There are two parts to my first post. It’s very long and might contain some trivial questions.
First, I wanted to rant about my soon to be ex-pool man. Second part is my questions on what I have so far.
I’ve been a pool owner for a year now (bought a house with a pool). Initially, there were many other things to do around the house (like putting up a safety fence around the pool) and I wanted to hire someone to take care of the pool. I signed up for one-year chemical only contract ($89 per month for once a week service; I know I should have shopped around but oh well). Now, the contract period is over and I am ready to fire my pool man.
I signed up mainly for someone to keep an eye on the pool so I don’t have to but the pool man didn’t really care. For example, during the summer I had noticed a lot of dead bugs on the floor. This was puzzling to me as I see Polaris 280 sweeping every day. About three weeks later, the problem was so bad that it was time to ask the pool man. Until this time, I was under the assumption that he was keeping an eye on everything about my pool and he will let me know if there was any problem. It turns out that a small piece of plastic broke off from the bottom of my Polaris 280 making it float rather than vacuum the floor. All during that time, my pool man visited faithfully once a week but didn’t see any problem with my pool. And that wasn’t the only time it happened. Just last month, the pressure line hose for Polaris 280 kept on coming off the pool wall. I tried to put back in a couple of times but it would come off again. Anyway, I wanted to find out if my pool man would care enough to notice. For next three weeks, pressure line was off floating in the pool. My pool man didn’t say a thing. The dead bugs accumulated to a point where anybody with eyes could suspect a problem. He replaced the wall fitting and fixed it but not till I told him that Polaris line had been off for at least 3 weeks. I had it with this guy.
I’ve been searching the internet for DIY pool maintenance guide and I found your website. Thank you so much everyone for sharing your knowledge. You site makes me feel more confident that I can be my own pool man.
My questions are related to what I equipments I have now. I did order a test kit so I’ll read further on water testing and post question about testing later.
1. I have leaf rake, pole and nylon brush that’s it. What else would you recommend?
2. What kind of surface do I have? I want to say concrete but that might expose my ignorance.
3. Here is a close-up of hairline cracks I see on my on the steps above. Should I be concern?
4. How do you know your flow rate? I have the followings:
a. Main Pump: Emerson K63CXEPZ-4767 (3450rpm) 1.5 HP
b. Booster Pump: PB4-60 (3450rpm) 0.75 HP
c. Hayward Cartridge Filter (pressure says it’s ~14psi)
I read that you can estimate flow by rpm / 100 *3 so my main pump has about 100 gal per min? I am assuming my pump is not a variable speed one and when I turn it on it will run at 3450prm. How do you find out what speed your pump is running at?
Note that there are leaks on the pipe fittings. There is a question on this later.
5. I don’t believe this filter was changed with in last year. It’s at 14psi right now. How do I know when to change the filter in my case? I don't know what the pressure might be if a brand new filter is in place. I read that I need to change filter when pressure drops to a certain point. Anyone famililar with this one. How do you go about finding out which filter goes with what? I don't see any model number on this unit.
6. At the end of vertical pipe that comes off the pump, there is a garden hose faucet. What is this used for?
7. There are some leaks from the fitting. Water seem to be sipping out from the yellow bonding material between black and white pipes. How do I fix this? I don't think I should be cutting anything as I'll have less and less to work with. How do I soften the bonding material to loosen the pipes and re-bond them?
8. Is it typical to have two separate routes for main pump and booster pump? Are they linked in a parallel or serial connection?
I see the followings in my pool:
Automatic water level and a hole - water is added automatically by a self-adjusting value
One of three return line
Another line used for Polaris 280. I guess this is connected to my booster pump. Is this connected the line feeding the main pump and filter?
9. Is this okay? That tree seem too big to be so closed to the pool. Anything I can do to eliminate problems later?
10. I don't know what this hole is for? It's next to the skimmer but I don't think they are connected.
11. How do I clean this buildup on the rock at the water line? What is that? There is a blue tint to this buildup.
12. How do I clean soap scum like the white stuff between tiles?
13. Anyone with a solar pool heater? How much did you spend on it? I have a huge roof directly facing the South. I like to know how much solar pool heater costs and how much did it extend your swimming season? Pictures of south facing roof with no shades all summer. You see a little bit of shade from the trees. In mid-march, the sun will be at this height 9am and going up higher.
