How to keep pool water full?

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bedelliott

bedelliott

0
Jun 13, 2017
134
Austin, TX
I realize having a system that auto fills the pool as needed can keep you from noticing a leak, but I need to come up with something because I'm out of town most of the time and can't depend on someone else to sit there for 1-2 hrs/week adding water to my pool during the summer. What is the best way to accomplish this, is there a system I can buy or DIY something that will notice when water needs to be added then it opens a valve or something along those lines?
 
bedelliott said:
I realize having a system that auto fills the pool as needed can keep you from noticing a leak, but I need to come up with something because I'm out of town most of the time and can't depend on someone else to sit there for 1-2 hrs/week adding water to my pool during the summer. What is the best way to accomplish this, is there a system I can buy or DIY something that will notice when water needs to be added then it opens a valve or something along those lines?
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If you’re only gone for a week at a time, you can shut the pump off and use a chlorine floater.

They also make Wi-Fi timer devices for a hose Bibb. You can turn on/off the water remotely.
 
Bperry said:
If you’re only gone for a week at a time, you can shut the pump off and use a chlorine floater.

They also make Wi-Fi timer devices for a hose Bibb. You can turn on/off the water remotely.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the idea, but I think the problem with a timed water dispenser would be that it varies based on the weather - some weeks it needs 1" and if it's cloudy or rainy it'll need none to maybe 1/4". I'm seeing some things you can sit on the side of your pool where all you do is set the level & connect a hose, but I need to read up on them & how reliable they are.
 
I've got a wi-fi controller on my fill mainly so it remembers to turn it off. I don't use the schedule function yet, but the fill time is set or 30 minutes which gives me an inch rise in the pool. I tend to get involved in something else and overfill. Now I'm working on some sort of fountain to shoot across the narrow pool deck.
 
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bedelliott said:
I realize having a system that auto fills the pool as needed can keep you from noticing a leak, but I need to come up with something because I'm out of town most of the time and can't depend on someone else to sit there for 1-2 hrs/week adding water to my pool during the summer. What is the best way to accomplish this, is there a system I can buy or DIY something that will notice when water needs to be added then it opens a valve or something along those lines?
Click to expand...
 
bedelliott said:
I realize having a system that auto fills the pool as needed can keep you from noticing a leak, but I need to come up with something because I'm out of town most of the time and can't depend on someone else to sit there for 1-2 hrs/week adding water to my pool during the summer. What is the best way to accomplish this, is there a system I can buy or DIY something that will notice when water needs to be added then it opens a valve or something along those lines?
Click to expand...
https://amzn.to/42pFHm7
 
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Not being fond of the auto-fillers, I wrote my version of poor man's remote pool fill here: Automatic Pool Fill Other clever TFP folks have built their own, like using a fluidmaster valve in the skimmer, which of course eliminates the unsightliness of the hose and filler. And of course there are some very pricey advanced water main valves to stop all flow for any extended home leak situation - like if the filler fails or an attached hose bursts. However, none of those seem to address the issue of unnecessarily keeping the level at the setpoint even if the forecast calls for heavy rain in the next day or so. It costs me about $9 every time I add 300 gallons (3 cents/gal here) and it adds up in the dry winter season. Also, perhaps most systems to detect level and fill will probably fill in rapid cycles while there is pool swimming / splashing activity. So my system uses a Bhyve irrigation controller with a zone into the pool overflow tube, and I only run it when the level gets within an inch of the bottom of the skimmer inlet and the weather forecast lacks rain. If I'm away, I check the level via webcam and forecast. If I were away a lot more or ran the home as a vac rental and/or didn't want to keep checking the security cams, I would probably just set the Bhyve to fill for 30 minutes per week in the winter, and not at all in the summer - that for South Florida. A combo like @mShark suggests would be good too with the remote wifi valve control, if you tolerate the hose across the pool and the hanging filler device. Happy filling!
 
bedelliott said:
is there a system I can buy or DIY something that will notice when water needs to be added then it opens a valve or something along those lines?
Click to expand...
My fill line is managed by my irrigation controller as a zone. Very simple, reliable, inexpensive, and easy to repair if needed. Gives complete control over your fill line.
 
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