Greetings!!
First off, I would like to say that this site seems to have a plethora of knowledge, which is what I am in dire need of. We have had our pool for about 6 years now, and it seems like every year is a struggle. Im getting older and a bit more impatient, so I am looking at trying things differently.
Some information about the pool:
15 x 30 above ground pool which IIRC is 52 inch deep
replaced the vinyl liner last spring
21 inch sand filter (Sta-Rite I think)
1 hp hayward pump I think
When I built the pool, I had a PoolFrog system installed in line. It worked great for a while, but I think the internal valving took a Crud because the chlorine levels started going whacky.. I took it out and went to 3 inch chlorine tabs.
I have been dealing with chlorine tablets since. When I first started going to the local pool store, it was fairly close. Well they closed their doors a couple years ago, so I was forced to find another place. The closest pool store is now a half hour away, and I have been relying on them for water testing as well as chemicals (they sell BioGuard)...
Here is where the wrench gets thrown in the system. I am a full time firefighter/EMT. I work a 24 hour on, 24 hour off schedule. I can not get my hands in the pool on a daily basis to perform maintenance and check chemical levels. My wife was helping the best she could, but she in an Emergency Medical Technician that works crazy off the wall hours. This spring she started her Paramedic courses, so on top of working her crazy unheard of schedule, she is also in class three nights a week. So pretty much neither one of us are home to maintain the pool on a regular schedule, but we both want the pool to be ready to swim when we finally have a spare minute to enjoy it. (i know... asking for the world here i think)...
As said earlier, I have always relied on the local pool store for testing. I am finding that I need to start testing on my own. Case in point, today its FINALLY not raining and I want to get a test on the pool but its Sunday and nobody is open. I work tomorrow, so it will be Tuesday before I can get to the pool store and get a test (provided its not down pouring again)... I need to learn how to test my water.
I also want to find a way to automate my pool the best I can. I did a little reading before creating this profile, and I see something about the Stennar pump, and the Liquidator?? No idea what these are, so I think I need to read more.
Anybody out there have some advice for a relative noobie in this respect? I will be building my signature to answer some questions that I saw in the beginners corner.
Thanks
Jeremy
First off, I would like to say that this site seems to have a plethora of knowledge, which is what I am in dire need of. We have had our pool for about 6 years now, and it seems like every year is a struggle. Im getting older and a bit more impatient, so I am looking at trying things differently.
Some information about the pool:
15 x 30 above ground pool which IIRC is 52 inch deep
replaced the vinyl liner last spring
21 inch sand filter (Sta-Rite I think)
1 hp hayward pump I think
When I built the pool, I had a PoolFrog system installed in line. It worked great for a while, but I think the internal valving took a Crud because the chlorine levels started going whacky.. I took it out and went to 3 inch chlorine tabs.
I have been dealing with chlorine tablets since. When I first started going to the local pool store, it was fairly close. Well they closed their doors a couple years ago, so I was forced to find another place. The closest pool store is now a half hour away, and I have been relying on them for water testing as well as chemicals (they sell BioGuard)...
Here is where the wrench gets thrown in the system. I am a full time firefighter/EMT. I work a 24 hour on, 24 hour off schedule. I can not get my hands in the pool on a daily basis to perform maintenance and check chemical levels. My wife was helping the best she could, but she in an Emergency Medical Technician that works crazy off the wall hours. This spring she started her Paramedic courses, so on top of working her crazy unheard of schedule, she is also in class three nights a week. So pretty much neither one of us are home to maintain the pool on a regular schedule, but we both want the pool to be ready to swim when we finally have a spare minute to enjoy it. (i know... asking for the world here i think)...
As said earlier, I have always relied on the local pool store for testing. I am finding that I need to start testing on my own. Case in point, today its FINALLY not raining and I want to get a test on the pool but its Sunday and nobody is open. I work tomorrow, so it will be Tuesday before I can get to the pool store and get a test (provided its not down pouring again)... I need to learn how to test my water.
I also want to find a way to automate my pool the best I can. I did a little reading before creating this profile, and I see something about the Stennar pump, and the Liquidator?? No idea what these are, so I think I need to read more.
Anybody out there have some advice for a relative noobie in this respect? I will be building my signature to answer some questions that I saw in the beginners corner.
Thanks
Jeremy