Summer is fast approaching. It was pretty warm yesterday and today the forecast calls for even higher temperatures. One of the bigger purchases on our list is a swimming pool as it would be great exercise and a fun way to beat the heat this summer. Plus a small-to-medium sized pool won’t break the bank. Besides, last year’s pool is too small to really be enjoyed by the growing nieces and nephews.
I remember when I was a kid it seemed the only pool treatments used chlorine. If we do get a pool, I would be against using chlorine since it was so rough on the pool, our skin, and clothing.
Having a salt water pool sounds like a good idea until you start reading more about it. First of all, imagine getting a mouth-full of salt water. That’d be just as bad as chlorine water. Ecosmarte says that a pool treated with their product is like swimming in bottled water. That would be way better to get a mouth-full of that instead of chlorine or salt!
Another problem with both chlorine and salt is that they can cause damage to the vinyl siding of the pool. The backwash discharge of a salt treatment is not good for your lawn or garden. Also, some make think that because it’s a salt pool that they are free of chlorine when in fact salt pools create chlorine.
By using a natural alternative, there would be many benefits to us and the environment. Not only is Ecosmarte an effective way to keep pool water clear, they also donate 5% to environmental charities. You get to choose where the money goes from your purchase.
Ecosmarte is firmly against using salt chlorinators and chlorine generators since both options are not good for your skin, pool, or your lawn. They offer plenty of information about both of these systems and why their pool filter system is better for you and the environment.
Here is how the Ecosmarte system works. It creates two sanitizing agents: copper ionization and liquid oxidation. Water from your pool travels into the Ecosmarte system and receives the ionization or oxidation, depending on the setting on the controller. Both methods sanitizes the water, killing bacteria, algae, and viruses. The copper level is perfectly fine and is okay if accidentally consumed. In fact, you could drink up to two gallons of pool water and only consume the amount of copper found in a multi-vitamin.
There is a lot to think about when purchasing a pool from size t pool filters. A pool would be something the whole family would enjoy, and I want to make sure that it’s as enjoyable as possible. I’m not interested in having my little girl swim in a chlorine-filled pool but know that I will need some pool treatment system. It’s good to know about Ecosmarte’s products that not only offer a safe alternative to chlorine but give something back to environmental charities.
May 10th, 2008 at 3:33 am
The idea is not so bad. I will try know more about Ecosmarte’s products. Thanks for your information.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I was VERY interested in this ECOSMARTE system..and did lots of research.
Someone asked for personal recommendations.
This system got Bad Feedback AND there is a need to be diligent about water testing.
Read for yourself.
After my research, I will stick with Chlorine.
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forum.....20111.html
September 16th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Have to admit from a pool background I didn’t know a ton about this. Good keeping on top of the swimming pool marketplace.
January 21st, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I have a salt swimming pool an love it. It find that it is easier on my eyes, skin, and hair.
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:27 am
Swimming pools do cost quite a bit to install and maintain but the benefits that we get from our childrens enjoyment is wonderful. I agree with you that using chlorine is so rough on the pool, our skin, and it makes your eyes sting as well! Its good to know that the product you mentions works and is eco friendly.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Checkout Foxes link
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forum…..20111.html
I should have read this blog before I bought CLfree Chlorine & Salt free water system from Phil Francisco. I think this copper and titanium oxidizer is a scam. My experience was very similar to dbrentz’s posting from Irving,TX. I’ll be adding more details below.
I recently had an inground pool installed, around 9/2008. I was an owner of above ground pool previously, so I was already familiar with keeping ph and chlorine levels. I wanted to get the best for my kids so I was researching chlorine alternatives for pool sanitation. I came across ECOSmarte and CLFreeUSA product. I called CLFree sales rep Phil Francisco, he convinced me to buy it for $2195. The product came right away. I had it installed as per their instructions. But as soon as I had it installed, I wanted to see if it was doing anything. Checking the copper levels was the first test. When you check the copper levels its like reading the ept stick, you’re not quite sure if there’s enough copper in the pool. When I called the technician Bill Gilles, he told me to run the system 24 hours for 3 days, that should be enough to keep the copper level for my pool size which is about 35000gal. I had to close the pool after only two weeks of use in September of 2008. I wasn’t quite sure if the System was doing anything because my pool guys started the pool with chlorine and stabilizers. So there was still a lot of Chlorine in the pool when I installed the system in September of 2008.
I reopened the pool 6/2/2009. The pool guys used the usual chlorine shock and other chemicals to balance the pool. No chlorine stabilizers as recommended by Clfree. The pool looked clean when the guys left. I was now exclusively using CLfree system. As recommended previously by Bill Gilles, 24hours for 3 days, however I ran it for 14days 24hours a day. I wanted it to get as much copper in the pool as I can get. The pool looked clean but there was an almost invisible slime on the wall which was Algae. This also caused a sour unpleasant smell in the pool. I scrubbed the walls but the slime came back next day. I recently bought Hayward TigerShark to clean the pool. It wasn’t able to climb the walls. During this time I wasn’t sure if it was the robot or the slime of the wall was causing the robot not to climb the walls. I also had to backwash the filter almost on a daily basis to get any pumping pressure going. After I scrubbed the walls, the algae came right back the next day.
