Very easy to install and easy to use

Working well with the pool

Amazing product, just what I needed all those years.

I had bought a similar chlorinator 5 years ago. It developed a small leak at the drain plug. Sadly I didn't see it. So I bought this one and it came with unions a major bonus. They are simple to install and I got the opportunity to clean up my previous plumbing job. It works really well, my pool has maintained the chlorine level for 24 hours. On the downside of dealing with an algea bloom which the chlorinator is helping alot with. I did plumbers tape the drain plug on this one so when the oring dry rots I won't have a leak. It's easy to open, load and close. I did order an extra lid seal for my pool junk drawer. They do go bad in time and usually at the worst moment, and I have extra drain plug orings in my kit just incase. Anyway it's built very well, they include unions, if you work on your own pool you'll know why that's important. The feed adjustment actually works. Great price and shipping. Throw another $30 to $100 and you can get a name brand but I'm sure the only difference you'll find is the sticker on the unit. Happy with my purchase so far.

Perfect

Poorly made

Absolute trash, water would spray out from the dial. Terrible molding work, the threads on the fittings were malformed. Just for the Haywards to be in stock, don't waist your money.

I purchased this as part of my "sand filter upgrade" that I did on my Intex metal-frame above ground pool. I grew up with a pool so I've worked with their care and feeding over the years. I'm not a pool professional but I'm not an amateur either. I think the key here, before you buy this, is that you have to understand that the chlorinator takes some special considerations or it will be a problem.As for this feeder, I have two minor complaints; First, there is no check valve so you need a valve between it and the pool or else you will get a backflow of pool water when you open it up. (Or, I guess you could mount it above the water line but that is going to require extra head on your pump) Hayward feeders usually have a check valve on the return stem that helps keep that from happening. I wish this feeder had it.Secondly, the threads were a bit loose which required an extra dose of Teflon tape. They are a generous 1.5" which may be a result of the molding process... plastic parts aren't known for their accuracy... but extra tape solved the issue. It would have been better if they were tight rather than loose and I question if there is any taper at all to them.As for some of the other complaints I see on here... I've had no problems with the adjustment knob. I've found it responsive and solid. I've had no leaks other than the initial ones around the pipe threads that easily fixed with tape. And the lid assembly is at least as solid as the Hayward feeders I've used in the past. Really, I have no complaints with the unit and wonder what the ones claiming it to be trash received.As for the special treatment an automatic feeder needs, you have to know that the device works as a vacuum system. The lid has a seal in it and a mechanism to keep that system regulated. If you twist the lid on cross-threaded or otherwise damage the lid, the whole thing stops working.You also have to drain it in the winter and make sure the drain plug stays out and the lid off. The thing is plastic. If there is water in it and it freezes, it will break.You also have to check the chlorine levels in your pool. I'm amazed at the people who blame a green pool on the chlorine feeder, the skimmer, or the pump. The system doesn't take care of itself... it needs you to watch over it. Check your levels daily. If your Chlorine is a no-read, I suggest opening the feeder and seeing if you have any tabs left. The thing doesn't make chlorine... you need to add it. I have a 4' deep, 12' round Intex pool and I'll consume most of a bucket of 3" tabs this summer.Which brings me to the final point... the device is directional. If you install it backwards you won't get chlorine fed into your pool. But you would pick that up in your daily testing.Overall, I have nothing but those two minor complaints to make. I found the unit solid, works well, and was actually better than I expected given the price. If you are putting in a 30 year permanent install, spend a few extra bucks and get a Hayward. But if you are on a budget or don't need it to last 30 years, this is a great feeder.

Let me start out by saying I normally do not write reviews about products. However, this is a terribly made product. Usually people will write a review about a product because they want to voice their opinion about how bad something is or how good something is. They usually don't take time out of their day to say, "Hey, this product as OK." With that in mind, this is one of those products that was bad enough that I thought I should voice my opinion.I got this chlorine feeder to replace my old in-line model that broke a leak. I purchased this because it was a good price but ultimately when it arrived it did not meet expectations.First it was my fault that I didn't know the difference between an in-line and off-line chlorine feeder. This is an off-line one, meaning you have to tap into your pipes to make it work (not just screw it into the existing pipe). It comes with 2 non-specialized band clamps that really do nothing to keep the drill holes you have to make from leaking. They should provide you 2 additional clamps or clamps that are designed to hold down a plug around the sides of it not just on a single edge (you'll know what I mean if you buy this). I ended up buying 2 additional clamps to hold the plug taps in place and I wish that was the only problem. When I did finally get it installed per the instructions, I noticed a sizable leak coming from the chlorine feeder inlet. I tugged at the inlet side and the whole plate came off. Please note that this is not supposed to come off. This is supposed to be a permanent plastic weld that keeps that piece water-tight and in place. Well, thinking that perhaps it was just a slight manufacturing defect, I decided to get some glue and let it cure overnight to fix the inlet side. (fast forward to the next day)I hooked the unit back up and in about 5 minutes the outlet side started dripping. I gave a slight tug on that side and it was the same problem, the plastic welds were not strong enough to keep them in place. Since I had already glued the one side, I couldn't sent it back so I came back to amazon and ordered a Hayward CL200.No more crappy tapping into my pipes and the build quality is 100% better. Don't get me wrong, I like saving money as much as the next guy but the hassle wasn't worth it this time. The CL200 is double the price of the Hydro Tools 87503 but you're getting a 100 times better product. Even the lid is a better design. You don't have to super tighten the CL200 to keep leaks from coming out of the top because they have this floating lid design. I'm not here to sell you on a CL200 but I am here to try to persuade you not to waste your money on this.Hopefully you find this review helpful. Have fun swimming!