@dianedebuda - A layout or schematic of your pool plumbing modification including "leaf catcher" would be enthusiastically appreciated.
Covered and unattended pool for three years. What are my first two steps?
- Thread starter Syrr
- Start date
@AndyTN - spent some time at Northern Tools today, mouth still watering over many items. Will try the rental centers tomorrow for options. Question: In my opinion, a standard submersible sump pump will more than likely clog often. Any experience with this in a silty-bottom situation?
This was my setup before I had the pump in the equipment pad - shows the vac with leaf catcher pretty well.
My pad is tiny, has a lot in it and can be overwhelming at first glance. It may help to see how I built it pad build. The essential is that I added a Jandy valve with a port ("from bypass") between the skimmer/main combining Jandy and the pump.
Skimmer Bypass operational: Jandy for skimmer/main is set to main only; Jandy for bypass is set to mostly from bypass. I'd scooped the leaves and used an air compressor to make sure the main was clear before running this.
Here you can see a union just after the pvc makes a turn away from the end of the rock wall. That's where I connect either the skimmer replacement suction pipe (currently connected) or the flex hose in front of the bucket that was part of the vac setup shown earlier. The hose is used to fill the pvc with water to help with priming.
HTH, but happy to answer questions if any of this could be useful for you.
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Thank you much for this. I'll get back as soon as I develop enough knowledge to ask a few sensible questions.
Finally decided on emptying the pool. In the process now. Will update soon. Thank you all for the guidance.
"Sure" is such a precarious word that I tend not to trust the emotion. Having learned a little more about the area and history of the house, this appears to be the most reasonable course of action. Given the condition and history of the water in addition to the unknowns, changing the water and pressure-washing the interior will also provide an opportunity of close inspection.
Of course, I am always open to hearing the perspectives of TFP members.
With all the talk of chlorine shortage, refilling water cost might be an easier pill to swallow depending on where you live so I get it.
Still considering bromine since the injection system is already in place. However, the appeal of salt-generated chlorine is definitely starting to grow on me. I already buy salt for the water softener so a bit more might do fine.
I think you'll be able to get more help here with a SWG just because so many are using it, including me. FWIW, even though the chlorine shortage is supposed to be for pucks, haven't seen any liquid at any of the HDs locally here for several weeks...
New photos attached:
Deep into a protracted struggle to get a very heavy trash-pump unit off and ultimately back onto my pickup. Spent the last three days nursing the thing and patching holes in crappy old canvass hoses with Duck Tape, to a final degree of extreme frustration.
Returned the rented unit to Home Depot yesterday in a huff. However I did take care to assure that the individual on whom this thunder storm was destined to fall, was indeed the person paid to take such abuse on behalf of the company.
Let's see: Errant and incomplete instruction to start.
Back to Home Depot for hoses listed on the rental agreement, but not included with the equipment on my truck. Dragged the thing off to start draining. Put the heavy pump thing back on the truck for a return to Home Depot the following morning because the equipment did not work!
Exchanged the equipment for another, which after corrected connections and an inordinate amount (2 rolls) of Duck Tape seemed to function well for a while. Crud! Ran out of gas.. Off to get gas ($23 for a freaking gas can?) back to refuel and we're are off again. Hoses sprung more leaks on third day restart. Patch-patch-patch, reposition-reposition, call manufacturer get advice, try-try-try, but the darned thing just would not start the flow again.
Home Depot manager sensed the approaching deluge, apologized immediately for my loss of time and offered a full refund on the spot (which was really his only real option). Thus the Home Depot manager significantly lowered an enhanced level of nearly unbridled frustration, heading off a potentially very unpleasant encounter. Whew!
Currently reconsidering a different approach to the project.
Deep into a protracted struggle to get a very heavy trash-pump unit off and ultimately back onto my pickup. Spent the last three days nursing the thing and patching holes in crappy old canvass hoses with Duck Tape, to a final degree of extreme frustration.
Returned the rented unit to Home Depot yesterday in a huff. However I did take care to assure that the individual on whom this thunder storm was destined to fall, was indeed the person paid to take such abuse on behalf of the company.
Let's see: Errant and incomplete instruction to start.
Back to Home Depot for hoses listed on the rental agreement, but not included with the equipment on my truck. Dragged the thing off to start draining. Put the heavy pump thing back on the truck for a return to Home Depot the following morning because the equipment did not work!
Exchanged the equipment for another, which after corrected connections and an inordinate amount (2 rolls) of Duck Tape seemed to function well for a while. Crud! Ran out of gas.. Off to get gas ($23 for a freaking gas can?) back to refuel and we're are off again. Hoses sprung more leaks on third day restart. Patch-patch-patch, reposition-reposition, call manufacturer get advice, try-try-try, but the darned thing just would not start the flow again.
Home Depot manager sensed the approaching deluge, apologized immediately for my loss of time and offered a full refund on the spot (which was really his only real option). Thus the Home Depot manager significantly lowered an enhanced level of nearly unbridled frustration, heading off a potentially very unpleasant encounter. Whew!
Currently reconsidering a different approach to the project.
Harbor freight sells pumps that would probably do it for what the rental cost, if you have one around. A siphon also works, although more slowly.
If it were me, I'd make the decision now to go with chlorine, check around on the availability and buy at least 20 gallons. Next I'd scoop out the muck as much as possible with a net then start the refill. I'd then throw some shock at it for both chlorine and CYA, but not more than 2 or 3 pounds until you get the pool refilled and can fully test your chem levels. At that point, you're in a standard SLAM situation.
I only have my own swamp-to-pool to use as a reference, so I'm sure the pro guides will jump in here with more time-tested advice.
I only have my own swamp-to-pool to use as a reference, so I'm sure the pro guides will jump in here with more time-tested advice.
Anyone who has lived a proper SLAM to its entirety is knighted by the experience. It’s a lot of work and it doesn’t come easy. But by the end they know it backwards and forwards.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,019
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I love my drop in swg for my hot tub , it definitely does what it’s supposed to do - but i do agree about bromine- it’s rough. We had a rental w/ a bromine tub & it turned my ring black
at least it was reassuring to know there was plenty of sanitizer though 
And the wannabe rednecks are saying "there's a tractor forum?!?! heck yeah!"