I am excited to be here and finally take some control over my pool.
I have been reading through different threads and I know more now then I have in the 15 years I had my pool. (still have much to learn)
I am done with the stores! I never understood how important pool chemistry was. I'd look at my dip sticks and estimate what to throw in.
Or I'd go to the pool store and do whatever they recommend.
For the last 3 years I have been fighting with keeping chlorine levels. People would tell me my water is "locked" because other than lowering the level for winter, it's never been fully changed since the pool was installed (20 years ago). Others would say there is no such thing as locked. Some would say I don't have any stabilizer. Last year a place told me everything would be fine if I put CYA in. I did....lots. Went back and still no reading.......told me to put more in (actually gave it to me for free and guaranteed it would work). Well it did!!! My CYA went up to near 150.
No one ever mentioned how important ph was.
I've been going to Leslie's for years. This last time the guy said your CYA is 100. You need to drain your pool and stop using stabilized cholorine (Chlor-Brite). I said last time I was here that is what you guys have always recommended. Plus 3" pucks. He said I needed to use Powder Plus. I said I just spent over $100 on Chlor Brite. He flipantly just said, well that's up to you. I'm just telling you what you need to do.
Now I know.
I ordered my K-2006 DPD kit but won't get it for a week or two (should have ordered it from here...sorry, didn't know at the time).
Right now 2 pool stores said my CYA is 100 and one said 90...so I know its high.
My ph was 7.1 and 6.8....so I know its low.
I decided to drain about 1/3 of my pool (in progress as I write this) and will be refilling with city water (hose) this weekend.
Water company only charges $3.73/1K gallons. Sewer company charges flat rate regardless of use. So I'm really happy about that!
I'm going to buy some Bleach and Borax and keep on hand.
I will start a thread once I get the pool refilled and have some numbers to report.
Thank you to everyone for dedicating your time and expertise to those who were always scared to understand the right way to care for our pool.
Mike
15K gal, IG Vinyl, DE filter (more data to come in my signature)
I have been reading through different threads and I know more now then I have in the 15 years I had my pool. (still have much to learn)
I am done with the stores! I never understood how important pool chemistry was. I'd look at my dip sticks and estimate what to throw in.
Or I'd go to the pool store and do whatever they recommend.
For the last 3 years I have been fighting with keeping chlorine levels. People would tell me my water is "locked" because other than lowering the level for winter, it's never been fully changed since the pool was installed (20 years ago). Others would say there is no such thing as locked. Some would say I don't have any stabilizer. Last year a place told me everything would be fine if I put CYA in. I did....lots. Went back and still no reading.......told me to put more in (actually gave it to me for free and guaranteed it would work). Well it did!!! My CYA went up to near 150.
No one ever mentioned how important ph was.
I've been going to Leslie's for years. This last time the guy said your CYA is 100. You need to drain your pool and stop using stabilized cholorine (Chlor-Brite). I said last time I was here that is what you guys have always recommended. Plus 3" pucks. He said I needed to use Powder Plus. I said I just spent over $100 on Chlor Brite. He flipantly just said, well that's up to you. I'm just telling you what you need to do.
Now I know.
I ordered my K-2006 DPD kit but won't get it for a week or two (should have ordered it from here...sorry, didn't know at the time).
Right now 2 pool stores said my CYA is 100 and one said 90...so I know its high.
My ph was 7.1 and 6.8....so I know its low.
I decided to drain about 1/3 of my pool (in progress as I write this) and will be refilling with city water (hose) this weekend.
Water company only charges $3.73/1K gallons. Sewer company charges flat rate regardless of use. So I'm really happy about that!
I'm going to buy some Bleach and Borax and keep on hand.
I will start a thread once I get the pool refilled and have some numbers to report.
Thank you to everyone for dedicating your time and expertise to those who were always scared to understand the right way to care for our pool.
Mike
15K gal, IG Vinyl, DE filter (more data to come in my signature)