Thanks everyone.
First, I wanted to rant about my soon to be ex-pool man. Second part is my questions on what I have so far.
I’ve been a pool owner for a year now (bought a house with a pool). Initially, there were many other things to do around the house (like putting up a safety fence around the pool) and I wanted to hire someone to take care of the pool. I signed up for one-year chemical only contract ($89 per month for once a week service; I know I should have shopped around but oh well). Now, the contract period is over and I am ready to fire my pool man.
I signed up mainly for someone to keep an eye on the pool so I don’t have to but the pool man didn’t really care. For example, during the summer I had noticed a lot of dead bugs on the floor. This was puzzling to me as I see Polaris 280 sweeping every day. About three weeks later, the problem was so bad that it was time to ask the pool man. Until this time, I was under the assumption that he was keeping an eye on everything about my pool and he will let me know if there was any problem. It turns out that a small piece of plastic broke off from the bottom of my Polaris 280 making it float rather than vacuum the floor. All during that time, my pool man visited faithfully once a week but didn’t see any problem with my pool. And that wasn’t the only time it happened. Just last month, the pressure line hose for Polaris 280 kept on coming off the pool wall. I tried to put back in a couple of times but it would come off again. Anyway, I wanted to find out if my pool man would care enough to notice. For next three weeks, pressure line was off floating in the pool. My pool man didn’t say a thing. The dead bugs accumulated to a point where anybody with eyes could suspect a problem. He replaced the wall fitting and fixed it but not till I told him that Polaris line had been off for at least 3 weeks. I had it with this guy.
I’ve been searching the internet for DIY pool maintenance guide and I found your website. Thank you so much everyone for sharing your knowledge. You site makes me feel more confident that I can be my own pool man.
My questions are related to what I equipments I have now. I did order a test kit so I’ll read further on water testing and post question about testing later.
1. I have leaf rake, pole and nylon brush that’s it. What else would you recommend?
2. What kind of surface do I have? I want to say concrete but that might expose my ignorance.
3. Here is a close-up of hairline cracks I see on my on the steps above. Should I be concern?
4. How do you know your flow rate? I have the followings:
a. Main Pump: Emerson K63CXEPZ-4767 (3450rpm) 1.5 HP
b. Booster Pump: PB4-60 (3450rpm) 0.75 HP
c. Hayward Cartridge Filter (pressure says it’s ~14psi)
I read that you can estimate flow by rpm / 100 *3 so my main pump has about 100 gal per min? I am assuming my pump is not a variable speed one and when I turn it on it will run at 3450prm. How do you find out what speed your pump is running at?
Note that there are leaks on the pipe fittings. There is a question on this later.
5. I don’t believe this filter was changed with in last year. It’s at 14psi right now. How do I know when to change the filter in my case? I don't know what the pressure might be if a brand new filter is in place. I read that I need to change filter when pressure drops to a certain point. Anyone famililar with this one. How do you go about finding out which filter goes with what? I don't see any model number on this unit.
6. At the end of vertical pipe that comes off the pump, there is a garden hose faucet. What is this used for?
7. There are some leaks from the fitting. Water seem to be sipping out from the yellow bonding material between black and white pipes. How do I fix this? I don't think I should be cutting anything as I'll have less and less to work with. How do I soften the bonding material to loosen the pipes and re-bond them?
8. Is it typical to have two separate routes for main pump and booster pump? Are they linked in a parallel or serial connection?
I see the followings in my pool:
Automatic water level and a hole - water is added automatically by a self-adjusting value
One of three return line
Another line used for Polaris 280. I guess this is connected to my booster pump. Is this connected the line feeding the main pump and filter?
9. Is this okay? That tree seem too big to be so closed to the pool. Anything I can do to eliminate problems later?
10. I don't know what this hole is for? It's next to the skimmer but I don't think they are connected.
11. How do I clean this buildup on the rock at the water line? What is that? There is a blue tint to this buildup.
12. How do I clean soap scum like the white stuff between tiles?
13. Anyone with a solar pool heater? How much did you spend on it? I have a huge roof directly facing the South. I like to know how much solar pool heater costs and how much did it extend your swimming season? Pictures of south facing roof with no shades all summer. You see a little bit of shade from the trees. In mid-march, the sun will be at this height 9am and going up higher.
Thanks everyone.
