Inground pool hasn’t been opened in 5+ years

marcgraham · Mar 19, 2022

Hi everyone,
We purchased a home back in September 2021 that we unfortunately due the market we had to waive inspection if we wanted to have the best offer. The house has an inground pool that was properly closed and has had a safety cover on it for at least 5 years according to the previous owner. I have been calling around and getting different answers from pool companies. Some say they need to pump it out and replace the liner and others say they just need to do a thorough cleaning to open it. It has been holding water just fine so it seems the liner would be still good? I hope. Would a liner be ok that long, covered with untreated water? I was wondering if anyone could share some insight on where I start on my own to get started? I’d prefer to have it in a state that I could get a pool tech out to see everything that would need to be checked by an expert.

kimkats · Mar 19, 2022

Hi and welcome to TFP! You sure have come to the right place to get that pool open and useable!

We can/will help you get it open and clear. We do need a bit of help from you though. Pictures of what you are working with will be oh so helpful. Take them of the pool and equipment. You also need to get your own test kit. This is the base of what we teach here. Here is a link to show you the two we use:

Test Kits Compared Yeah the pool store will do the testing for "free" but it is really not free after you buy all of the stuff they will try to sell you to "fix" your pool. We use stuff you can buy at the local big box stores!

Recommended Pool Chemicals

Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.

www.troublefreepool.com

Lets get to work on that pool!!!

Kim :kim:

Newdude · Mar 19, 2022

Hey MG and Welcome !!!! We got you. It's been seen and done plenty of times here. The story changes from time to time, but even if the pool has grown trees and it's own ecosystem, it's just another day at the office for TFP. For some proof, start reading this thread but go all the way as some great ones pop up later on. And that's just *some* of what's been done here.

Recovering my old inspirational links

First Time Shocking with Bleach Pretty black pool A little encouragement for those with algae and new to BBB Frog Filled Green Swamp to Oasis---Work in Progress!!! Before and After Pool Pics Before and after! A final picture set of how well the BBB method works! Converting In Ga.

www.troublefreepool.com

If you ask 10 professionals you will usually get 10 different opinions, in any industry. Some like the parts they know, some are entirely ignorant and some can't stray one inch from doing it by 'the book' For poolcare there are 100 books.

If anyone can show you similar to my link above, feel free to consider them.

Like Kim said, we need pics. And lots of them. If you are sure you are ready to start, get the cover off so we can see and hatch a plan. Even if it's more than you are ready for at this time, the cover can go back on.

marcgraham · Mar 19, 2022

Thanks for the quick replies!! And encouragement. Heres some pictures. I can’t take the cover off just yet because there’s still ice underneath.

kimkats · Mar 19, 2022

Okay so going from the pics it looks like you have a a heater (big square thing to the left). Betting it does not work due to the age. Think you have a cartridge filter (look the label to see if I am right). Look at your pump and write down any info on it. I am hoping it is a 2 speed pump.

You have very good valves on the pipes! I also like see the unions on either side of the equipment as the helps to remove and repair it as needed.

Look around your area to see if any of they sell liquid chlorine as most of the time that is the best buy. You might have to rent their jugs. That is the ONLY thing you will be buying from them right now.

Do you know if it is plaster or vinyl lined pool?

Kim :kim:

marcgraham · Mar 19, 2022

It is a vinyl lined pool. We planned on forgoing the heater because the cost of propane would be ridiculous. The canister attached to the pump motor says pentair. The big filter doesn’t seem to have a label. The previous owner left the inner filter in the basement for us. He had said it was acid washed before storing it. I will snag a picture when I can pull it out tomorrow. Thanks again

kimkats · Mar 19, 2022

So your filter is a cartridge filter. That is great info to know.

Pentari is a good pump. See if you can find the hp and how many speeds it has.

Newdude · Mar 19, 2022

kimkats said:
So your filter is a cartridge filter. That is

Kim, i am thinking DE bevause of the multiport valve. There could be a 2nd set of grids in the basement. Wait and see, i always say.

Marc, the equipment looks alot better than i was thinking. The rust on the heater is cosmetic, and could look the same on the inside, but doesn't have to be shot. The dial on it points to a good chunk of age, but they also built stuff to last back when. So thats a wild card could go either way.

The rest of the equipment looks to have been fairly new 5 years ago. Most of the ones we see that sat had ancient equipment in the first place and maybe the original reason it sat. No promises any of it works, but your odds are much better than they could have been.

kimkats · Mar 19, 2022

Newdude said:
thinking DE because of the multiport valve.

OH Good catch Dude!! I think you could be right!

Marc can you take and share a pic of the inside filter things for the filter please?

