Recent content by fathom39

The problem was a clogged impeller. I cleared that then swapped the pumps so the filter pump which ran every day for ten years is now the spa jets pump which runs maybe ten days a year. I should be good for a while now.

In-ground 24000 gallon pool Spa with spillover Water level 1 inch low but still plenty for skimmer ports Pump behavior the same whether pulling from all pool or all spa I cleaned and re-lubed the O-ring plus cleaned the cover plate and mating surface on pump housing Unusual in the last week: I...

When I pulled the seat assembly, I found the rubber was badly out-of-round. Silicone lube didn't help. Next, I swapped parts from another valve and that didn't help either. Finally, I screwed the cap on with no guts and that made it quiet. So, I'll go with new innards and hope that works.

I have a noisy check valve. The spring costs about $12 and the seat assembly is about $50. Which should I replace to quiet the noise? Thanks.

I installed a Pentair Tagelus filter (fiberglass body) last weekend. Before I tidy up the work area and replace the fence boards around the equipment pad, I was wondering if I should apply a finish to the filter exterior to protect it from the elements. Ideas? Experiences?

Solution: I washed one bag of pea pebbles (0.5 cubic feet, ~50 lbs., $4) and poured it in first. This formed a layer under the laterals. Then, I poured in 100 lbs. of aquarium gravel. Walmart sells it for about $12 per 25 lbs. bag. In total, my gravel mix was not much more expensive than the...

I just bought a twin pack (2 gallons total) of 10% at Lowe's for $6.86 yesterday in SoCal. That's a little better than 8% Costco Clorox or Walmart Great Value.

I'm replacing a sand filter and I want to do it right. I can get pea pebbles at Home Depot or Lowes but they are larger than the size specified by Pentair. I can order the right size from Leslies or other pool stores in town but delivery is two weeks. No place locally seems to stock it. I'm...

Next weekend I will install a Pentair Tagelus TA 100D sand filter. It requires 600 pounds of media. I plan to use a pea gravel base of 150 pounds and top that with 450 pounds of silica. Pool stores (Leslies and mom/pops) around town want $10-$12 for a 50 pound bag. Lowes charges $9 for a 100...

Thanks Jason, I hope I didn't imply that cylinders were inferior, I just want to make sure I don't under-spec on the replacement. My current Jacuzzi TM31 has these specs. 31" / 500 lbs media / 4.8 sq ft filter area Maxes: 50 PSI / 95 GPM filter / 72 GPM backwash

My spherical Jacuzzi TM31 sand filter srpung a leak and I need to replace it. Right now, Plast-Aid is holding the leak down but that won't last long. Is there any good reason to replace the TM31 with another sphere? That model is discontinued and the other spheres I have seen advertised are...

I have a 512 square foot pool that is basically two 16 x 16 sections, angled, with a spillover spa on one side and a grotto at the deep end. It is the perfect size for me to look at, casually swim in, and for entertaining. But for more serious swimming I can see how 18 x 36 could give a better...

Rule of thumb: $1,000 per day for contractors in the trades or specialty contractors like solar or finish carpentry. Drywall, flooring, painting, roofers, etc. charge a little less. This is based on my experience as a customer over the past eight years. Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

Re: Chlorinator percentage mystery: 5% change drops FC rapid My water is almost crystal clear all year long. I say almost because at night with lights there are plainly visible specks in the water which I attibute to calcium. I sweep the pool sides once a week, vacuum the bottom twice a week...

My Goldline PC-8 controller with T-Cell 15 works fine, i.e., no error messages, but free chlorine generation appears to cease if I drop the chlorinator percentage from 50 to 45. While at 50, my FC level holds at about 5 solid pink but if I change the controller to 45% the FC disappears in a day...