New to the forum

[NorCalDad]

Hello All,
My name is Steve and
I have been lurking on the site and finally joined. I’m currently paying $75 a month for a service to add chemicals on a weekly basis. Trying to figure if it’s worth doing myself and save some money? My pool is a 25k gallon IG with plaster surface. I just upgraded my pool pump to a Pentair variable speed and that has helped a lot on my electric bill.
Any advice would be welcomed.
Thank you!
Steve

 

[Texas Splash]

Trying to figure if it’s worth doing myself and save some money?

Hello Steve and welcome to TFP! Most certainly you CAN manage your own water. You do need a proper test kit though, well worth it and can be purchased for the price of one monthly pool service. You'll be guaranteed to have better water quality and will know for sure everything is going well. I would recommend the TF-100 (link below), although the Taylor K-2006C is also acceptable. See Test Kits Compared. Make sure to start at our ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry page and read/save the Vital Links below in my signature. Let us know how we can help.

 

[NorCalDad]

Hello Steve and welcome to TFP! Most certainly you CAN manage your own water. You do need a proper test kit though, well worth it and can be purchased for the price of one monthly pool service. You'll be guaranteed to have better water quality and will know for sure everything is going well. I would recommend the TF-100 (link below), although the Taylor K-2006C is also acceptable. See Test Kits Compared. Make sure to start at our ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry page and read/save the Vital Links below in my signature. Let us know how we can help.

Hello, thanks for the warm welcome!
I bought a inexpensive test kit on Amazon (Poolmaster 22260 5 way chemistry test kit). Do you think this would be sufficient to get started?

 

[mknauss]

I bought a inexpensive test kit on Amazon (Poolmaster 22260 5 way chemistry test kit). Do you think this would be sufficient to get started?

Sorry - no it won't. Follow the links Pat posted for the proper test kits.

 

[chi-chi]

Sorry - no it won't. Follow the links Pat posted for the proper test kits.

Can you please elaborate why this is insufficient? I bought this last year for an inflatable pool but never used it and now I have an intex 12x24 ABG and want to use it to get started since I have it unopened

 

[mknauss]

It can only measure TC to 5 ppm, cannot test FC and CC.
Can only test pH up to a TC of 5ppm.
No CYA test
No CH test. Though you do not really need to worry about CH.

Up to you -- your pool. If you treat your pool as Guide for Seasonal/Temporary Pools - Trouble Free Pool it will be fine. You simply drain the pool if it gets cloudy, algae, etc.

 

[Wobblerlorri]

Most pool test kits do not include the FAS-DPD test, which TFP uses every time you test. This test tells you exactly what your Free Chlorine is at, at numbers higher than 5. The OTO test in most pool test kits is not useable at chlorine levels over 5. Yes, normal FC levels are 1.0 - 3.0, but at least once during the season you'll be doing a SLAM, which will bump your FC well over 10. It's just easier and cheaper to be doing the FAS-DPD test all along. Plus, these little test kits don't check CYA, and the chlorine they detect is Total Chlorine, not FC or Combined Chloramines. They aren't suitable for the TFP method.