Recent content by donaldm823

Installed ten 12ft FAFCO solar panels on my roof in 2012 but experiencing pin hole leaks annually. Does anyone know what could be the cause of recurring pin hole leaks as one of the panels springs a leak 1-2 times per year requiring a $65 service call. FAFCO dealer says the number of leaks is...

when I had had the problem it was either algae or CYA was low

Had the same symptoms with a new IC40 I bought from Amazon. Turned out to be an internal water leak that was faulting the electronics. After 2 days, I sam water dripping from the control panel face opposite the salt light. You need a new cell!

My SolarTouch needs power to shut the solar valve. No spring return on mine. I lost house power one day and the valve stayed open. But, when the pump shuts off with power to the SolarTouch, the valve goes closed

I also have a Pentair SolarTouch and it is on its own 120v circuit independent of the pool pump. The solar touch will not rotate the solar valve if the pump is OFF. It senses no flow and interrupts the circuit. Also, the SolarTouch must meet the various temp trips for the solar heater on the...

I just had FAFCO panels installed by a FAFCO dealer here in SW Florida last May 2014. My inlet and outlet pipes connect on the same side. The new FAFCO panels have an internal header on the inlet side that equalizes the inlet pressure across the 10 panels (440sqft) I have installed, which...

I just installed a 440sqft FAFCO panel system (10 panels) and cost runs approx $9 per sq ft installed (includes labor). Add additional cost of solar controller and permit fees to the cost. Your estimate is way more than my 3 estimates down here in SW Florida

Just completed an install of FAFCO solar panels for my 350ft2 pool by a pool heating contractor. Although I had to install the panels (440 ft2, 10 panels) (350ft2 pool) on an East facing roof due to site considerations, I have solar heat from 0830 to 1800 in May (SW Florida area). It will be...

Look at the Pentair VS pumps. I have the 11018 and have been extremely happy with it down here in Florida where the pool is open 12months of the year. Have found that my pump run time is really driven by the need of chlorine generation by my SWG, so 5 hrs per day in winter and 10per day in...

rule of them here in Florida is $1.00 per hr. Our kWh cost is $0.15 per kWh so you can ratio it from there based on electrical costs. The number of hours is totally individual based on pool temp you want and local weather and whether you use a pool cover. I run mine 2-3 hrs per day to...

Yes there is a way to return to schedule after punching a different speed. I frequently hit the clean button which gives me 2x the scheduled speed. When I am done cleaning the pool, I simply select the speed number that corresponds to what the schedule would be and the pump program takes over

I used Russel Caulking out of Hadden Heights, NJ 856-547-5390. Great guy, very meticulous in his work and the caulking looked new after 3 summers (done in 2009). He charged by the sq ft. I paid $750 for a 700 sq ft freeform pool located in Downingtown, PA. His price was less than A&S who...

When Anthony Sylvan built my pool in SE PA in 2006, I also had a stryrafoam prodcut as a spacer betweeen the coping and the concrete deck. After about 3 years, the styrafoam degrades and allows water (ice in winter) into that joint and you run the risk of concrete cracks or coping cracks. I...

Just rechecked my last pool close bill (2011) and it was $260 including winter chemicals of $40 (Pacer Pools in Downingtown, PA ). I installed the looploc cover myself for my 30K gal pool-sorry about the bad cost estimate in my prev post. But, move to Florida and you never have to close the...

sometimes the money spent (approx $130) for a pool service to winterize a pool is money well spent. Most Pool services guarnatee no freeze damage. In PA with deep freeze possible, you might consider spending the money vice do it yourself just from the standpoint of the insurance value vs burst...