After 2 weeks of this mess, I had to try something else. I used the chlorine shock and chlorine tablets. After the very first day, all the problems disappeared. Slime on the wall were gone, the sour unpleasant smell disappeared, my robot can climb walls and my filter had a great pressure to pump all day long. I only keep the pump running during the day for 8 hours now. The pool looks great, smells great, feels great and the pool is clearer than ever. No more scrubbing, no more checking for copper, no more running the pump 24/7.
After this enlightening experience, I contacted Phil Francisco to return the Clfree system for a full refund. He pointed to the 30day Money Back Guarantee list on his web site and asks me to check for Phosphates. He will not refund the product. I guess he conveniently forgot that he promised he would refund after next season’s opening. It’s obvious to me now that this is a scam. They will have you keep checking different items in the pool until you run out of time to return for refund. This is to hide the fact that the copper and titanium system isn’t doing anything at all. They are making you think you are not smart enough to know how this system works. So you keep trying what they ask you to do, until you finally realize this system really doesn’t work. By that time, it’s too late and you’re stuck with a system that not only does nothing but it destroys what little chlorine there was in the pool, which was doing good. Credit Card will only allow up to 60days for disputed charges so; it looks like the court system is the route to get my money back. Phil Francisco seems to be very familiar with the court systems from the return emails I got back from him. Currently, I have disconnected the system and working with Clfree to get my money back. I’m hopeful and I’m willing to continue the fight until whatever end. However, realistically, I’ll probably never see my hard earned $2195, which I thought I was spending to make my kids life better by providing the best possible pool sanitation possible.
So the moral of the story, I feel like the emperor in the Emperor’s new clothes. Do Not buy the copper based pool sanitizer. It’s a scam. Please learn from my $2195 mistake.
Use the tried and true chlorine. Chlorine Free USA is a scam and any other system that uses copper.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:11 am
Dear newpoolownerny -
Glad I found your posting - I’ve been researching pool treatment systems as I remodel my pool and found this site today. Seemed interesting but also seemed VERY light on details and chemical process explanation. Quoting the Apollo mission was interesting as proof, but that was a long time ago and from the same people that have issues with o-rings . . .
I also found it interesting that it was really hard to find reviews, good or bad anywhere on a site that was not an ECO owned site. That started to seem fishy to me . . .
While it doesn’t really help you at all in getting your money back - know that it has at least helped to cost the company one sale!
Best of luck - you may also want to consider inter-state fraud and mail fraud depending on how it was shipped. Perhaps the state attorney general would also be interested . . .
June 25th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I am on my second summer using the Ecosmarte system in a 45,000 gallon, 40×30x18 lagoon pool. For those who are savvy enough to follow directions, you will have no problems with this system. Here is what I do upon opening the pool. Step 1: test for phosphates (make sure they are at 0. Step 2: test PH (if it is higher than 7, add a 1/2 gallon of muriatic acid. Step 3: start up filter. Run filter for 2 days with system in ionize mode (this puts the perfect amount of copper in a pool my size). Step 4: test ph and copper levels (adjust as necessary). Voila, a crystal clear, beautiful pool! The guy that complained above appeared as though he did not follow directions. Did he ever test for phosphates (the most important first step?) Did he test & adjust the PH? Why did he add SO much copper? You only need .5-.7 ppm. Also, pool liners need to be cured. If the edges felt slimy, you add 1 gallon of bleach (this is chlorine), and the slime disappers. I live in Central NY, opened our pool May 18th, run the filter for only 1-2 hours/day, check my PH one day week, and have had the best swimming experience of my life. I will never go back to chlorine!
July 15th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I installed an Ecosmarte system on my pool/spa when we opened it in April. So far it has been great. I do not like chlorine at all and my wife loves the smell of chlorine. It was a hard sell getting the system past her but after the reading she has been doing about chlorine she was open to the system. The first time we got out of the spa she made a comment how nice it was not itching from the hot chlorine. She now prefers the Ecosmarte system to chlorine. My water is crystal clear just like the say. I have no plans to go back to chlorine.
Just a note on the negative postings here and on other sites. This is all been generated from the same two persons. It is to a point us users can’t even carry a conversation with each other on any site because of them. I have just started emailing other users to avoid this.
