Recent content by SwimAustin

Okay, so the shop no longer fixes motors. They say no one does, because they are too cheap "on Amazon". They said I could get a new motor and pump for ~$300. Not for my size pool! It is more like $1200. I ordered a new motor for ~$500. I know getting the impeller off and dealing with the...

Thanks for your help. It got me to do more testing. Long story short it is mechanical, just in the motor not the pump. The axle rotates very stiffly. I realized this when it couldn't start spinning on low. I'm not doing bearings, so off to the shop. Voltage checked out fine 245 at the...

Speck 433, dual speed. My motor makes a loud 'N' noise and runs slower than normal. On high it shuts off automatically in seconds and on low it keeps running poorly. I assumed it was the capacitor, but the old one tests out good and a new one didn't change anything. My wife thought it was...

I love the glycerin-filled gauges. They last so much longer. Mine didn't survive mid 20's last week. I only know that because the needle is pointed straight down.

I'm probably too late for you, but in Austin I've been going to HEB for 121 oz of 8.25% at $2.59, since Walmart lowered their laundry bleach to %6. Walmart does sometimes have full-gallon two-packs of 10% which is on par with HEB, but it is usually sold out. I haven't tried Austin pools...

The usual directions here are to add drops until a drop causes no color change, then don't count the last drop. If you stop when the sample turns clear, that's one less drop and so you'll read a higher CC level. That wouldn't entirely explain your reading, but it is something to keep in mind.

The problem with Home Depot, at least in the Austin area, is they store the bleach outside. In weeks, 10% will be degraded to 8.5%. And that doesn't count the sunlight hitting it. Home Depot is still my go to place for muriatic acid.

I don't know if it is common, but my pump is below the waterline and I use my Jandy valve to keep water from flowing out when cleaning the basket or doing other maintenance. Forgetting to open it can cause major damage to your system when the water in the pump boils. I've confirmed this fact...

The time I added MA and got a whiff of the fumes, it felt like what I imaging snorting pickle juice would feel like. You reflexively snort them out very fast. There was no lasting effect other than the realization that I really don't ever want to do that again.

Don't toss them. Eventually, you'll be able to use them again when you go on vacation. You can mix your pool water 50-50 with tap water and test that for CYA. Double your reading. It will be less accurate, but give you an idea how much CYA you really have. I did a mostly natural turnover...

There were some strips that came with my pool. They seemed fast and easy, but I didn't trust the results. One day I pulled a water sample and tested it with a strip. Then tested it with another strip. The results were different enough to convince me to toss the strips. I've done repeat...

For those people in Texas, so far HEB still has 8.25% store brand. It was also reduced in price to $2.59, so I stocked up. The reduced price worries me that they might be selling out the stock and switching to 6%. Best date code was 18 060.

Trade secret? That's odd. It is published on there MSDS as 20%.

0.1% Subtilisin Not sure what it contains for the other 3 claims they make.

I learned very quickly not to say anything, but last time I was in someones pool I saw a really nice Taylor test kit. So I made the mistake of asking and he said he likes to go to the pool store to double check his results (sigh). Then I asked about CYA and he said he didn't use any. He...