Taking over pool care, don't know what I'm doing!

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Update, attempted backwash, still says dirty but I think it did go down a bit, now it is at the beginning of the dirty range instead of in the middle of it. So I will have to try again and figure out what I did wrong. I need more DE though, not sure I have enough for another attempt. I also have no idea when the filter was last cleaned.

We put the leaf cover back on. I will do some more research tonight and try the backwash again tomorrow weather permitting.
 
I have a sand filter so cannot help with the cleaning of the filter. I can tell you what I have read. I have read that you should add in 80% of DE after you backwash it. I am not sure how much 100% would be :( If you post your filter model someone may know the details.

I do know it will take some water out to do it. IF you have to add water back afterwards you should run the pump for about 30 mins to mix the old and new water. Then you run a full set to tests to see if there is anything you need to do to the pool.

Have you tested your fill water? This is the water you use to fill the pool up with. Most people it is water out of the hose but some have "bad" water and have to truck in new water.

You should test everything except CYA for the fill water. CYA has to be added so will not be in your fill water no matter where it comes from.

I keep a journal of my tests. I have my fill water test results on the cover. This has helped me learn my pool big time! I even make notes of "big weather" events like lots of rain, sun, cloudy, etc.

Kim:kim:
 
I have the amount of DE - that's written on the bucket - one number for backwash, one for cleaning. I am thinking maybe I thought the water was looking clear but maybe it wasn't and needed longer. Most likely just my error. I need to check the water level - thank you for mentioning that.

I have not tested the fill water. I'll add that to my to do list.

Thank you for the input!
 
Oh, you know what? I turned on the SWG to 30%. I didn't know what to set it to, so went with that. I will see what kind of results I get. I dug out the book they gave us when we put in the pool in 2004 and found their recommendations for pump running time. I'm going to adjust the pump time tomorrow.

Kim, I am definitely willing to try and willing to learn. I don't know how it will go but I will keep on trying. Thank you for your help!

Thinking I may need to hire someone to clean the filter for me if this backwash doesn't work again. Maybe I will pay someone to do it AND teach me how at the same time. :cool:
 
mama, I was going to ask if that would be possible. What I think would be even better is if they tell you how to do it and take pics along the way while they watch and direct. I know I learn better by doing!

Kim:kim:
 

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It is a bit of a chore to do a complete cleaning of that filter so you can have a service company do it the first time and show you the steps or tackle it yourself. There is one part that you should have before you start and that is breather tube R0358700. They have a new metal design that should last longer than the old fabric mesh design. It might be best to take pictures as you go along.

If you are up to it, this is what needs to be done:


1. Backwash the filter.
2. Turn off the system and drain the filter by removing the drain plug at the bottom of the filter. I have to use a strap wrench on mine because there is not much room to access it on my setup.
3. Unscrew the bolt that clamps the two filter halves together, remove the clamp, and then take off the top half of the filter.
4. Remove the grid assembly from the filter. This will be fairly heavy and needs to be raised over the bottom half of the filter.
5. Note how the grids fit on the base and manifold. There will be one grid that is smaller than the rest and the base will be marked where this grid goes so you can start with that grid when reassembling the grids. Remove the nut holding the grids together and remove the manifold and grids. Clean and inspect each grid and inspect them for any tears. They should be fine since you don't have DE leaking in to the pool.
6. Reassemble the grids and manifold.
7. Clean out the bottom half of the filter. I usually wipe up the DE with some paper towels and then spray the filter with some water. After it is clean reinstall the drain plug.
8. Lube the O-ring on the outlet tube inside the filter. You want to make sure this O-ring stays in place when you put the grids inside the filter.
9. Put the grids back inside the filter. The air breather tube will need to go down the outlet tube and then the assembly should just ease down to the bottom of the filter.
10. Put the top half of the filter back on. Make sure the large O-ring is seated all around the filter before putting the clamp on around the filter. Put the clamp on the filter and tighten the bolt on the clamp. I find it best to unscrew the bolt assembly and install it that way. I think you'll see what I mean when you deal with this clamping system. You'll need to tighten the clamp until there is less than an 1/8" space on the clamp where the bolt is tightening the halves together.
11. Turn on the pump and look for leaks.
12. Add the correct amount of DE for a fresh fill and make sure the pressure is normal.
 
My eyes just glazed over. Okay, I'm going to find someone to do it for me this time, but I am saving this for future reference. I did go ahead and order the part - I don't remember ever getting one of those before. Do you change it every time?

Thank you so much for writing that up.
 
I just tested FC and it's down to 4.5. Pump has only been on an hour this morning. I adjusted the pump time to 8 hours (10 am to 6 pm) and bumped the generator to 50%. Do I need to try the boost? I have no idea what I'm doing with this thing. :D
 
So far I have had to change it out every time I took the filter apart. This last cleaning was the first time I installed the new metal design so I have no idea how long it will last. Just looking at it, it should hold up for many years.

