Piping Question - Am I screwed?

[jeep03kj]

Hi Folks,

I need to preface this with the fact that my pool was installed in 1996 and I've only owned it since 2011.

I'm switching to a salt chlorination system this year. I have a Hayward tablet chlorinator as of today and I prayed to the pool Gods that the new salt cell would fit right in, thread to existing unions, and be a piece of cake. I knew better, but I prayed for the hell of it.

I have a Hayward CL200 chlorinator currently. I don't know why, but the piping running in/out is 1 1/2". The manual says that it can be 1 1/2" or 2" and I have no idea why the previous owner went this route. Maybe he had a different chlorinator prior?

I bought a Hayward Goldline AQR3 (15k). The unions that come with are for 2" pipe. *Insert swear words here*, but that's fine, we'll make it work, it's only PVC.

Skimmer+bottom --> Pump --> Cartridge Filter --> Heater --> Chlorinator --> Jets

I got tired of typing and recorded a video instead: http://atumas.hosted.panopto.com/Panopt ... 4200b15f2f

TL:DR: Watch the video. It's a minute and 51 seconds long.

I appreciate the help!

[Denniswiseman]

I would suspect that it is glued
Your whole system seems to be piped in 1 1/2" so unless the SWCG says it should be 2" just reduce it down

[Teapot]

You can buy reducing sleeves from 2" to 1 1/12"

[jeep03kj]

The whole system is piped in 2" except for when it's reduced to 1 1/2" into the chlorinator. Right after the chlorinator that 90 degree elbow goes from 1 1/2" to 2" into the ground.

In regards to the reducing sleeves comment, I don't have the space on the 1 1/2" pipe on the outlet side of the chlorinator. I only have 7/8" after I cut off the chlorinator union. That's not enough pipe to glue a sleeve to.

[Denniswiseman]

The whole system is piped in 2" except for when it's reduced to 1 1/2" into the chlorinator. Right after the chlorinator that 90 degree elbow goes from 1 1/2" to 2" into the ground.

In regards to the reducing sleeves comment, I don't have the space on the 1 1/2" pipe on the outlet side of the chlorinator. I only have 7/8" after I cut off the chlorinator union. That's not enough pipe to glue a sleeve to.

Cut it all back to 2" pipework on the vertical and break up where it goes into the pad and re-pipe in 2"

[Teapot]

I can now view your video which I couldn't yesterday. The awkward fitting on the right through the concrete is pvc thankfully not ABS.
If you heat it with a hot air paint stripper gun you can often separate the glued joint and even if you distort slightly you can warm it and adjust to remake a new joint.
That said, you should plumb the sw chlorinator on a bypass loop and not straight in line. This allows for flow adjustment and servicing the cell.

[jeep03kj]

@Teapot

You win and I thank you. I used a heat gun to heat up that 90 degree elbow and was able to separate the lower joint. I didn't think it would be possible, but it worked beautifully!

Thank you!

[Teapot]

Happy to help.