Hold my hand, I'd like to open the pool myself.

[keithpgdrb]

Hello all,

first, Yes, I have read the "opening your pool" guide.

I joined up here during the last part of the pool season 2022. I've been using the knowledge here to keep the pool since. Our pool came with the house when we moved in right before the pandemic. Since then, I have paid a service to open and close it. I've been very hands off, just doing what I could to maintain it with very little knowledge of what I was doing. Sometimes successful, sometimes not. I'm changing all of that now, and would like to try to open the pool this spring on my own.

The bad: I have almost no idea which pipe does what going into the equipment. I know some, but almost nothing when it comes to how the machinery works. pretty much all I've done is turn it from service mode, to running mode.

The not as bad: I do know which levers turn on the returns and the fountains. and I have the good testing kit, although I still cant decipher the cya results. wish there was a better way.

So, could you guys help me figure out what to do, and in what order to do it? In my mind, I think that it should be fairly straight forward. I think my equipment is listed in the profile. I can update with what is missing. I can post a pic of my setup. it might be obvious to you guys as to what does what. Not opening for a while yet, as temps are still pretty chilly. But I want to prepare as much as possible.

 

[Newdude]

Hey Keith, we GOT you. We walk several through their first rodeo every spring.

Let's see some pics of the closed pool and wide angle shots of the pad. (And anything else that may be relevant).

Did they pull the equipment drain plugs ? Know where they are ?

 

[keithpgdrb]

Hey Keith, we GOT you. We walk several through their first rodeo every spring.

Let's see some pics of the closed pool and wide angle shots of the pad. (And anything else that may be relevant).

Did they pull the equipment drain plugs ? Know where they are ?

Thank You! Pics here, and yes, I have everything they took off in a box.

 

[Newdude]

I have everything they took off in a box.

Sweet !!!! So it'll be real easy from the pics.

1) top off the water

2) reinstall equipment drain plugs
2 pump
1 or 2 filter
1 or 2 heater
Check you manuals or download them for drain locations. If you're unsure

3) Remove return plugs and reinstall eyeballs / remove gizmos / pop skimmer baskets in.

4) flip breakers on. (main house panel and pool panel)

5) open main drain valve. (Probably the left one) fill the basket part of the pump to the height of the suction pipe. Lube lid, reinstall and fire it up.

That's about it. The first rodeo you'll be a bit nervous so it will take a while but the 2nd or third time will take you 15- 20 mins.

 

[PoolStored]

1) top off the water

Should be up to 50% of the skimmer opening. Also re-install any weir doors that were removed. Also, you will want to remove the cover pump and the winter pool cover.

2) reinstall equipment drain plugs
2 pump
1 or 2 filter
1 or 2 heater
Check you manuals or download them for drain locations. If you're unsure

Make sure you re-lube all the o-rings. Use a silicone lubricant like Magic Lube II. Inspect the o-rings! If any are cracked, even a little bit, replace them. You can see cracks if you stretch them a bit.

3) Remove return plugs and reinstall eyeballs / remove gizmos / pop skimmer baskets in.

Yep...and you might turn the gas valve back to on at the same time...or at least turn the gas on before you fire up the heater (red valve in pic).

4) flip breakers on. (main house panel and pool panel)

5) open main drain valve. (Probably the left one) fill the basket part of the pump to the height of the suction pipe. Lube lid, reinstall and fire it up.

I would open all the suction side valves so that you can prime all the lines!

That's about it.

You should follow these instruction on your filter for startup.
Manual here: https://www.pentair.com/content/dam...lean-and-clear-plus-install-guide-english.pdf

 

[Newdude]

Psssssst. @PoolStored. We were trying to ease Keith into it without overloading him at first.

(But WELL done anyway !!)

 

[proavia]

Post a pic of the parts in the box - laid out so we can easily identify them.
This may make it easier for you - especially if a part or two doesn't look familiar to you.

Be sure to have a tube of pool lube handy to lube the o-rings.

And seriously consider ordering one of the recommended test kits - Test Kits Compared. The TF-Pro Salt would suit your pool well.
The LaMotte ColorQ isn't exactly known to be completely accurate in at least one or two of the tests.

 

[keithpgdrb]

Thank you guys so much. Lots to unpack here. I’ll get some more questions after I find the box of stuff and snap some more pics.

 

[keithpgdrb]

Post a pic of the parts in the box - laid out so we can easily identify them.
This may make it easier for you - especially if a part or two doesn't look familiar to you.

Be sure to have a tube of pool lube handy to lube the o-rings.

And seriously consider ordering one of the recommended test kits - Test Kits Compared. The TF-Pro Salt would suit your pool well.
The LaMotte ColorQ isn't exactly known to be completely accurate in at least one or two of the tests.

I picked up the test kit near the end of season last year. Hardly cracked it. Probably fine yes?

 

[PoolStored]

I picked up the test kit near the end of season last year. Hardly cracked it. Probably fine yes?

Yep, should be good.

 

[proavia]

Yup - good to go.
Plan on picking up a refill set in March 2024 during the spring refill sale.

 

[keithpgdrb]

Ok. Starting to really get in the zone here to do this. Going to give the cover a good clean in the next week or so. Then scope out the opening. Here is a pic of the stuff that got removed at closing. I understand the returns and the fountain caps. Not sure where the large black and white cap or rubber washer are supposed to go.

 

[IceShadow]

There's stuff in the left basket. Need a photo of that too.Probably the plugs. Not sure on the rubber washer or the black union with a white cap either - that could be for the filter, or it could just be extra.

 

[keithpgdrb]

There's stuff in the left basket. Need a photo of that too.Probably the plugs. Not sure on the rubber washer or the black union with a white cap either - that could be for the filter, or it could just be extra.

Stuff in the basket is just stuff for the fountains. I know about that stuff. It’s mostly the machinery that I’m concerned about. I also need to find the instructions for the equipment.

 

[IceShadow]

You’re still missing plugs. The pump will have two, the filter will have one or two (though it could be the one in the photo, though I’m uncertain), the heater will have one or two. Or did you already put those in?

 

[keithpgdrb]

I haven’t touched anything since it got closed.

 

[IceShadow]

Ok - need to find the plugs for the other equipment for sure.

 

[keithpgdrb]

here is a link to a quick video showing my pool equipment.

IMG_7192.MOV

Shared with Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[keithpgdrb]

Do they put antifreeze in the lines when they close? Do I need to suck that out before I open everything up?

 

[PoolStored]

Do they put antifreeze in the lines when they close? Do I need to suck that out before I open everything up?

Some do, some don't. No need to remove, chlorine will clean it up.