August 1st, 2009 at 6:58 pm
you can buy inflatable pools for an option
September 17th, 2009 at 11:09 am
when starting up a new pool with a liner you must run chlorine for apx 30 days to help remove manufacturing oils that are added in the process. If this is not done it can cause a slippery surface and foul smell to the water. After about 30 days of chlorine in the pool to cure it out then let the chlorine fall below 1.0ppm and start up your copper system should be o.k. then
September 25th, 2009 at 7:10 am
Interesting article. Thanks for sharing!
October 27th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
the Ecosmarte pool looks so cool
October 31st, 2009 at 9:52 pm
That sounds like a great product. I did not know there were other methods besides chlorine or salt.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
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December 23rd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I invested thousands of dollars in the Ecosmarte Automated System. My new pool is completely green/blue. I have followed instructions faithfully. It has been a nightmare. I am in the proces of draining and acid washing my pool. After two washes, the stains are still not completely gone. I am going back to a salt pool. Don’t waste your money.
January 7th, 2010 at 12:27 am
I installed an Ecosmarte system on my pool/spa when we opened it in April. So far it has been great. I do not like chlorine at all and my wife loves the smell of chlorine. It was a hard sell getting the system past her but after the reading she has been doing about chlorine she was open to the system. The first time we got out of the spa she made a comment how nice it was not itching from the hot chlorine. She now prefers the Ecosmarte system to chlorine. My water is crystal clear just like the say. I have no plans to go back to chlorine.
February 9th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
it is very nice
February 12th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
I have to admit, as a lifeguard of 5 years I did grow to love the smell of chlorine. I realize it’s not good or healthy, but every morning that I had to go into the pool room and set up the filters, then add the chlorine..I grew accustomed to that smell.
This system sounds like a perfect solution to those of us who are finding more and more ways to go green.
Thank you for sharing,
Jane
February 17th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Is the Eco Smarte system an EPA approved sanitizer for swimming pools? No. Why anyone would trusted a system to keep their family’s pool water clean and HEALTHY that can not be approved by a regulated agency is beyond me. Any commercial pool that is inspected by the health board would never be able to pass with one of things doing the “sanitizing”.
March 12th, 2010 at 10:15 am
I wanna find more info about this, anybody could?
April 2nd, 2010 at 12:17 am
There is a lot to think about when purchasing a pool from size t pool filters
you American are so lucky ,you have obtain the most money in the world
April 15th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
This article contains a lot of information related to how Ecosmarte system works. Very innovative idea to sanitize pool water.
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:01 am
Is the Eco Smarte organization an EPA sanctioned sanitizer for naiant ponds? Ordinal. Why anyone would confided a organization to donjon their kins pocket billiards irrigate clean house and intelligent that can not equal authorised near a molded means embodies beyond meaniey inferior pond that equals inspected from the health dining table would never equal capable to fling with unmatchable of things doing the “hygienizing”.
May 11th, 2010 at 12:58 am
I want to do something that is not connected to water..
May 21st, 2010 at 6:16 am
I have read a couple unfavorable reviews now on the CLfree system. I have just recently placed this in my brand new pool. I am only running a 15K gal pool, but have started out quite happy. It appears that PH and phosphates are critical to the success of this copper solution.
Are the people complaining testing for phosphates, that is not PH, it is another test.
Second with the 2 people being so disappointed, and not receiving refunds from CLfree, I question the validity of these comments. CLfree advertises that they don’t have “ANY” complaints filed with the AZ better business bureau. If you were so upset with this product and felt you were entitled to a refund based on the product sale, then I would highly recommend filling with the AZ BBB. This way we would all be aware that there were issues. Nothing filed, this sounds more like someone using this site to promote someone elses product.
Sorry, my research just hasn’t discovered but 2 of you in the last 60 days, and I am wondering if your pool experience was appropriate for this.
I heard chlorine stabilier in the water, that is an absolute NO NO. So without really understanding if the people ditzing the chlorine free products have a clue on the chemistry that the device needs to run, then please express your ignorance to this product when you post versus telling me about your chlorine shock, and your chlorine stabilizer issues. This product suggests from the beginning that nothing but liquid chlorine should be used as the plaster cures if you need it for curing, or because of sanitary water, and to insure there is “NO” chlorine in the water samples before starting this up, with a PH between 7.2 and 7.6 and “)” phospates!!
So far I am happy, and if this should change to to maintaining the requested chemistry, I will be back for an update. However I would like my grand daughter to be swimming chlorine free if this is as good as it appears.
June 9th, 2010 at 5:49 am
The EcoSmarte system is a scam, don’t fall for it.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/ecosmarte.aspx
June 17th, 2010 at 10:22 am
As an owner of a spa and hot tub company, I can tell you that doing the correct maintenance on you spa or pool is the sure thing to make it last in the long run.
We are able to stay in business only because people do not properly maintain their spas.
July 11th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
I spent $5,000 on Ecosmarte - the copper ruined my pool. I complained to the person who sold it to me - no response. I called the company - was told that they are considering bankruptcy.