Search results

  1. J

    No suction

    Actually, it looks like there's a built-in gasket that I missed. I did run the water over the pump lid, I don't notice any bubbles. I don't know if it means anything, but the water level has dropped an inch or two since I opened the pool around June 28. I'm not sure how much rain we've had.
  2. J

    No suction

    The weir door swings freely. I forgot that it's called that. The pump basket lid doesn't seem to have any rubber or plastic gasket. I guess that's a likely culprit. On a side note, I'm amazed that my water is still clear. The bottom has some dirt. If I had a robot, I don't even think anyone...
  3. J

    No suction

    It's not the water level. How do I check the other things? Also, air bubbles are coming out of the two returns by the steps when I turn it on.
  4. J

    No suction

    My pump was running fine when the pool guy opened it a couple of weeks ago. The pressure was a little high, so I was going to backwash it. Then it suddenly stopped sucking. I called the pool guy, he came by and fixed it. I don't know what he did. It ran fine for a few days, then it stopped...
  5. J

    To robot or not to robot?

    I'm thinking about a pool cleaner, but I want to spend less than $500 on it. I have an in-ground vinyl 12x24 that goes to six feet. I'm thinking of buying on ebay, I don't care if it's used. If could get one for $300 something even better. What do you guys and gals think?
  6. J

    Pump Kaput

    I'll post a picture when I get home. I don't know what happened, it was working fine, and the other day I turned on the sword, it hummed for a second, then nothing. Now it's totally dead. I'll check the circuit breaker in the basement, but everything else seems to work. [/FC_CYA_VIDEO]
  7. J

    Pump Kaput

    My pump died about a week ago 😢. It's a Hayward Superpump 1.5 HP. We moved into the house about fifteen years ago, so I guess it had a good run. I'm closing soon, so I'm putting it off to spring. Should I try to get it repaired? If I buy a new one, any suggestions with my pool?
  8. J

    Daily testing

    I use the OTO test and PH test daily. I try to keep the CL in the top band (5-10). When it drops to the next band (3-6), I assume it's 4.5 and use Poolmath to bring it up to my target (which is 7 with a CYA of 40). I do the other tests once per week. I find the OTO usually over-estimates the CL...
  9. J

    SWG costs

    Hmm, maybe I'm glad I've stuck with bottles. Not that I've had a spare couple of grand lying around, anyway.
  10. J

    1 lb. bags of shock in lieu of liquid chlorine...?

    Be careful with store bleach. A lot of them have additives now. If it says no splash, Cloromax, a fragrance, or anything else suspicious, you shouldn't use it. If your pool bubbles in the rain, you'll know you got some polymers in there.
  11. J

    Converting to Salt based pool?

    Regarding the cost comparison, do you have to run the pump more? If so, I would assume that shortens the lifespan of the pump, and raises the electric bill somewhat. How often do you have to replace the controller? Also, an economist would tell you you have to consider what return you would get...
  12. J

    The Pool is Back!

    Opened my pool a few days ago! Levels all look good. CYA dropped from 60 to 40 since November. I've been busy, so I let the chlorine drop to 1.5, I'll add some today. Bottom is dirty, back to work! What do people think about keeping one or two pucks in a floater? I check my CYA every week.
  13. J

    Added nothing but chlorine

    Finally closed the pool today. Went through the whole season adding nothing but chlorine. I started TFP last season, and I don't think I've ever had a season where I added nothing else. My PH basically stayed at 7.5-7.8. I started keeping one puck in a floater, and it drifted to 7.2, but came...
  14. J

    Balancing new pool pH way low!

    Anything less than 7.2 is too low. You can use borax to raise PH without raising TA. Most importantly, you have to get your CL and CYA up. Pucks won't raise CYA fast enough. You should add stabilizer. I'm assuming you read Pool School?
  15. J

    Not closed yet

    You still live here in Shaolin?
  16. J

    Not closed yet

    Anyone else in the northeast not closed yet? My pool is stubbornly clinging to 61 degrees. I'm starting to feel silly having it open. My opening and closing guy texted me a week ago.
  17. J

    pH - how low is too low?

    If you use borax or aeration, it won't affect TA much.
  18. J

    pH - how low is too low?

    https://www.troublefreepool.com/blog/2019/01/18/recommended-pool-chemicals/
  19. J

    pH - how low is too low?

    https://www.troublefreepool.com/blog/2018/12/12/abcs-of-pool-water-chemistry/
  20. J

    Close or No?

    Yes, I'm covering. I have a guy that does the closing for me.
  21. J

    Close or No?

    I just finished about 45 minutes of skimming. When I checked the pool, there was approximately one ton of leaves. The temperature is 65. Should I hold out? Seems like it's dropping about one degree a day or so.
  22. J

    It's Fall and Liquid Chlorine Not Available :(

    The only place I've found it all year is my local pool store.
  23. J

    Can't seem to lower TA

    Why do you want to lower it? If your PH is stable and you don't have CSI issues, TFP doesn't usually recommend chasing a number.
  24. J

    Chlorine level for low and high water temp

    You always round up to the next ten. So there is no 55, it's 60.
  25. J

    Who can taste the salt?

    I've tried every beer known to man, always thinking I would find one I'd like. I finally realized that animal doesn't exist. I'll stick with water, coffee, tea and an occasional diet soda. My very occasional drinking days are way behind me, anyway. I do know many people who claim to love it...
  26. J

    Who can taste the salt?

    I dunno, I think pool water probably tastes better than beer.
  27. J

    Who can taste the salt?

    I put salt in for feel. I could definitely taste it at 1800. So could most other people in my family. Now that it's about 2300, I can taste it stronger. Last year I had it at a lower level, and one of my daughter's friends said he didn't know we had a salt pool.
  28. J

    SpeedStir

    I actually do exactly that, put two fingers over the tube. Can't say I worry about carcinogens in the reagents much. What we eat, drink, and inhale on a regular basis is much more likely to give us cancer. Also too much sun, which is very relevant to pools.
  29. J

    SpeedStir

    I was wondering the same thing. I dump the solution out into my hand and catch the pill. Also, my pill got black stains the first time I did the FAS-DPD test. Is that normal? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy using the Speedstir. But, like I said, it's only three tests a week.
  30. J

    SpeedStir

    I'm going to go a little against the grain. I got my TF-100 last year. I got the Speedstir a few weeks ago. It's definitely cool and fun, but definitely unnecessary. I do the OTO and PH test almost every day. I do the FAS-DPD, TA, CYA and CH once a week. So I use the Speedstir for three tests...