildup can ruin the expensive salt cell, clog heaters, and make pool surfaces feel like sandpaper.
- Reduced Sanitization: Even without CYA lock, high pH makes chlorine less effective.4 At a pH of 8.0, your chlorine is only about 25% as effective as it is at 7.4.5
Why Automation is the “Brain” of the System
To combat the rising pH caused by the salt cell, you need a chemical controller to keep the water balanced.
The Feedback Loop: The controller can tell the salt generator to throttle back if chlorine levels are sufficient, preventing over-production and further pH spikes.
Real-Time Monitoring: The automation system uses probes to monitor pH and ORP (chlorine demand) every second.
Acid Injection: Instead of one time addition from your neighborhood “pool boy” manually “slugging” the pool with acid—which causes wild chemistry swings—the automation system injects tiny, precise amounts of muriatic acid throughout the day.
The Bottom Line for HOAs
If you install a salt generator without pH automation, your pool surface and equipment can be damaged by the unbalanced water. Automation is a good idea for a healthy HOA community pool anyway, since balanced water is healthy water. This is an excellent protection against the potential liability of unbalanced water.
The Winning Formula:
Salt Generator (Sanitation) + Chemical Automation (pH Control) = Crystal Clear Water + Protected Assets + Lower Liability.
A Balanced Equation: When Does the System Pay for Itself?
For a typical Colorado HOA pool (approx. 30,000 – 50,000 gallons), the “Salt + Automation” system usually pays for itself in 2.5 to 4 years.
How the math works:
- Water Savings: A full drain and refill to fix high CYA can cost an HOA upward of $1,000 in water and startup chemicals alone.
- Chemical Efficiency: Because automation keeps pH perfect, your chlorine is twice as effective as it would be in a puck-fed pool where pH often drifts to 8.0+
- Asset Protection: Replacing a commercial pool heater because of acidic puck damage is a common “hidden cost” that automation eliminates
Key Takeaway for the Board:
The salt system isn’t just a luxury for bather comfort—it’s a risk management tool that stabilizes the HOA’s largest physical asset.
Beyond the Chemistry: Why Residents Love Salt Water
If you ask a resident why they prefer a salt pool, they won’t talk about Cyanuric Acid or electrolysis. They’ll talk about how they don’t smell like a bleach bottle for three days after a swim. Please note, a salt water pool is still a “chlorine” pool, but without the side effects of all the other “stuff” in the water.
1. The “Silky” Water Feel
Salt is a natural water softener. In Colorado’s dry climate, traditional pool water can feel “thin” or “aggressive” on the skin.
- The Difference: Saltwater has a “silky” or “velvety” texture.
- The Science: The salt level in these pools (typically 3,000–3,500 ppm) is actually very close to the salinity of a human tear. This makes the water feel much more natural to our bodies.
2. No More “Pool Eyes” and Itchy Skin
We’ve all seen the kid with bright red, stinging eyes after an hour in the HOA pool. Most people blame “too much chlorine,” but the culprit is usually chloramines (byproducts of chlorine working on organic waste) or high pH.
- Fewer Chloramines: Salt generators produce a very pure form of chlorine that is highly effective at “burning off” chloramines before they can irritate eyes and skin.
- Gentle Exfoliation: The low salt content acts as a mild, natural exfoliant, leaving skin feeling smoother rather than tight and itchy.
3. Ending the “Chlorine Smell”
That distinct, heavy chemical smell we associate with public pools is actually the smell of spent chlorine (chloramines).
- Because a salt system—when paired with automation—provides a steady, “drip-feed” of fresh chlorine, it prevents the buildup of these smelly gases.
- Residents can go from a midday swim straight to a board meeting or lunch without needing a heavy scrub to get the “pool scent” off their skin.
4. Protecting Bathers’ “Assets”
Traditional trichlor pools are notorious for fading expensive swimwear and turning blonde hair green (due to the high copper and chemical imbalances often found in puck-fed pools).
- Saltwater is significantly gentler on fabrics and hair fibers.
- For your HOA residents, this means their $100 swimsuits and professional hair treatments last much longer.
