how to get the most cost effective temps

[keep-it-simple]

Hi all,

Just bought a house that has an in-ground pool. I can probably count on my fingers the number of times I've been swimming in my life, so I have no clue what to put in my signature here to help y'all out.

I hope that I can work with our local pool store to balance the chemicals. I've poked around and it seems like vacuuming and maintenance should be simple enough. I'll check tomorrow to see whether the pool store is open to test chemicals for me.

Here's what I know:
Location - NW Georgia
Average temps - (http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/30701)
Pool - Inground, vinyl
Filter - A big black bulb with a missing pressure gauge
SWG - Jandy
HP - How do I determine that? It has a AO Smith timer with up to 3 different timer settings
Size - 18' wide by 36' long plus steps at the shallow end
Depth - I'd guess 3' shallow end and 8' deep end
Age - pool was dug in the 80s. SWG and pump are less than a year old. No information about the filter.

I just took the cover off. Previous owners winterized it but left us no chemicals or anything.
It looks remarkably clean.
I poked around and played with the pool settings. I brushed the pool and a slight film or perhaps settled dust brushed clean. Then I ran the Creepy Crawly for 24hours. Cleaned out the basket at the filter.
The water is maybe a little cloudy. The pattern of the vinyl in the deep end is a little less distinguishable than the shallow end, but I'm impressed. The water seems very clear otherwise.

We have a large light blue blanket with bubbles on it like heavy duty bubble wrap. I'm assuming this is the solar cover? The cover measures 15' by 28' so it won't cover the whole pool.
Just guessing based on observation that the pool gets about 4 hours of direct sunlight a day. Huge row of Georgia Pines to the east, a single maple tree to the south, and our two-story home to the west. Previous owners say the pool temperature is only decent from June through August.

I'm frugal but will spend money of quality items. I don't think an electric/gas heater in Georgia would be worth it. I don't honestly think those little solar coil heaters could make a difference for this big of a pool with so few hours of direct light.
Does the bubble cover make a difference for temps or is that only to prevent losing heat in the evenings? The cover is not on a reel if that makes a difference.

Thanks for any feedback!

 

[duraleigh]

First step would be to test your water and post a set of test results. Secondly, replace that pressure gauge with a liquid filled. earch "liquid-filled" here on the forum and you'll find a good one for under $10.00.

The solar cover mostly retains heat at night but it also prevents evaporative loss at all times.

If you are looking for the best pool heater you can get and don't want to pay HUGE gas bills, take a look here on the forum of the many topics on solar heat.

Solar heat really works for pools....I am not a big fan for other applications but it is ideal for a pool.

 

[dmanb2b]

Welcome to TFP!

I'd start off by reading thorugh pool school (link in my sig) and investing in a quality test kit. Most here prefer the TF100, but the Taylor k-2006 will also do the job. While there may be exceptions, DO NOT rely on the pool store to balance your chemicals. It's one of the main reasons this board has 30K+ memebers. Most of us have at some point been "pool stored". Invest in a good kit and while you await it's arrival, study through pool school. That my recomendation to save money, frustration and time.

As for heating, since you are in GA, I would wait to see how warm the pool gets this season and then if you still want addt'l heat, I would suggest solar panels, or if natural gas if accesible.

 

[keep-it-simple]

Thanks, y'all.
I ordered the recommended pressure gauge. Seems like a great price.
I've read through the pool school a couple of times. I'm not sure that I understand it all yet, but it doesn't seem too complicated.
The local pool store tests all the things that are requested for test results. Are their machines/results not accurate?

 

[Richard320]

Thanks, y'all.
I ordered the recommended pressure gauge. Seems like a great price.
I've read through the pool school a couple of times. I'm not sure that I understand it all yet, but it doesn't seem too complicated.
The local pool store tests all the things that are requested for test results. Are their machines/results not accurate?

That would be an understatement.

Remember, they are in business to sell chemicals. Getting pool-stored once will end up costing you more than a test kit. There's a bit of a learning curve, but within two weeks, you'll understand pool chemistry by testing and treating it yourself, and after that it's just a couple minutes every couple days. Less time overall than a drive to/from the pool store once a week.

 

[4knights]

Thanks, y'all.

The local pool store tests all the things that are requested for test results. Are their machines/results not accurate?

