Neglect
TFP teaches folks how to manage pool water chemistry so your pool is CRYSTAL CLEAR. But it's self management and doesn't involve pool store and pool services.
If that interests you, start here........https://www.troublefreepool.com/blog/category/pool-school/pool-care-basics/
It also involves very precise testing so be prepared for a learning curve but we will help EVERY step of the way.
Thanks for the honesty - kinda stings, but thanks. As a first time pool owner, and hearing how important early days of plaster care are, it seems odd to me that this falls under "my neglect" when the issues arose pretty much on day 2 or 3 or whatever it is. We did what our builder told us to do - brush it twice a day, yet it was trouble.
And while self-care of the pool is an ideal state for us, having someone help us with the initial start-up and first few months of maintenance shouldn't be out of the ordinary...
I'm happy to learn, but taking all that over on Day 1 of a first pool fill was never part of our plan, and kinda feels like entrusting that to the builder and their recommendations and startup company isn't "neglect"... I do mean that in the most respectful way, but just trying to understand how that's the case.
Your problems began here ---> "Feb 22 - Orenda startup begins"
Without TFP, owning a pool is like walking through a minefield. Unfortunately, you've already stepped on a few mines. You're in the right place now though.
Thanks I think - can you help explain why the startup was my problem? What should we have done differently?
And what would you suggest we do next?
This reply is probably the best balance of honesty and genuine advice. Pool builders might be good at building pools but it sure seems likely they are terrible at sanitation and maintenance.
Pool care can be very easy and not something that -requires- a pool maintainence company to do for you. It’s surprisingly simple once you test your own water and not blindly follow pool store printouts.
For the original poster, now that you’ve discovered that your builder, service company, and even the plaster manufacturer isn’t much help, I’d recommend taking charge of your own situation and DIY with us here. It’s really simple but does take some work initially but gets easier over time. Welcome!
Our builder partners with a local maintenance company so it's not technically themselves doing it, but I get your message.
I'd love some tips on what y'all think I should do to resolve our issue now - when you say take charge of your own situation and DIY... what are the next steps to get our plaster looking nice? Or where would I go to look at those DIY tips/info?
Pool builders are clueless when it comes to pool maintenance, but this is one where it is not the pool builder's fault.
This site is all about maintaining your own pool. No pool stores, no pool services, only you can care for your pool the correct way. If that is for you, we can certainly help you.
Hopefully you will fire the pool company, but if not, keep in mind that the algae you see is solely caused by not enough chlorine. People get caught up in the other numbers, filters, etc. and get taken advantage of when all the pool needs is some chlorine.
The pool builder supplied the maintenance for startup. I guess that's where I'm confused.
But that said, yes, we have learned there was not enough chlorine. Initially we used the test strips provided by the builder. THat's how we found that out. When we contacted the maintenance company to understand what the readings were they took from the water and what they added, they refused to tell us. Seemed a bit shady, which is also part of why we switched.
As of now, here are our 3 most recent readings. As it is getting much hotter here in Tx, our avg daily pool temp has gone from around 83-84 earlier in June to now around 90 during the day as of yesterday. We do have full sun on the pool all day as well. Please let me know what else may be needed to properly assess/determine other details. Happy to share whatever - I'm good to learn, just want to enjoy this and feel better about the quality (and of course fix what's already going on)
6/2:
READINGS
2 ppm total chlorine
6.8 pH
80 ppm total alkalinity
100 ppm cyanuric acid
250 ppm total hardness
CHEMICALS ADDED
2 tabs
1 lbs shock
2 lbs pH ↑ |
6/9:
READINGS
3 ppm total chlorine
7.5 pH
120 ppm total alkalinity
100 ppm cyanuric acid
250 ppm total hardness
CHEMICALS ADDED
2 lbs shock |
6/16:
READINGS
2 ppm total chlorine
7.5 pH
120 ppm total alkalinity
100 ppm cyanuric acid
250 ppm total hardness
CHEMICALS ADDED
2 tabs
1 lbs shock |