I also ordered a bunch of the outlet tube O-rings as that one needed to be replaced a couple of years ago. It was cheaper for me to buy a bunch of that one size than the kit to replace all the O-rings.

I think you are doing it right this first time to have someone clean the filter. Don't feel bad if you decide on letting someone do this once a year for you as this is not the easiest job to do.

Let the pool run today and test the FC at the end of the day. It might not be generating with the water so cold. If the FC does not raise up to 5 by the end of the day you should add some bleach to raise it back up. Does the SWG have any error codes?
 
hepmama said:
I will do that acid tomorrow, thank you. I do think the salt is lower than my husband liked it to be, he seemed to like it between 3-4K I think. I do have a leaf cover on the pool right now so adding salt will be a pain if I do it the way he liked it done, which was dumping it in while walking along the edge so it's more spread out. Then we brushed it around a bit. The trees are currently dropping their pump-killing seed thingies so I am not ready to take the cover all the way off yet. Do you think it's okay to wait on the salt til I uncover the pool for the season? I am hoping maybe by the end of March or early April the trees will be finished with all that. As soon as they stop I will uncover it for sure. Otherwise if I really really need to add salt, I can unhook the cover most of the way and add it, then put it back on.

I will get the details on the SWG - I know it's an AquaPure. I do seem to recall my husband saying he thought the cell might be going bad last year... so I may need to figure out how to tell if it's working or not. Ugh. As far as hours the pump runs? He had it set for just a couple of hours over the winter but it is more in the summer but I don't know how much more. How do I figure that out?

Lee, you were right. :)

Thank you Pat and Kim for the welcome. Kim, great idea on the notebook. I do have an Evernote note going on my computer/phone and adding major weather is a good idea. My husband had an excel spreadsheet I suspect came from here that I am adding the results to but I am a note taker so I have the Evernote going, too.

Very nice of y'all to say it, but I don't know that I'm doing a great job. I'm just doing what y'all say so *you're* doing the great job. I need to get to the point where I know what to do on my own but that feels pretty far away right now! Baby steps.
Click to expand...

Don't worry about salt levels until ready to start swcg
 
ping said:
So far I have had to change it out every time I took the filter apart. This last cleaning was the first time I installed the new metal design so I have no idea how long it will last. Just looking at it, it should hold up for many years.

I also ordered a bunch of the outlet tube O-rings as that one needed to be replaced a couple of years ago. It was cheaper for me to buy a bunch of that one size than the kit to replace all the O-rings.

I think you are doing it right this first time to have someone clean the filter. Don't feel bad if you decide on letting someone do this once a year for you as this is not the easiest job to do.

Let the pool run today and test the FC at the end of the day. It might not be generating with the water so cold. If the FC does not raise up to 5 by the end of the day you should add some bleach to raise it back up. Does the SWG have any error codes?
Click to expand...

If I only need the filter cleaned once a year, I might just pay someone for that - and I won't let myself feel bad about it!

The lights on the SWG are Cell Resting and Flow at the moment. I guess the Service light would be on if there was an error? I will retest FC in a couple of hours. I attached a pic of the controller and this sensor module.

aquapure lights.jpgsensor indicator module.jpg

Thank you so much, ping!
 
Okay, after the pool finished running today, the FC was 5. I did it twice and it sure seems close between 4.5 and 5. It ran about 7 hours on 50%. Should there be more chlorine than that? I did not add any bleach yet.

Let me know what I should do next, okay? Should I let it go and check it again tomorrow after the pump runs and see if there is any improvement? Or should I bump up the percentage for tomorrow?
 
kimkats said:
Mama, I want you to print this out:

Pool School - Recommended Levels

Compare YOUR levels to these. Notice there is a range as each pool is so different. We will find the best settings for YOUR pool as we work on it.

How does you CYA and FC compare to the chart? (sorry the teacher in me coming out :roll:)

How does your water look?

Kim:kim:
Click to expand...

If I am reading it correctly (and my CYA hasn't changed since 2/25) then the CYA is a bit low? It should be 70-80 and it is more like 60, or a bit less. If I put a goal of 75 (mid point) for CYA, it says I should add 24 oz of stabilizer. This is the stuff I have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PZZF9P6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1, is that the right thing? I know there is some out there, need to see how much I have. Oh, the PoolMath says it will lower my pH. Darn, I just lowered it. LOL.

ETA: My water looks good.

Okay, teacher, tell me how I did on the test!
 
A+ GOLD STAR

With CYA we don't "half" it. It is 100 or 90, etc. If it is between the lines we "call it" at the larger number. When you go to add the CYA put it in a sock (a cute sock for bonus points LOL) and hang it in front of a return. You can squeeze the sock to help it dissolve. Once it has all dissolved and the pump has ran for the day you can test to see where you are at.

Are you running your waterfall at least once a day?

:hug: you are really learning how to take care of this pool! After a while YOU will be helping others!!!!

Kim:kim:
 

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