1st time homebuyer, 1st time pool owner

[imnewwhatdoido]

Hello all,

Last week i closed and moved into my first home and feel like I'm in over my head with the pool (pun intended). I've started to go through some of the "pool school" posts on here and actually have a local pool company coming out at the end of the week to talk through some of the basics, but i figured I'd post on here too to cover all my bases. As far as info i can provide about the pool, it's a saltwater pool and the owners have told me its around 22K gallons. This is a single speed pump and has no timer (which I'm looking to change). This pump has been running 24/7 365 days a year. I haven't delved into any of the chemical aspects of the pool at the moment but the water at least looks super clean. As far as maintenance over the past week all we've done is backwash the filter and clean the skimmer basket and pump filter. We do have a cover for it. I plan to purchase a chemical testing kit and maintain this pool myself once I'm educated enough to do so.
Some questions i have for you experts:
From what I've read the salt cell isn't doing anything under 60 degrees, my cell is turned down but on "generating"- does it even need to be on?
We just made it through a snow event ( luckily no freezing rain), but temps seem to be much colder next week. I do not have any backup power for the pump in case of emergency - should i have the pool tech close/winterize my pool when he's out at the end of the week?- the pool company receptionist acted like this really needed to happen
From some online reading it seems people just dump some liquid chlorine in and don't worry about levels until temps are above 60-is this an okay way to manage a SW pool in the winter?
Luckily i don't have many trees that could dump leaves into pool, is there any other benefits to the cover being on?
The pool company who i reached out to said a VSP was not necessary and 90% of people in my area have a single speed and i should just add a timer. I want this to be as energy efficient as possible and i'm okay dropping $1-2K if i get paid back in the long run. Any recommendations on VSP's that would match my plumbing?
Is my pool cleaner decent?
Lastly if you see any quirks in my plumbing or equipment please let me know. I apologize for the noob questions, its been a whirlwind dealing with other necessary repairs on this home and trying to move in a snow event but i will continue diving into pool care!
Thanks

 

[PoolStored]

Welcome to TFP!!!

• Your forecast is to get into the teens. I'd have them close the pool. Until you get a handle on managing the pool and learn about issues and have a backup plan, have them close it. Next year we can teach you to do it alone. There is more to this story, and there are ways to be able to deal with it, but you are not prepared, and as a new pool owner, it is not worth the anxiety and panic when the freeze happens.
• SWG does not have to be on. Just dose with liquid chlorine.
• Get a test kit. Without it you cannot manage your pool. Here are the recommended kits. Link-->Test Kits Compared
• You should maintain your FC level for your CYA level. See here...link-->FC/CYA Levels
• When they close, I would raise your FC to slam level. Unfortunately we don't know your existing level without a test kit to know CYA level. Assuming that you have at least 20 CYA, I'd use 2 gallons of LC when you close, then open before temps get to 60.
• You want the cover on, for leaves etc, and to reduce FC consumption by the sun, and for safety.
• for VSP: Pentair Intelliflo3 vsp (don't get SVRS!!!), and Hayward Triton VS 950, Waterway Defender 2.7 are about the best pumps you can get, but you need 230v at the pad. Before you decide, you need to determine if you have 115v or 230v electrical service, this will make a difference. The selections on the VSP diminish with 115v. What service do you have? (115/230). Can you pull a 230 line and do you have the panel space? If you have 115 and can't get 230, we can make recommendations.

Lastly if you see any quirks in my plumbing or equipment please let me know.

This is DANGEROUS and should be repaired immediately. Or pump turned off until it is repaired.

 

[Chris_Porter]

-Does the salt cell need to be on?
When the water's under 60°F, the salt cell isn’t really doing much, so you can turn it off and just use liquid chlorine to keep the levels right.

-Is it okay to just add liquid chlorine in the winter?
Yep, that works, but make sure to test the water regularly to keep chlorine around 1-3 ppm and the pH balanced.

-Is my pool cleaner decent?
Looks like your robotic pool cleaner has been around for a while—maybe a cordless one like Beatbot’s could make things easier for you.

 

[Donldson]

-Is it okay to just add liquid chlorine in the winter?
Yep, that works, but make sure to test the water regularly to keep chlorine around 1-3 ppm within the target zone based on your CYA level per the FC/CYA Levels and the pH balanced.

Small but vital correction.

 

[Bperry]

Hello all,

Last week i closed and moved into my first home and feel like I'm in over my head with the pool (pun intended). I've started to go through some of the "pool school" posts on here and actually have a local pool company coming out at the end of the week to talk through some of the basics, but i figured I'd post on here too to cover all my bases. As far as info i can provide about the pool, it's a saltwater pool and the owners have told me its around 22K gallons. This is a single speed pump and has no timer (which I'm looking to change). This pump has been running 24/7 365 days a year. I haven't delved into any of the chemical aspects of the pool at the moment but the water at least looks super clean. As far as maintenance over the past week all we've done is backwash the filter and clean the skimmer basket and pump filter. We do have a cover for it. I plan to purchase a chemical testing kit and maintain this pool myself once I'm educated enough to do so.
Some questions i have for you experts:
From what I've read the salt cell isn't doing anything under 60 degrees, my cell is turned down but on "generating"- does it even need to be on?
We just made it through a snow event ( luckily no freezing rain), but temps seem to be much colder next week. I do not have any backup power for the pump in case of emergency - should i have the pool tech close/winterize my pool when he's out at the end of the week?- the pool company receptionist acted like this really needed to happen
From some online reading it seems people just dump some liquid chlorine in and don't worry about levels until temps are above 60-is this an okay way to manage a SW pool in the winter?
Luckily i don't have many trees that could dump leaves into pool, is there any other benefits to the cover being on?
The pool company who i reached out to said a VSP was not necessary and 90% of people in my area have a single speed and i should just add a timer. I want this to be as energy efficient as possible and i'm okay dropping $1-2K if i get paid back in the long run. Any recommendations on VSP's that would match my plumbing?
Is my pool cleaner decent?
Lastly if you see any quirks in my plumbing or equipment please let me know. I apologize for the noob questions, its been a whirlwind dealing with other necessary repairs on this home and trying to move in a snow event but i will continue diving into pool care!
Thanks

Note, your pool service recommendations will likely be very different than TFP, but TFP recommendations will serve you better and with fewer problems. Though I don’t see how Alabama could be getting temps cold enough to worry about closing the pool, but I’m not down there.

 

[ajw22]

Is the CB powering the pump GFCI?

The pump wiring needs to be replaced and a GFCI CB installed for safety ASAP.

Electrical GFCI - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Mdragger88]

Note, your pool service recommendations will likely be very different than TFP, but TFP recommendations will serve you better and with fewer problems. Though I don’t see how Alabama could be getting temps cold enough to worry about closing the pool, but I’m not down there.

It’s definitely getting below freezing down here & Alabama. Op needs to Either winterize or get the pump rewired asap to run safely through the low temps

 

[Chris_Porter]

Small but vital correction.

Thanks for the correction—much more precise.