Vacation!

[Jennybird]

Hi everyone, so we’re going away for the first time since having a pool for four days.
I’ve been reading on the site about what to do and I wanted to get some input.
I’m not going to ask anyone to take care of it while we’re gone and I really don’t want to leave the pump running.
I’ve read to raise the water level, Bring the free chlorine up to shock level and cover it, does that sound like a good plan so I don’t come back to a pool full of algae?
Thanks

 

[PoolStored]

Why do you want to raise the water level?

Bringing it up to SLAM level for your CYA and covering is about your best option given your constraints...

 

[AK-]

With a CYA of 30 (20 + 13oz of stabilizer) your SLAM level is 12 ppm. My covered pool loses between 2-3 ppm per day. That is dangerously close. I'd bring back to SLAM level on return and do a OCLT, just in case.

 

[Jennybird]

Why do you want to raise the water level?

Bringing it up to SLAM level for your CYA and covering is about your best option given your constraints...

From what I read it’s to account for evaporation. Would it be better to leave it uncovered? My pool usually loses 1 to 2 FC a day. If I bring the FC up to 12 should I also drop the pH to 7.2 or leave the pH alone?

 

[Jennybird]

With a CYA of 30 (20 + 13oz of stabilizer) your SLAM level is 12 ppm. My covered pool loses between 2-3 ppm per day. That is dangerously close. I'd bring back to SLAM level on return and do a OCLT, just in case.

I shouldn’t go over 12 right? Or should I go a little over slam just to account for the chlorine I may lose?

 

[IceShadow]

For four days, bringing it to SLAM level and covering should be fine. My pool loses like 1-2ppm daily when covered. When you get back, bring back to SLAM level and do an OCLT to make sure everything is fine, but if it tests above minimums upon return you should be OK.

You don't want to go higher than SLAM level or you can risk damage to the cover, liner, etc.

 

[Jennybird]

For four days, bringing it to SLAM level and covering should be fine. My pool loses like 1-2ppm daily when covered. When you get back, bring back to SLAM level and do an OCLT to make sure everything is fine, but if it tests above minimums upon return you should be OK.
You don't want to go higher than SLAM level or you can risk damage to the cover, liner, etc.

OK thanks!
How far ahead of time should I bring it up to slam and keep it there? And should I bring the pH down to 7.2 or leave it where it is as long as it’s within the normal parameters?

 

[IceShadow]

You don't HAVE to bring the pH down as you're not doing a SLAM itself, just raising up the FC to that level, but it might not hurt. If your pH has been pretty stable there's no need. If it is rising slowly then bringing it down will just mean less to worry about when you get back.

I'd test as close as you reasonably can to leaving and add chlorine then.

 

[PoolStored]

From what I read it’s to account for evaporation. Would it be better to leave it uncovered? My pool usually loses 1 to 2 FC a day. If I bring the FC up to 12 should I also drop the pH to 7.2 or leave the pH alone?

Cover it. Leave the pH it should be fine.

 

[AK-]

Leave the pH it should be fine.

His PoolMath logs are showing 7.8... I don't think SLAM with 7.8 is advisable.

 

[IceShadow]

His PoolMath logs are showing 7.8... I don't think SLAM with 7.8 is advisable.

It's not a SLAM, it's just raising the FC to SLAM levels so it has enough for four days while on vacation.

 

[Jennybird]

His PoolMath logs are showing 7.8... I don't think SLAM with 7.8 is advisable.

So should I raise it to slam right before I leave or the day before, and should I bring the pH down then to 7.2? What happens if I leave it at 7.8?

 

[Newdude]

So should I raise it to slam right before I leave or the day before,

Once the sun is mostly down the day before, nothing will be lost overnight if you are leaving early and don't want to wake up earlier. If you're leaving later in the day, then dose right before you leave

and should I bring the pH down then to 7.2? What happens if I leave it at 7.8?

You can bring the ph down but personally I wouldn't worry about it for 4 days. Normally we are trying to buy time for a 1 or 2 week SLAM.

 

[Jennybird]

Once the sun is mostly down the day before, nothing will be lost overnight if you are leaving early and don't want to wake up earlier. If you're leaving later in the day, then dose right before you leave
You can bring the ph down but personally I wouldn't worry about it for 4 days. Normally we are trying to buy time for a 1 or 2 week SLAM.

Got it, thanks!

 

[Homebrewale]

Since you are not having any issues with high CYA, I would probably just put a few pucks in a floater for the days you are gone.

 

[Jennybird]

Since you are not having any issues with high CYA, I would probably just put a few pucks in a floater for the days you are gone.

Hm. I’ve never used pucks before, even if My FC is at 12 and I’m only gonna be gone for four days?

 

[IceShadow]

I mean it wouldn't hurt as extra insurance, but I don't think it's strictly necessary either.

 

[Jennybird]

I mean it wouldn't hurt as extra insurance, but I don't think it's strictly necessary either.

I guess I’m just reluctant to use anything I’m not familiar with if it’s not really necessary

 

[Homebrewale]

Hm. I’ve never used pucks before, even if My FC is at 12 and I’m only gonna be gone for four days?

Your last FC log was 5.0. Instead of raising it to 12, you could just use a few pucks and a floater.

 

[Newdude]

I guess I’m just reluctant to use anything I’m not familiar with if it’s not really necessary

It won't hurt but it could be a little insurance with very little trade off for 6(?) CYA added.

It may also be hard to buy 3 pucks and not a $150 bucket of them. Then you'd also need a buy a floater because you don't already have one. So it's a bit of a PITA to not do much better than a clear water SLAM.

IMO, I'll call it half a dozen or six.

But I LOVE the above mentality of yours. It means you get it.