Brand new pool - no clue what to do/where to start

[Toad_stools]

We just had a semi inground vinyl liner pool installed about 2 weeks ago. I’ve never had a pool before. The company was supposed to come back and balance the water to get things started but they haven’t been back and I’m close to giving up on them. They’re off to the next big project I’m sure. Anyway, that’s another matter. So now I have this salt water pool and no bloody idea what I’m supposed to do to maintain it. I downloaded the pool math app and will eventually try and use that but even that seems confusing for me at that stage. The pool is quite small. 15 by 30 feet and prob around 15,000 litres. Deepest point is 6 feet deep. It came with a Hayward Aqua Rite SWG but I don’t know what to input into pool math for it. On the cell it says Turbo Cell T cell LS CUL. Before the pool company took off they dumped a bag of salt in the pool and some stabilizer and said “add another half bag of salt” in a few days. And that was the last time I heard from them. The manual that came with the SWG says the ppm should be between 1200 and 1800, ideally at about 1400 or 1500. It’s been at 1300 ppm now the whole 2 weeks. The output dial is set to about 50%. I don’t know if I should add more salt or change the output?
For water testing, they left a bottle of strips and showed me once how to do it, and said “if it’s off go to the pool store and get whatever you need”. FFS. So anyway I’m a little miffed right now feeling abandoned by these guys but I’ve decided to just learn how to do this on my own but have no idea where to begin. Should I buy a testing kit and go from there? Any advice is appreciated. I also don’t know anything about how or when to backwash the pool. They never showed me that either and to be honest I’m paranoid looking at the filter that I’m going to break something or mess something up if I start screwing around.

 

[Texas Splash]

Wow, abandoned is right. Welcome to TFP! We'll be happy to help. So let me hit a few main key points so you can get to it:
1. You are correct ... accurate water testing is priority #1 for any pool owner. Test strips are horrible and free local testing is very inconsistent. You want either a TF-100 , which you can only get across the border here in the US, or a Taylor K-2006C. With either one of those you'll do great.
2. Your pool is just under 4K. If it was 3K or less we would suggest treating it as a seasonal pool, but I suppose it will stay up year-round right? So you have two important things to do right now - balance the water and prepare to close if this is an outdoor pool.
3. For balancing your water, our PoolMath APP can be very helpful. Also see our What Are My Ideal Pool Levels? - Trouble Free Pool page for more specifics.
4. For winterizing, refer to the links I'm posting below.
5. There are other vital links in my signature which you can save. Don't forget to update your signature as well.

There will be a short learning curve, but you'll get it and we will help along the way. Give all the links a look and let us know what other questions you may have.

Closing an In Ground Pool

Winterizing a pool is essential for keeping your in-ground pool protected during cold-weather months. This Pool Repair guide will show you how to do it.

www.troublefreepool.com

Closing (Winterizing) Your Above Ground Pool

Closing an above ground pool at season’s end should be a fast and worry-free process. Learn the basics of above ground pool winterization in easy steps.

www.troublefreepool.com

Recommended Pool Chemicals

Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[PCR]

We just had a semi inground vinyl liner pool installed about 2 weeks ago. I’ve never had a pool before. The company was supposed to come back and balance the water to get things started but they haven’t been back and I’m close to giving up on them. They’re off to the next big project I’m sure. Anyway, that’s another matter. So now I have this salt water pool and no bloody idea what I’m supposed to do to maintain it. I downloaded the pool math app and will eventually try and use that but even that seems confusing for me at that stage. The pool is quite small. 15 by 30 feet and prob around 15,000 litres. Deepest point is 6 feet deep. It came with a Hayward Aqua Rite SWG but I don’t know what to input into pool math for it. On the cell it says Turbo Cell T cell LS CUL. Before the pool company took off they dumped a bag of salt in the pool and some stabilizer and said “add another half bag of salt” in a few days. And that was the last time I heard from them. The manual that came with the SWG says the ppm should be between 1200 and 1800, ideally at about 1400 or 1500. It’s been at 1300 ppm now the whole 2 weeks. The output dial is set to about 50%. I don’t know if I should add more salt or change the output?
For water testing, they left a bottle of strips and showed me once how to do it, and said “if it’s off go to the pool store and get whatever you need”. FFS. So anyway I’m a little miffed right now feeling abandoned by these guys but I’ve decided to just learn how to do this on my own but have no idea where to begin. Should I buy a testing kit and go from there? Any advice is appreciated. I also don’t know anything about how or when to backwash the pool. They never showed me that either and to be honest I’m paranoid looking at the filter that I’m going to break something or mess something up if I start screwing around.

