Newbie Pool Question
- Thread starter dallasjava
- Start date
Probably? Someone else will answer!!
Lovely yard and gorgeous well-maintained (it seems) pool! I'd snatch it up in a heartbeat!
Welcome to TFP!
Lovely yard and gorgeous well-maintained (it seems) pool! I'd snatch it up in a heartbeat!
Welcome to TFP!
Thanks Mermaid Queen. If there are not wall jets, then is the automated cleaning options to limited to a robot?
no returns on the walls? hm, not a common thing, I don't think!
There are suction side cleaners that run through the skimmer... suction side cleaners defined
There are suction side cleaners that run through the skimmer... suction side cleaners defined
- Oct 18, 2009
- 3,635
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Great pool :-D I wonder if pics of the pool equipment showing the valves, pumps etc would help with identification
Welcome to TFP!!
on becoming a lifer! 
Those are floor returns (if not a cleaning system - but the spacing doesn't look right for that)
There 'ought' be a few wall returns to help provide surface circulation, maybe you just missed seeing them :?
I think Brent is correct, in that - with pics of the system, we'd be able to give you a better idea of what your, potential, set-up is.
on becoming a lifer! Those are floor returns (if not a cleaning system - but the spacing doesn't look right for that)
There 'ought' be a few wall returns to help provide surface circulation, maybe you just missed seeing them :?
I think Brent is correct, in that - with pics of the system, we'd be able to give you a better idea of what your, potential, set-up is.
Here are the pictures we took today. I suspect there is 0 FC in the pool. The earlier pictures I posted were from the listing. These are from today. There is one wall return. There might be another, but the water clarity is getting bad. If we buy it, then I will definitely be doing the BBB method. The listing states there is cleaning system. I am having our realtor ask for some more information. There is a sizable crack in the pool deck. I think it is more a break. I am not sure if that can be patched or if that section of pool desk needs to be replaced. There are a sizable area of missing tile along the spa wall. I am guessing it is the original plaster. The pool was built in 1982.
Attachments
I 'm not sure from the picture, but my first guess would be that those are floor returns, not floor cleaner jets. Have yet to see floor returns not for cleaning, here in Dallas, but that doesn't mean that it hasn't been done. There appears to be part of a floor cleaning system to the right of the STA-Rite object. If so it is slightly different than the type I am used to seeing. Do you have pictures of the yellow label on the bottom half of the Sta-Rite product? That will help. Can you get the entire equipment pad in one picture? I do not see the return side of the plumbing. This is where the plumbing exits the catridge filter(clean & clear). There are labels on the plumbing, so a few straight on pictures where you can read the labels will help. I don't want to speculate further because I am not sure of the purpose of the sta-rite product. Aftertaking a good look at the pictures. It appears that the sta-rite a filter for the floor system. The plumbing on the right is pool return and appears to leave the sta-rite filter. The small ball like object in the ground to the right looks like the motor for the floor system. I bet you have more than one wall return. You at least have a spa fountain and one pool return. If those are the only non-floor system returns you have you will want to run your floor system more during the hot months to get the most circulation on hot days. It may cost more but will give you great water circulation and benefit the pool's everything over the long run.
As far as the crack in the spa plaster it soesn't appear to be detrimentally significant. Not at the leaking point at least. And once you get the water balanced, the plaster should hold up longer. If you can see past the plaster to the gunite at any crack, you will want either a leak detection specialist or plaster company to come and look in person to determine the extent of the crack. Like I said, from the picture it doesn't look severe. I doubt you have a leak. If you can monitor the water level (bucket test), do so. This is a cheap way to see if you are losing water faster than evaporation and a great way to see if you are have a significant leak. If not just take care of the existing plaster (water chemistry) until you feel like upgrading.
As far as the crack in the spa plaster it soesn't appear to be detrimentally significant. Not at the leaking point at least. And once you get the water balanced, the plaster should hold up longer. If you can see past the plaster to the gunite at any crack, you will want either a leak detection specialist or plaster company to come and look in person to determine the extent of the crack. Like I said, from the picture it doesn't look severe. I doubt you have a leak. If you can monitor the water level (bucket test), do so. This is a cheap way to see if you are losing water faster than evaporation and a great way to see if you are have a significant leak. If not just take care of the existing plaster (water chemistry) until you feel like upgrading.
