still learning about what I just bought. what is this thing?

Save your money on the one month of service. You'll learn more here on this site. Plus, if you watch what they do, you'll end up making the same mistakes. Pool companies use tablets pretty much everywhere, unless you have a salt water generator.

That chlorinator is for chorine tablets (pucks) which is not a recommended form of chlorination at TFP. The reason is that those tablets contain not only chlorine, but also cyanuric acid (CYA). The chlorine eventually gets burned up from the sun and pool use, but the CYA stays in the pool and builds and builds and builds. Anytime you hear someone say that they were told to drain their pool, excess CYA is the #1 culprit. It gets so high with the constant tablet use that it renders the chlorine ineffective at the same level that it worked just fine previously. Next thing you know, the water starts to get cloudy and then turns green with algae.

We recommend liquid chlorine because it's the only chlorine outside of cal hypo (bags of shock) that does not contain any CYA in it. We encourage you to get your CYA level to where you want it and then don't put anything in the water that will raise it. Liquid chlorine accomplishes this perfectly.

The key to trouble free pool care is to master the relationship between FC and CYA. They go hand in hand. We have a chart on this site that shows you all the different levels. Get to know that really well. By using liquid chlorine, you can concentrate on just the FC side of the equation because you won't be trying to hit a moving target (CYA) like you would if you were using tablets. You'll basically just be topping up your chlorine daily or every two days to replace what you've lost. It's really that simple. Once you get your pool chemistry dialed in, all you will be using is liquid chlorine and some muriatic acid to lower the pH when it climbs. That's it!!!

Feel free to ask any questions you want. This site is loaded with very knowledgeable people that have mastered the TFP way of pool care and they love to pay if forward to new members with quality advice. And don't be afraid to post pictures. We love pics. Especially the equipment pad. It really helps us tailor our advice to the situation better.

First let me welcome you to the BEST place to learn about pool maintenance on the net!
Second, congratulations on the purchase of a beautiful pool, (that also comes with a house)!
Last, Let me give you some links to some reading material. In my signature, you will find links to both "Pool School", and another one for the test kits we use.
Start with the Pool School one.
Again, WELCOME!!

lordmundi said:

I don't really know what the water capacity of my pool is

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Click the link at the bottom of the page for Old PoolMath Webpage. Scroll down to "Estimating Pool Volume." Select oval shape and estimate the average length, width and depth for pool volume. It's not an exact science, but you'll be close enough to get started. If you find the previous owners' contract, you'll likely find the pool volume there.

Best of luck with the new pool.

lordmundi said:

Thanks for all of the resources. I've been reading through the Pool School articles every night!

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Welcome fellow Texan. What part of Texas are you living? There are lots of members from all over Texas so lots of local area help.
Did the pool builder go through a pool school with you to show you how to set the automation or what all the pipes and valves do? If not, you can take better pictures and we can help. It is really important to know what goes to what so if you have a problem in the future it is easier to troubleshoot. I have a binder with a layout of my plumbing so if I am away, I can talk through a family member to help on an issue. Seems like issues always pop up when I am not there.

Also, it would be good to write down all of your equipment model numbers and serial numbers while they are still visible (before the sun and rain affects the labels).
Also, Create Your Signature to help us understand what your current setup is and it is easier to have others help you. Based on the picture you have a Hayward DE filter, a Polaris pressure side cleaner, possibly a Pentair natural gas heater, and what looks like 2 Pentair WhisperFlo single speed pumps. You can get more specifics with the model numbers of each.

To help you size your pool you can read the following. I have a freeform pool and took the max and min measurements on width and length to give me the area then did some averaging of the depths to get the volume. You will need to do a separate calculation for the spa. I just use the volume of 2 circles - one with the diameter and depth of the center of the spa and the other which is more of a donut that uses the depth of the seat. Come back if you need more help.
Calculators - Further Reading | Trouble Free Pool

This is a good link to keep for future needs.
Pool Care Basics Archives - Trouble Free Pool | Trouble Free Pool

lordmundi said:

Just bought a home with my first pool and I noticed this in the ground near the spa and pool

View attachment 334637

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umbrella holder

lordmundi said:

oh cool! so, question... we have something similar on another area of the pool (pictured below) but this one is below the water and on some stones in the pool (and not pavers)View attachment 334751. I'm guessing this is another umbrella holder? (ignore the orange box - that is a note from the inspector)

I have some trepidation about putting an umbrella that catches wind in there. Is there a risk they will wobble and make those stones inside the pool loose and break up the mortar?

Thanks!

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Yeah, umbrella holder. If it's installed correctly you'll be fine. It's embedded in concrete under there. Just don't use an umbrella with a wooden pole as it will swell and can get stuck. Try to find one with an aluminum pole. We have these on our bench and our tanning ledge and they're easy to just take out and put them away if a bad storm is coming in.

I have one on my beer drinking ledge, but wish I had more installed in other areas of the pool.

Anyways, the sleeves are about 8" deep in gunite. There should be no risk of them moving around.

Try these -

Patio Umbrella Cone (Brown) Fits 1.5" Umbrella. Weather Resistant Polyurethane. The Original Made in the USA. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XTCE2CI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_D5XvaBwvpLWdP

lordmundi said:

we are getting an incredible amount of rain and flooding right now...... And I'm watching the water level rise up.

So what do I do? I've got a multiport valve thingy. Do I just turn the valve to waste and then manually turn the pump on? Is that the right way to drain some water out?

Here's a couple of pictures of my equipment

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Congrats on the new pool!
turn the pump off, turn the multiport valve (MPV) to waste, then turn the pump back on. This will pump water out of the pool. Keep an eye on it because you don't want to run the pump dry by letting the water get below the skimmer. Try to keep the water level mid way up the skimmer.

It's a spa blower. It forces air down the vent tube to create more bubbles than the jets alone. Kinda sounds like a big hair dryer.