I'm confused on the water volume; a pool that is 15 feet by 30 feet with a 6 foot deep end that has only 4000 gallons (15K litres) of water in it? That doesn't seem right. Is it 15,000 gallons of water?? Make sure you have this number right before you figure out chemicals.

 

[Toad_stools]

I'm confused on the water volume; a pool that is 15 feet by 30 feet with a 6 foot deep end that has only 4000 gallons (15K litres) of water in it? That doesn't seem right. Is it 15,000 gallons of water?? Make sure you have this number right before you figure out chemicals.

Good question. I’m not 100% sure about the volume of water. I was pretty sure they said 15,000 litres but perhaps it is gallons. I’ll try and figure that out somehow.

 

[Toad_stools]

We just had a semi inground vinyl liner pool installed about 2 weeks ago. I’ve never had a pool before. The company was supposed to come back and balance the water to get things started but they haven’t been back and I’m close to giving up on them. They’re off to the next big project I’m sure. Anyway, that’s another matter. So now I have this salt water pool and no bloody idea what I’m supposed to do to maintain it. I downloaded the pool math app and will eventually try and use that but even that seems confusing for me at that stage. The pool is quite small. 15 by 30 feet and prob around 15,000 litres. Deepest point is 6 feet deep. It came with a Hayward Aqua Rite SWG but I don’t know what to input into pool math for it. On the cell it says Turbo Cell T cell LS CUL. Before the pool company took off they dumped a bag of salt in the pool and some stabilizer and said “add another half bag of salt” in a few days. And that was the last time I heard from them. The manual that came with the SWG says the ppm should be between 1200 and 1800, ideally at about 1400 or 1500. It’s been at 1300 ppm now the whole 2 weeks. The output dial is set to about 50%. I don’t know if I should add more salt or change the output?
For water testing, they left a bottle of strips and showed me once how to do it, and said “if it’s off go to the pool store and get whatever you need”. FFS. So anyway I’m a little miffed right now feeling abandoned by these guys but I’ve decided to just learn how to do this on my own but have no idea where to begin. Should I buy a testing kit and go from there? Any advice is appreciated. I also don’t know anything about how or when to backwash the pool. They never showed me that either and to be honest I’m paranoid looking at the filter that I’m going to break something or mess something up if I start screwing around.

sorry I do think that it is 15,000 gallons not litres.

 

[Toad_stools]

Wow, abandoned is right. Welcome to TFP! We'll be happy to help. So let me hit a few main key points so you can get to it:
1. You are correct ... accurate water testing is priority #1 for any pool owner. Test strips are horrible and free local testing is very inconsistent. You want either a TF-100 , which you can only get across the border here in the US, or a Taylor K-2006C. With either one of those you'll do great.
2. Your pool is just under 4K. If it was 3K or less we would suggest treating it as a seasonal pool, but I suppose it will stay up year-round right? So you have two important things to do right now - balance the water and prepare to close if this is an outdoor pool.
3. For balancing your water, our PoolMath APP can be very helpful. Also see our What Are My Ideal Pool Levels? - Trouble Free Pool page for more specifics.
4. For winterizing, refer to the links I'm posting below.
5. There are other vital links in my signature which you can save. Don't forget to update your signature as well.

There will be a short learning curve, but you'll get it and we will help along the way. Give all the links a look and let us know what other questions you may have.

Closing an In Ground Pool

Winterizing a pool is essential for keeping your in-ground pool protected during cold-weather months. This Pool Repair guide will show you how to do it.

www.troublefreepool.com

Closing (Winterizing) Your Above Ground Pool

Closing an above ground pool at season’s end should be a fast and worry-free process. Learn the basics of above ground pool winterization in easy steps.

www.troublefreepool.com

Recommended Pool Chemicals

Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.

www.troublefreepool.com

Thanks for the reply. Sorry the pool is 15,000 gallons not litres. My bad.

 

[Toad_stools]

Good question. I’m not 100% sure about the volume of water. I was pretty sure they said 15,000 litres but perhaps it is gallons. I’ll try and figure that out somehow.

yes it’s 15,000 gallons.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Toad,

You have a saltwater pool that has a Turbo Cell T cell LS, which is a Saltwater Chlorine Generator (SWCG).. Just to be clear, this device does not generate saltwater, it uses the saltwater in the pool to make chlorine.. Chlorine is what will keep your pool clear and sanitized.. Keeping your Chlorine (FC) and Stabilizer (CYA) at the correct levels, and in the proper relationship with each other, is the main point of our TFP pool care process... See this chart under the saltwater section. FC/CYA Levels

Thanks,

Jim R.