Hey all,
I am a new-to-pools homeowner that just purchased a home with existing pool, non-salt. My understanding from the PO of the home is the pool was built at the same time as the house in 1996. I have no info on when it was last serviced, resurfaced, nada.
I have been working diligently to try to get the chemicals into maintenance ranges and thought I had it all good several weeks ago. Everything was working correctly, basic test kit was showing everything in the normal ranges, or needed just a bit of acid occasionally to raise PH which I believe is normal due to the aeration from the fountain and waterfalling spa into the pool.
Well, 2 days ago the Baracuda gets caught on the steps just as it has 100 times since I've owned this thing, and I work my hand down the hose toward the head and pull it straight up to dislodge it as I always have. After I move it out of the way, my wife says, "Hey honey, look how good it cleaned the steps!" to which I look to see a large bright patch of plaster where the cleaner was. I knew immediately that the plaster had been scraped clean off the edge of the steps. But I figured it was my fault for the way I pulled the Baracuda out, though mind you, I had done this numerous times before. Today I come home and the Baracuda is again stuck in his normal spot by the stairs, and I move him this time by pulling straight out away from the stairs to avoid removing more plaster. On the spot where the Baracuda's hose weight had sat on the steps there is another bright white mark where the plaster is gone.
That Baracuda has been stuck there over 100 times, but only in the last 2 days has it ever removed plaster. What is going on? I cannot offer you a good chemical analysis right now as we've had a heck of a nasty storm this afternoon, but is there anything chemically that could be going on? I'll take a sample up to the pool store for a reading on Thursday if the weather settles.
When we first moved in to the house, we had a number of problems with the pool. The DE filter looked to have not been cleaned in over a year, many plastic in water parts have become brittle/broken, the pump had plant debris in the intake port which caused it to be unable to self prime in the mornings when the auto timer started and the Baracuda cleaner wouldn't operate due to low pressure. The PO also assembled the Baracuda incorrectly so it would not climb the side walls and clean the entire pool area, the spa bubbler needs attention, etc. Just bunches of little things driving me nuts. Trying desperately not to make mistakes that could be more costly.
Thanks for any help or insight.
I am a new-to-pools homeowner that just purchased a home with existing pool, non-salt. My understanding from the PO of the home is the pool was built at the same time as the house in 1996. I have no info on when it was last serviced, resurfaced, nada.
I have been working diligently to try to get the chemicals into maintenance ranges and thought I had it all good several weeks ago. Everything was working correctly, basic test kit was showing everything in the normal ranges, or needed just a bit of acid occasionally to raise PH which I believe is normal due to the aeration from the fountain and waterfalling spa into the pool.
Well, 2 days ago the Baracuda gets caught on the steps just as it has 100 times since I've owned this thing, and I work my hand down the hose toward the head and pull it straight up to dislodge it as I always have. After I move it out of the way, my wife says, "Hey honey, look how good it cleaned the steps!" to which I look to see a large bright patch of plaster where the cleaner was. I knew immediately that the plaster had been scraped clean off the edge of the steps. But I figured it was my fault for the way I pulled the Baracuda out, though mind you, I had done this numerous times before. Today I come home and the Baracuda is again stuck in his normal spot by the stairs, and I move him this time by pulling straight out away from the stairs to avoid removing more plaster. On the spot where the Baracuda's hose weight had sat on the steps there is another bright white mark where the plaster is gone.
That Baracuda has been stuck there over 100 times, but only in the last 2 days has it ever removed plaster. What is going on? I cannot offer you a good chemical analysis right now as we've had a heck of a nasty storm this afternoon, but is there anything chemically that could be going on? I'll take a sample up to the pool store for a reading on Thursday if the weather settles.
When we first moved in to the house, we had a number of problems with the pool. The DE filter looked to have not been cleaned in over a year, many plastic in water parts have become brittle/broken, the pump had plant debris in the intake port which caused it to be unable to self prime in the mornings when the auto timer started and the Baracuda cleaner wouldn't operate due to low pressure. The PO also assembled the Baracuda incorrectly so it would not climb the side walls and clean the entire pool area, the spa bubbler needs attention, etc. Just bunches of little things driving me nuts. Trying desperately not to make mistakes that could be more costly.
Thanks for any help or insight.
