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We told them to stop using trichlor back in October, but have still found the floater in the pool on occasion, and the pH is back to being low. So not sure if it's the trichlor or something else. Moving forward, I've been very clear to them to just manually dose liquid chlorine before and after...

Thanks for the reply. I'll probably instruct the client to wait until the spring to address the staining. And yes, I meant turn the pump off, not the heater off. Although at this point, I'll likely replace the heat exhanger in the heater for them anyway. So maybe it wouldn't be a big deal to...

Thanks! I'm going back up there today to talk to the client. Will likely replace the heat exchanger for them.

Have a client that seems to have persistent low pH issues. They were using tri-chlor tabs which we suspect is the culprit (although, they used them for several months without any issue, then suddenly were having low pH problems). We previously did a drain and acid wash for them and it seemed to...

Thanks. One of the plaster guys I work with suggested it, but wanted to get an independent opinion here. I think ultimately we'll suggest resurfacing the pool in the spring.

Thanks.

We recently drained and cleaned a pool for a client and filled back up and also converted to salt cell for the client. Pool was constructed 23 years ago, sits at probably 9000 ft so likely gets very high UV exposure in the summer and is used year round. It looks like the change in status quo...

The plan was to let it cure and brush for 30 days or so, and then close for the season. So it would be mid December at that point. Also, that's still assuming the "traditional method"? Also, this will be a re-plastering, but I suppose that still qualifies as a new plaster finish. Maybe...

I'm trying to advice a maintenance customer that we service whether or not they should replaster this late in the season (I'm in the mountain west). I've read through this guide https://www.troublefreepool.com/blog/2019/01/18/start-up-new-plaster/ And I've read this guide...

Good idea. I’ll try vitamin C. Two of the other test spots turned dark gray from the iron test mix. However, sprinkling some granular chlorine seemed to take get rid of the dark gray staining in short order. Sprinkling some granular on the brown oxidizing spots also lessened it, but didn’t...

No. They just bought the house. I found an empty container of Clorox Xtra Blue on the side of the house. I’m guessing that is where the copper came from.

I was using the stain identification kit to identify some discoloration in a pool. It’s a turquoise green, most likely copper, but wanted to use the test to confirm. First time using the test. Pool parameters were very close to recommended levels. Upon putting in the shock, it immediately...

Great! This is incredible. I just perused the installation manual, but SWCG's aren't specifically mentioned, such as the Pentair IC40 or IC60, but it works with them?

Oh yeah, good thought, LOL. However, doing some quick research, seems like the community doesn't really love ORP controllers, that when used with a SWCG and the recommended CYA levels, ORP level can be unreliable and quite variable. Is that still the case? Or good work arounds now?

Trying to size a SWCG for an 11K pool. The challenge is, the bather load can vary dramatically. It can sit empty for weeks on end and then a large group will rent the home and perhaps have 10-20 people getting in and out of the pool throughout the day. It's a unique situation where half of the...

It's a private rental, so I don't believe it's subject to commercial pool inspections, etc. If we go with a liquid chlorine set up, I'd likely target 40 and if we go with a SWCG, would target 60 or so, per the CYA/Chlorine chart here on TFP. If I use the 7 g/hr figure, then 30 bathers are using...

Trying to help a client determine whether to go with an automated liquid chlorine system or a salt cell generator. It's a rental property in the mountains and during ski season they will have 25-30 people in a relatively small pool, 11K gallons, for days on end. My instinct is to go with a...

We already drained and refilled to eliminate the CYA. So starting fresh at this point.

no doubt. Thanks for all your insight. I’ve previously read through all those posts and they’ve been very helpful. Really helping me re-think how I want to provide service to my clients. But I’ll revisit them as well as the videos you sent. Regarding my question on each drop of base demand...

I guess I’m trying to understand why I would use TA to calculate pH rather than doing a base demand test directly with pH. Is that only necessary when TA is 0 or negative? Or is it because the tables in the test book only seem to address pH values of 6.5 and above? Btw, does each drop of base...

You’re certainly deserving of your expert moniker. :-)

What is the best resource to better understand this? Converting measured TA and pH per the test kit, to actual or effective?

its a mastertemp 250 I believe. I’ll be there on Monday and will suggest an inspection. It’s also a very new heater. It was installed in June. I need to spend more time understanding your other posts and effective TA vs measured TA. Thanks for the insight.

I have them currently switched to dichlor for the moment. It is an inground spa so SWG is an option for them (they have one for their larger pool). I agree, Bromine might be a good option for them.

CYA was around 200 I believe. Free chlorine at our last check before draining was 1.5 and TA was 80 and ph was 6.5. I suspect it was off for a few days in total. But yes, hoping damage was minimal.

I'm not sure how quickly they are running through tabs, but here is a picture of the plaster after the acid wash. They were using trichlor tabs, so yeah, I think the TA just flipped and suddenly their pH was dropping each week. Makes sense. The plaster had a lot of purple/blue spots before, so...

Thanks! Yeah, copper from the heat exchanger is a worry. I suspect it takes a long time to do real damage to it, so hopefully we aren’t there yet after just a couple weeks of seeing this.

I recently acquired a pool maintenance and service business with one quite experienced service/repair tech and one new maintenance tech. So I’m still learning every day and trying to become the resident chem “expert” for the group. Have a customer whose pH is unexpectedly dropping between...

As an update, after several days of elevated chlorine and daily brushing they seem to be going away. Will stay the course.