Thick algae covered layer of leaves

[jillleigh]

So my filter was broken all winter . I rented a pump and drained down to the shallow end. There was a pretty thick layer of algae covered leaves down there. I shoveled them out of the shallow end and refilled. So, I can only assume the deep end is the same or worse. Do I shock first then vacuum or other way around? And how soon after shocking or using yellow out should I vac?

 

[bbenjamin]

I would vacuum and net as much leaves and debris out of the deep end as possible then test the water and shock based on those results.

 

[JasonLion]

Get as much as you possibly can out of the pool before you start SLAMing. Piles of leaves give algae places to high from the chlorine, and it becomes almost impossible to clear up the water.

 

[duraleigh]

This may be related to why your pump won't prime. Have you opened the pump and felt inside where the impeller is to see if it is clogged with leaves?

 

[jillleigh]

I haven't checked the impeller. I was really hoping I wouldn't have to take that apart. I can usually figure out how to take things apart, but can almost never get them back together!

 

[hanesian]

I hear you on finding it much easier to take things apart than to put them back together. Kind of like many things in life!

One suggestion on the putting things back together conundrum: use your phone and take lots of pictures of things as you take them apart, or better yet video with your own commentary to yourself. Comes in very handy when it's time to reassemble!

There are also a number of helpful videos on most anything like this on Youtube. Watch a few of them and the inner workings of even unfamiliar things like pool pumps start to make sense.