V___25 · Mar 21, 2022

Assuming it's holding water without the liner being shredded, there's a good chance this is salvageable without paying a pool company if you're willing to do the work! You are in excellent hands with KimKats and NewDude - I just want to follow along for the journey and watch it become a beautiful TFP-clear pool. As mentioned, items #1 and 2 will be a good test kit and lots of liquid chlorine. If you're ready to tackle this, start with those 2 things.

AveMaria472 · Mar 21, 2022

V___25 said:
I just want to follow along for the journey and watch it become a beautiful TFP-clear pool.

ooh ooh... me, too!! Following

marcgraham · Mar 21, 2022

kimkats said:
OH Good catch Dude!! I think you could be right!

Marc can you take and share a pic of the inside filter things for the filter please?

Again much appreciated. Here is some pics of the filter.

Selenap · Mar 21, 2022

I’m just here to see what’s under that cover.

Newdude · Mar 21, 2022

DE. Those are 'grids'

marcgraham · Mar 21, 2022

I grabbed more pics of the equipment earlier that may help with model numbers etc... I am hoping to pull the safety cover this or next weekend. Should I have chlorine on hand for that so algae and mosquitoes dont start making problems? If so how much should I pick up to start this process? I am worried that if I pull the cover and the pump or filter or plumbing has issues that I might end up with a swamp for the summer. I am capable of swapping parts and scooping the sludge out of the pool. I’m an IT guy not a pool guy. It’s all of your expertise I’ll be leaning on for guidance with this.

marcgraham · Mar 21, 2022

Selenap said:
I’m just here to see what’s under that cover.

I’m terrified there’s probably 10000 chipmunks or the liner might be ripped

Newdude · Mar 21, 2022

marcgraham said:
It’s all of your expertise I’ll be leaning on for guidance with this.

We got you and we LIVE for these. You'll have plenty of eyes helping once things get going.

marcgraham said:
I grabbed more pics of the equipment earlier that may help with model numbers etc

@cowboycasey may be familiar with the pump. Do you have the basket that goes inside it ? It looks there in the original pics.

marcgraham said:
am worried that if I pull the cover and the pump or filter or plumbing has issues that I might end up with a swamp for the summer

Worst comes to worst, you put the cover back on.

You will need bleach, and lots of it. 20 gallons is probably a good start, but we should probably see what we are dealing with first. If the liner needs replacing, there is no need to fight the swamp. Have you considered draining a big chunk of it for an easier battle ? Read Draining - Further Reading and let us know if any of those options work. We can tell you what to do, but you have to do it. We get the easy peasy part and you get the elbow grease, blood, sweat and four letter words. If the pool is in good shape, draining or exchanging the water will help bigtime.

Newdude · Mar 21, 2022

V___25 said:
I just want to follow along for the journey and watch it become a beautiful TFP-clear pool

my good lady.

:epds:

indeed !!!

kimkats · Mar 21, 2022

Dude in for the win!!!

Thank You Thank You Applause GIF by Warner Archive

That is a DE filter! Look around to see if there is a big box of pool grade DE.

cowboycasey · Mar 22, 2022

Newdude said:
We got you and we LIVE for these. You'll have plenty of eyes helping once things get going.

@cowboycasey may be familiar with the pump. Do you have the basket that goes inside it ? It looks there in the original pics.

Worst comes to worst, you put the cover back on.

You will need bleach, and lots of it. 20 gallons is probably a good start, but we should probably see what we are dealing with first. If the liner needs replacing, there is no need to fight the swamp. Have you considered draining a big chunk of it for an easier battle ? Read Draining - Further Reading and let us know if any of those options work. We can tell you what to do, but you have to do it. We get the easy peasy part and you get the elbow grease, blood, sweat and four letter words. If the pool is in good shape, draining or exchanging the water will help bigtime.

I did not know but my google fu is up there.. It looks like Inyo has helped someone else with the same pump.. Looks like an American Products Ultra-Flo pump.. It does look like your motor is 1hp

American Products Ultra-Flo Parts - INYOPools.com

American Products Ultra-Flo - INYOpools.com has the largest selection of swimming pool and spa replacement parts with over 70,000 parts in stock. Order today and save!

www.inyopools.com

Century Centurian 1.5 hp pump motor replacement Ultra-Flow

Hello. I need to replace my existing pump motor and wish to purchase the pump motor and necessary gaskets for the pump motor and the pump itself. Here are a few photos of my existing equipment… The model # on the pump housing is Pac Fab 38468600 and it is the Ultra-Flow pump. The pump motor that...

www.inyopools.com

I also agree, if water is cheap for you it is easier to drain and with chlorine prices it may be cheaper...

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Inground pool hasn’t been opened in 5+ years

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American Products Ultra-Flo Parts - INYOPools.com

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