I've got absolutely no clue where to start!

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Strawberryshortcake said:
Ants are a definite possibility! They keep getting me outside. Got little bumps on my ankles. I guess if she is allergic to them it could cause this rash! Ugh. Horrible!
Click to expand...
Found this on a quick web search::
Simple ant bites that don’t trigger a systemic reaction can often be treated at home. A quick, soothing salve can be made from baking soda and water (mix one tablespoon of baking soda and add enough water to form a spreadable paste). Small also recommends a 50-50 mix of apple cider vinegar and water, applied with a cotton ball three times a day for several days for soothing relief of ant and other insect bites.
 
Poor pup :( Here is hoping the Benadyrl does it's thing and fast! Like the idea of the shirt to help stop the scratching. That mixture Splashy posted looks interesting and could be very helpful. I would give it a try!
 
Well... Got some horrible news. Not sure HOW horrible.

I backwashed around 1am and cleaned out all the baskets. Added 2 cups of bleach and everything seemed fine.

I looked out my kitchen window at about 8 am and saw a lot of orange. So I ran outside and there was an awful smell and my pool has lost about 2.5 inches of water. :/

My dad is coming over later to see if he can figure anything out. He is a contractor/plumber and knows a bit about pool equipment.

I totally expected the motor to burn up and I actually ordered a replacement in preparation that is arriving today. But i don’t know why the water disappeared. Or what actually happened.

I’m suspecting something to do with the skimmer? Everything has been fine for days then I discovered the skimmer wasn’t on and turned it on. Seemed fine for hours and had great suction. I didn’t run the vac without the basket etc.

I guess the good news is my fc was still 10.5 just now. I added bleach and agitated it with the broom; but I have the pump shut off. I closed the skimmer valve and tried the pump again and it came on but it stinks and there are 2 little swirls in the view plate that weren’t there before so I’ve just shut it all down.

Feeling defeated :(

BFD15661-54ED-416B-B7D8-1793D32C25D9.jpeg
 
Hang in there we got you!
Strawberryshortcake said:
Well... Got some horrible news. Not sure HOW horrible.

I backwashed around 1am and cleaned out all the baskets. Added 2 cups of bleach and everything seemed fine.

I looked out my kitchen window at about 8 am and saw a lot of orange. So I ran outside and there was an awful smell and my pool has lost about 2.5 inches of water. :/

My dad is coming over later to see if he can figure anything out. He is a contractor/plumber and knows a bit about pool equipment.

I totally expected the motor to burn up and I actually ordered a replacement in preparation that is arriving today. But i don’t know why the water disappeared. Or what actually happened.

I’m suspecting something to do with the skimmer? Everything has been fine for days then I discovered the skimmer wasn’t on and turned it on. Seemed fine for hours and had great suction. I didn’t run the vac without the basket etc.

I guess the good news is my fc was still 10.5 just now. I added bleach and agitated it with the broom; but I have the pump shut off. I closed the skimmer valve and tried the pump again and it came on but it stinks and there are 2 little swirls in the view plate that weren’t there before so I’ve just shut it all down.

Feeling defeated :(
Click to expand...
So is there a leak (in the skimmer/pool) that lowers the water under the skimmer?

It won't clean, but if budget is an issue, you can get a submersible pump to keep water "moving" in the pool. FC will still kill stuff :)

And as a true TFP'r, yes that is great news on your FC! Don't throw in the towel yet!
 
Last edited:
Something is leaking but I’m not sure from where. It didn’t start until I opened the skimmer valve. My water level is almost at the bottom of the skimmer now, it was at 1/2 the skimmer at 1AM.

I haven’t noticed significant water loss since I turned the system down but i guess it would be hard to tell. Also, i walked all along my yard and there is no unusual build up of water so Indont even know where all that water went.
 
