Hello,
We bought a house with our first pool a few years ago. I started reading TFP but got overwhelmed and passed the pool care on to my hubby. He has been taking care of it but he has not been following TFP’s method. So now we have a pool that keeps turning green and has really high CYA.
I’m trying to drain the pool but I cannot figure out how to get it to go past the skimmer baskets. We do not have a valve to shut the skimmer baskets off. There are two skimmers one has two holes plumbed and the other only has the hole furthest from the pool plumbed.
I’m thinking the 1st skimmer has one pipe going to the main drain and one pipe going to the pump. And the 2nd skimmer just has a pipe going to the pump. Neither skimmer has a float valve in it.
When I asked at the pool store about draining it because of the CYA they told me there was no way to drain it without renting a pump. They also told me to just add water to the bottom of the pool and let it over flow overnight.
I’m not understand what the point of the main drain is if it doesn’t pull water from the pool. I know it’s needed for circulation but in order for it to help circulate it seems like it would need to pull water from the bottom. I will add pictures in a few mins.
Another question. We have noticed when the pump starts up bubbles come out of the jet for about 30 secs then stop. The guy who replaced our pump said the bubbles were caused by the strainer basket’s lid. He said it must have shrunk. That didn’t seem likely to me but I bought a new lid for $60 and it does the same thing. Do we need to replace the strainer box? (I’m not sure what it’s called. It’s the black box just before the pump.)
I hope all that made sense. I’ve seen the error of my ways. I’m kicking myself for not listening to what I read on here a few years ago. I keep wondering when I’m going to stop needing to learn my lessons the hard way.
Last thing. I’m not sure what filter I have the writing has worn off.
We bought a house with our first pool a few years ago. I started reading TFP but got overwhelmed and passed the pool care on to my hubby. He has been taking care of it but he has not been following TFP’s method. So now we have a pool that keeps turning green and has really high CYA.
I’m trying to drain the pool but I cannot figure out how to get it to go past the skimmer baskets. We do not have a valve to shut the skimmer baskets off. There are two skimmers one has two holes plumbed and the other only has the hole furthest from the pool plumbed.
I’m thinking the 1st skimmer has one pipe going to the main drain and one pipe going to the pump. And the 2nd skimmer just has a pipe going to the pump. Neither skimmer has a float valve in it.
When I asked at the pool store about draining it because of the CYA they told me there was no way to drain it without renting a pump. They also told me to just add water to the bottom of the pool and let it over flow overnight.
I’m not understand what the point of the main drain is if it doesn’t pull water from the pool. I know it’s needed for circulation but in order for it to help circulate it seems like it would need to pull water from the bottom. I will add pictures in a few mins.
Another question. We have noticed when the pump starts up bubbles come out of the jet for about 30 secs then stop. The guy who replaced our pump said the bubbles were caused by the strainer basket’s lid. He said it must have shrunk. That didn’t seem likely to me but I bought a new lid for $60 and it does the same thing. Do we need to replace the strainer box? (I’m not sure what it’s called. It’s the black box just before the pump.)
I hope all that made sense. I’ve seen the error of my ways. I’m kicking myself for not listening to what I read on here a few years ago. I keep wondering when I’m going to stop needing to learn my lessons the hard way.
Last thing. I’m not sure what filter I have the writing has worn off.
It sounds like you got some good, bad, and ugly advice before you found us. 
No worries. As Allen noted, it looks like whoever installed your main pump didn't do you the favor of installing a 3-way valve so that you could pull water form the drain only. That stinks. So now yet, you probably will have to rent or buy a submersible pump. Not the worse thing. You can get the fairly cheap or rent one from places like Home Depot. Just don't nickel & dime it. If you know the CYA is high, then drain as much water as you need now to fix the problem and move on. If you've been outside today, you know it's just as hot as it was yesterday. :sun: So, exchange enough water to get your CYA down to about 50. That's a decent place for a 