Depending on the pool store (all are in business to sell YOU stuff) thier test results may help the store to resupply the chemicals they sell the most or push the ones they don't.
Not saying the pool store is not a good reference but testing it yourself with the TF-100 increases your personal knowledge and ability to maintain your pool.
Read up on the BBB method and use the pool calculator and your pool will remain beautiful and trouble free.

When I found this site and BBB, I asked my local pool store about it and they tried very hard to steer me towards thier products, referencing "local water conditions, etc." I still buy my muratic acid from them but my salt I got from the big box store for 1/4 the price. I compare my test results with theirs and always find thier results lean toward wanting me to buy this, that or the other thing. Never have they said "the waters balanced, keep it up" it's always buy this or that.
I'm sticking with TFP and BBB.

 

[keep-it-simple]

Okay, thank you. I didn't consider that perspective.
Our pool store doesn't stock/sell pool chemicals. They build pools and sell patio furniture, Big Green Egg, etc. They test water for free though. Previous owners said they tested water with pool store and then purchased online as needed.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[linen]

Welcome to tfp, keep-it-simple

I love your username That is what we try to do with pool chemistry on here.

That is unusual for them to not sell chemicals, but that does not make their results reliable. You will benefit greatly from having you own timely and consistent results, and it is unlikely that you can get either from the store.

 

[cramar]

Why run a sample down to a store when you can easily test and do it yourself, insteading of being told how to fix your problem you can develop the knowledge to fix it yourself.
Pool school and a good drop based test kit is all you need, oh, and the pool calculator too.

 

[keep-it-simple]

Thank you, all.

Looking at the cost of solar heaters, I'm thinking I'll put that project on hold until next year. I'm trying to pay off my house this year, plus that gives me one swimming season to figure out the baseline for my pool.

In reading here it seems the best way to use the bubble blanket is off during the day and on at night. What if we just left it on 24/7 until swim season? Does the time seem to make a big difference? What about coverage amount if I were to replace the blanket?

 

[Isaac-1]

I can't comment too much about pool covers as I have an indoor pool, however I did want to point out a correctly sized solar cover should not cost all that much ($100-$200 depending on the quality). As to Solar heat for pools, it does work if you have a location with good southern exposure where you can mount solar panels, a rule of thumb for your region is you need panels totalling 50-60% of the size of your pool to extend your swim season to 7-8 months of the year, and 100% for 9-10 month, this is of course rule of thumb, and depends on how warm you want your water, amount of sun exposure, if your a morning or evening swimmer (since the pool will cool some overnight) etc. I am in the process of replacing an old set of solar panels that came down last year when I had the rood replaced with a new set, this is mostly a DIY project with some help of professional roofers, cost for (528 sq ft) 11 - 4x12 good quality panels is working out to be about $2,800, plus about another $250 in pipes and plumbing fittings will cover it, of course I already have an (optional) electronic solar controller valued at another $500, and will likely be upgrading pool pump at the same time as mine has a hairline crack in the housing .

Ike

 

[keep-it-simple]

Thanks, Ike. I came across a few of your posts in searching through this forum. I appreciate your feedback.

 

[gtemkin]

I just want to put in a plug for a solar covers in general. I don't have one anymore (I have an auto-cover now), but i had several over a 15 year period.

I feel they are the single most cost effective piece of equipment you can buy.

Saves lots of water. Without a cover, I used to lose almost an inch of water a week during the summer. With a (full) cover, no loss at all.
Saves on chemicals. Without a cover your pool is inundated with lots of detritus that puts a heavy load on your sanitizer. Lighten the load and save some money.
Saves on heating. The cooling effect of evaporation is tremendous. Keeping the cover on at night keeps the heat in.
Saves the end of the season. Not a lot, but it will extend your pool season slightly by holding the heat in longer.

 

[ping]

To answer your question about how long to keep the cover on, I keep ours on most of the time, day and night. If I notice the combined chlorine rising to .5 ppm then I will remove the cover during the day and the combined chlorine will usually drop right back to 0. Just a warning on the solar covers, you most likely will only get around 2 seasons of use out of the cover before it starts breaking down. Most people stick with the thin, cheaper, and lighter covers for this reason.

The best investment money wise you can make for your pool right now is in one of the recommended test kits.