Strawberryshortcake said:
It didn’t start until I opened the skimmer valve.
Click to expand...
I remember that issue and I showed you which valve to turn to open the skimmer. Perhaps it was closed because someone before experienced a problem with that line. I would go back and close that skimmer valve (closest to the pump I believe) and not use the skimmer for vacuuming at the moment to be sure. Also make sure that after backwashing at 1am you put it back to filter and didn't leave it set to waste. Let us know what you find out.
 
I just had a thought. Maybe someone will know if this sounds possible?

My filter has been leaking since day 1. Not like, a little leak; the drain pipe constantly had a STREAM from it like... imagine 4 pencils width stream. Along with water from the top valve, and the pipe going into it.

So since I turned the skimmer on, was more water now going into the leak area? Could that be all that’s happened? I’m just trying to get some ideas.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Strawberryshortcake said:
the drain pipe constantly had a STREAM from it like... imagine 4 pencils width stream. Along with water from the top valve, and the pipe going into it.
Click to expand...
If your waste line has always been leaking, you could simply lose x-amount of water each day to waste. That's about it. Even if that waste line was somehow submerged undergroud to where you don't see it, or in contact with dirty water, and the system was OFF, I don't see how water could get siphoned backwards through the filter and back to the pool.

What may have happened is that skimmer line was either bad or about to go bad. You used it for a while and it may have cracked underground. You wouldn't see a leak normally around the soil because it's a suction line and it pulls "INWARD"as opposed to a pressure side leak that would spew water out. On a suction line break though, it can leak outwards slowly when the system is off, or if the break is big enough it could pull-in dirty water/soil into the line. I fear that may have happened. Keep us posted on what your dad finds out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TurbineTester
Oh I’m not wondering if I was taking dirty water into the system. Actually it’s been clearing slowly since I’ve been holding the fc.

Basically I’m wondering if when I turned on the skimmer, I doubled the amount of water going through my filter, which was then lost to the leaks my filter has. I somehow doubled the amount of water loss. just out onto the ground. Just not even sure it works like that!
 
Strawberryshortcake said:
Basically I’m wondering if when I turned on the skimmer, I doubled the amount of water going through my filter,
Click to expand...
Not at all. Your pump will only pull x-amount of water (gallons) at one time. It will do that from a skimmer, drain, or both depending on the valve settings in front of the pump. So the pump will only push that amount of water to the filter. It doesn't care which line it originally came from as long as the line is operational.
 
Your sand filter looks different than mine, so not sure if this will apply. The spider gasket in mine went bad a few seasons ago. After I backwashed and rinsed the filter and put it back in filter mode, I woke up the next morning to water just below the skimmer. Because the gasket went bad, it had stuck in between rinse and filter so water was slowly going out the waste line and I hadn't even noticed it. I replaced the gasket and I make sure that I only turn the handle in a clockwise direction and I double check the waste line.
 
I honestly haven’t slept yet. Lol. First my pups allergic reaction kept me up all night (she’s doing better by the way!), then when I was about to go crash I glanced outside and saw the pool. Now i’m all worried and worked up.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: HeyEng
Strawberryshortcake said:
I honestly haven’t slept yet. Lol. First my pups allergic reaction kept me up all night (she’s doing better by the way!), then when I was about to go crash I glanced outside and saw the pool. Now i’m all worried and worked up.
Click to expand...
Try to rest until your Dad gets there! I don't think there's much to do until he arrives and you guys can walk through a troubleshooting process :D

Glad to hear on your fur-baby! Poor pup!! ?
 
More storms and dad got stuck at work so nothing for today. But

I opened the skimmer valve and marked the water line on that mystery pipe. It’s been about 5 or 6 hours and it’s not gone down at all. So, it is a leak that is happening or happened only when the system is on I think. If that helps any trouble shooting.
 
Strawberryshortcake said:
More storms and dad got stuck at work so nothing for today. But

I opened the skimmer valve and marked the water line on that mystery pipe. It’s been about 5 or 6 hours and it’s not gone down at all. So, it is a leak that is happening or happened only when the system is on I think. If that helps any trouble shooting.
Click to expand...
Well more time for you to rest!
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply