Purchased a home this year with unground pool. Move in September 1st. Pool is fun but has proven to be an expensive venture. Previous owner left be some Bioguard Lithium Hypochlorite and Silk tabs.
In one month I've managed to spend about $500 in chemicals. At the end of week 1, the water started clouding. A day later worse. Pool store tested water and concluded very high levels of ammonia. First round of liquid shock to the tune of $90. A couple weeks later I ran out of Silk tabs and PH was low, another $50 in chems.
Fast forward 2 more weeks. Chlorine levels are really low. Water is clear. I've run out of powdered shock and tablets. Test reveal high ammonia. Another $90 in liquid shock. Awe later I'm preparing to close the pool, $250 in chemicals. Pool must be balanced in order to close. I start the regimen and have water tested 1 week later. Another $80 on chems to increase alkalinity and PH.
My pool is 23,500 gallons unground with an automatic cover and a vinyl lining. It is a heavily treed lot. My closing chems included Scale Inhibitor which I'm reading is primarily for aggregate pools. Do I even need this for vinyl or did the pool store see me coming?
I hope I can get this all under control prior to next year. Pool store is already warning me I will need to do a partial drain in the spring to remove high particulates. The previous owner spoke of none of these troubles and claimed the pool was virtually maintenance free with minor chems and weekly 30 minute cleaning.
In one month I've managed to spend about $500 in chemicals. At the end of week 1, the water started clouding. A day later worse. Pool store tested water and concluded very high levels of ammonia. First round of liquid shock to the tune of $90. A couple weeks later I ran out of Silk tabs and PH was low, another $50 in chems.
Fast forward 2 more weeks. Chlorine levels are really low. Water is clear. I've run out of powdered shock and tablets. Test reveal high ammonia. Another $90 in liquid shock. Awe later I'm preparing to close the pool, $250 in chemicals. Pool must be balanced in order to close. I start the regimen and have water tested 1 week later. Another $80 on chems to increase alkalinity and PH.
My pool is 23,500 gallons unground with an automatic cover and a vinyl lining. It is a heavily treed lot. My closing chems included Scale Inhibitor which I'm reading is primarily for aggregate pools. Do I even need this for vinyl or did the pool store see me coming?
I hope I can get this all under control prior to next year. Pool store is already warning me I will need to do a partial drain in the spring to remove high particulates. The previous owner spoke of none of these troubles and claimed the pool was virtually maintenance free with minor chems and weekly 30 minute cleaning.