Pr0tect0r thanks for the information. The lady who owns the house does not seem to know much. The cleaning system was listed on the listing from when she bought it. There are wall returns in the spa. There may be more wall returns in the pool, but until the water clarity improves it will be hard to tell. Next time we go look at the house, I will get pictures of the areas you asked for. Thanks again for your help.
1) They are floor returns. IT makes heating the pool more efficient.
2) The spa wall was patched/cobbled. Not the 1st time either. The Realtor pix show white sections where the tile is missing.
3) The current owners don't have or won't spend the money to fix the pool. They aren't even cleaning it.
4) Not only has the spa wall been patched, I suspect that there may be additional damage to the wall under the patch. Bet the scrapings and rebound were reused here.
5) I suspect the plaster is shot too. Note the large areas of discoloration in the spa. Bet it's like that in the pool too.
6) The Sta-Rite is a gas fired heater
7) The pump is long in the tooth too. So is the timer box and Freeze Protect, The brown mushroom is a blower. The blower, heater and filter are not the original equipment.
8) No sign of a chlorine dispenser. Bet they dropped the pucks in the skimmers. Not good for the plumbing or the heater.
Scott
2) The spa wall was patched/cobbled. Not the 1st time either. The Realtor pix show white sections where the tile is missing.
3) The current owners don't have or won't spend the money to fix the pool. They aren't even cleaning it.
4) Not only has the spa wall been patched, I suspect that there may be additional damage to the wall under the patch. Bet the scrapings and rebound were reused here.
5) I suspect the plaster is shot too. Note the large areas of discoloration in the spa. Bet it's like that in the pool too.
6) The Sta-Rite is a gas fired heater
7) The pump is long in the tooth too. So is the timer box and Freeze Protect, The brown mushroom is a blower. The blower, heater and filter are not the original equipment.
8) No sign of a chlorine dispenser. Bet they dropped the pucks in the skimmers. Not good for the plumbing or the heater.
Scott
A couple more things I noticed:
1) Why is there a multi port valve on a cartridge filter? It doesn't belong there unless it is a DE filter with a used replacement tank.
2) There seems to be only one drain in the spa. It needs a new style VGB compliant drain cover at the very least.
Scott
1) Why is there a multi port valve on a cartridge filter? It doesn't belong there unless it is a DE filter with a used replacement tank.
2) There seems to be only one drain in the spa. It needs a new style VGB compliant drain cover at the very least.
Scott
Scott,PoolGuyNJ said:
Does the valve create a problem, or is just out of place? If we make an offer, I will get the pool service company's name that owner used to use. She moved out at some point which I suspect was when the pool was not being maintained.
Cartridge filters don't get multi-ports. They are directly plumbed from the pump and to the heater. Someone will use the multi-port. It has a back wash setting. They will cause the cartridges to tear themselves apart. I've seen it happen before.
But since the tanks for Pentair's cartridge and DE filters is the same except for the labels, it may be a DE filter. The only way to know is to open it and look.
WRT to the offer, if the home isn't already below market value, I would subtract an additional 15K for work needed from an offer that assumed the pool needed no work beyond cleaning. That would cover plaster, tile, spa wall repairs if they are as needed as I suspect, and maybe coping too, if it is loose in places.
It's a good bet that they won't see it that way
I don't know what other work the house needs or real estate markets. Some put a sizable chunk in escrow for such things. If your offer is accepted, have the pool checked in addition to the usual inspections.
Tile doesn't just pop off. Something is happening behind it usually. That something is usually crumbling cement.
Scott
But since the tanks for Pentair's cartridge and DE filters is the same except for the labels, it may be a DE filter. The only way to know is to open it and look.
WRT to the offer, if the home isn't already below market value, I would subtract an additional 15K for work needed from an offer that assumed the pool needed no work beyond cleaning. That would cover plaster, tile, spa wall repairs if they are as needed as I suspect, and maybe coping too, if it is loose in places.
It's a good bet that they won't see it that way
I don't know what other work the house needs or real estate markets. Some put a sizable chunk in escrow for such things. If your offer is accepted, have the pool checked in addition to the usual inspections.
Tile doesn't just pop off. Something is happening behind it usually. That something is usually crumbling cement.
Scott
Scott, are you thinking the spa wall needs to be torn down and rebuilt if the cement is crumbling?
