I’ve been running an ozone plus UV combo for a bit now, added it after getting tired of that “used pool” smell every time we had friends over. On paper it sounds amazing, and honestly, when everything is dialed in, it does what it’s supposed to do. Chlorine demand dropped, combined chlorine basically disappeared, and the water stays that clear, glassy look even after heavy bather load days.
That said, it’s still a support system, not a replacement. Ozone and UV only work when water is moving through them, so you still need a baseline sanitizer in the pool. I keep a low, steady chlorine level and focus more on oxidation than dumping more chlorine in. Maintenance wise, the UV bulb replacement is real, and ozone units don’t love moisture or neglect. If circulation or filter pressure is off, the benefits drop fast. Chemistry still matters too, pH drift and alkalinity swings will mess with how well the whole setup feels.
Where it shines is reducing how often the water feels “tired.” I shock way less now, and when I do, I usually reach for aquadoc non chlorine shock just to burn off organics without spiking FC. Worth the upgrade if you already stay on top of basics and run your system daily. If someone’s hoping it makes the pool hands off, it won’t. Anyone else notice these systems really show their value after big swim weekends more than on quiet weeks?
