Wife just fired my pool guy - Want to make sure I am on right track cause plan on going it myself

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Just found another reason I should have got rid of pool guy. I got a low flow warning and spent a couple of hours trying to figure it out. The SWG filter screen/strainer looked like it hadn't been cleaned since the beginning of time.

Thanks for the links and info... so much to read and learn.
 
Jason! WOW! So have you found HOW to clean it? If not let us know and we can get you set up.

If you do any searching on TFP make sure to use the G search option instead of the first one. We are working on getting them changed around so the G is first.

Can you pretty please set up your signature. Go up to your name, click on it, the drop down will have signature in it. Put the kind (plaster/vinyl, in or above ground) of pool you have, the size in gallons, kind of filter (sand, DE, cartridge), the SWG, and your test kit. That helps us to know what you are working on at a glance. The reason I am saying this is your filter might need to be cleaned but I don't know what kind you have to show you how to clean it.

Kim:kim:
 
kimkats said:
Jason! WOW! So have you found HOW to clean it? If not let us know and we can get you set up.

If you do any searching on TFP make sure to use the G search option instead of the first one. We are working on getting them changed around so the G is first.

Can you pretty please set up your signature. Go up to your name, click on it, the drop down will have signature in it. Put the kind (plaster/vinyl, in or above ground) of pool you have, the size in gallons, kind of filter (sand, DE, cartridge), the SWG, and your test kit. That helps us to know what you are working on at a glance. The reason I am saying this is your filter might need to be cleaned but I don't know what kind you have to show you how to clean it.

Kim:kim:
Click to expand...

Let me know if the signature has enough or if I need to add something.

My main pool filter is fine (pressure is normal and I cleaned it out with a hose just a few days ago and replaced it a couple of months ago),

I actually pulled out the Manual for the SWG (only manual the previous owner who installed it gave to me for whole house), and followed through step by step in figuring out what could be wrong, and finally got to the most annoying of all possible things ("cleaning the Filter Screen and bypass valve". I had to go to home depot and buy a bigger wrench, and I pulled out the little screen and OMG it was disgusting and full of all kinds of stuff. Once I hosed all the gunk off the screen and made sure it looked clean and then replaced, then it was the fun of discovering I didn't tighten stuff enough... but all in all, a few hours later, I am not seeing the flow warning any longer which I will take as a win.

My Diamond Brite on the pool looks like it is at least 20 years old at youngest so I imagine that by the time you all help me get everything all perfectly balanced and perfect, I will have to drain and start all over lol (plans for next year, so I can only hope it doesn't take that long for me to get this thing perfect).
 
Good job on the siggy! That covers all of the bases. THANKS! :hug:

Now when you talk about about "draining and starting all over" what do you have in mind? New plaster? There is no need so long as it is holding water. If you want to do new plaster for the looks we can help you get the best plaster job out there AND maintain it so it will last you a good long time!

Kim:kim:
 
kimkats said:
Good job on the siggy! That covers all of the bases. THANKS! :hug:

Now when you talk about about "draining and starting all over" what do you have in mind? New plaster? There is no need so long as it is holding water. If you want to do new plaster for the looks we can help you get the best plaster job out there AND maintain it so it will last you a good long time!

Kim:kim:
Click to expand...


It is holding water just fine... but looks like it has seen better days so at some point will have to change am thinking of redooing deck so when that is done inground pool would be done as part of it. .
 
My wife already has the job of designing and spending the money. I could care less about what things look like as long as she is happy and the bill isn't out of this world.

I am guessing that the best bet is to just repair the plaster for cosmetic reasons and redo the finish (dimand brite I am guessing, but who knows what she decides to do cause she brought home a book from some shop where they use little tiles or something like that).

When I get to that point I might ask the pros and the cons and which finish to do after plaster is repaired, (I am sure there is an amazing one that If I don't get everyone in this forum will excomunicate me lol)
 
LOL us wives have a way to spending money with a smile on our face ?

Ahhhhhh see we still have some more teaching to do................the plaster IS the finish! Now there are different brands and kinds of plaster. The start up of the plaster is what is the most important thing well behind the skill of the installers that is. We will cover that when you are ready to replace the plaster.

Kim:kim:
 

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mknauss said:
Welcome to the forum! Great start and great advice by mguzzy!
I am concerned you are adding CYA and it is not likely you completely eradicated the algae. Do a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test tonight.
Also, adding baking soda and acid counteracts each other. Sometimes is is necessary but very rarely. If you pH is in the 7's and TA is above 50 ppm, do not mess with them.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Pool School eBook.
Click to expand...
I did a overnight chlorine test and the results for last night were identical to the results this morning (no loss).

I believe that I can now declare the pool officially algie free.
 
I did a overnight chlorine test and the results for last night were identical to the results this morning (no loss).

I believe that I can now declare the pool officially algie free.
Click to expand...
I am not as confidant. What test method did you use to do the OCLT? Can you post a complete set of test results?

FC
TC
pH
CH
CYA
 
As a follow up,

My Testing for PH came in at 7.6 and TA is 90 so it looks like (at least for now) I have solved those problems.

Thanks everyone for your help suggestions and getting me on the right Track on all this stuff.

Now just the game of waiting to see how long the CYA takes to dissolve before I can test that again and set up my SWG to produce the right amount to maintain the appropriate levels per the Chart.

(and of course the monitoring of PH and TA)
 
If there is one thing I have learned is to be patient with the pool chemistry. When I was a young impatient pool owner I would dump all my chems in at once and expect it to be ready in an hour. I started to realize this was more like college chem class, and not like adding creamer to a cup of coffee where its ready to go in two stirs of the spoon (he says as he sips on his cup of morning joe). CYA takes time to dissolve and to start binding with the CL. It probably approaches the target asymptotically. And if you add too much your only recourse is to drain and refill (like with Salt too).. and that just screws up your other numbers as well. SO I tend to add all my chemicals by halves in a incremental fashion. If my calcs say 20#s of yadda yadda, I add 10 and test. Then I add 5 more and test, so I creep up on the target. Sometimes I would stop short of the target because it affected another value, but I am in the range I needed. The pool chem area list chemical properties that change in reaction to there other chems. I made a little reference card of those relations and stuck them in my test kit.

And as far as the SWG.. that % knob is always on the move, depending on the weather, the load on the pool, etc. For example, If I know there are going to be extra swimmers for a party I'll crank it up, or I'll add a kicker with liquid chlorine and then adjust my SWG output accordingly.

Sounds like you are on your way!:party:
 
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You can squeeze the sock that has the CYA in it to help it dissolve faster if you want.

Now I want to talk to you about CSI. Are you using Pool Math? Look at it and find the CSI section and give it a read. Water temp plays a BIG part in the CSI reading. This will really come in play when you get new plaster but now would be a good time to learn about it and tweak your levels to see what YOUR pool likes. There are many threads about it so do a search (use the G search option) if you want to read up on it more.

Kim:kim:
 

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