I'm a new pool owner and forum member. We started construction last January (2014) and have had nothing but problems with the process and builder - so much so that we have now had to resort to legal action.
It started with the simplest thing - they mis-measured the layout of the pool four times. This normally wouldn't be too big of a deal, but we had to dig through 8 feet of rock, so a mis-measurement meant lots more money. I won't go into all the details at this point, but the end result is plumbing in the wrong locations, a leak (part of my question), multiple cover failures, the list goes on.
Right now my question deals with chemistry and water loss.
The pool is a 20' x 45' and goes from about 3 feet to 8.5 feet deep, with a pebble sheen finish. Since it was originally filled last June it has lost anywhere from 1/4 inch to 1.5 inches of water per day. They did come out once and found a leak in the main drain and a broken light conduit which where both plugged. That only slowed the leak.
Over memorial day I had to drain and acid wash the pool (long story there too) and upon filling it (finished Tuesday) I've been keeping detailed records on water loss, temperature, FC, etc.
I've made a mark on the tile line that is about 2 inches from the top of the tile as my starting point each time. I started my record keeping on Wednesday afternoon when water level was at 1.875 inches from the top. This morning at 6:30 am the water level had dropped to 3.125 inches from the top or 1.25 inches of water loss in about 40 hours. The pool has been uncovered and heated this whole time, so I understand there will be some evaporation, but I don't think it would be near that much. Temperatures have ranged from high 40s to low 80s over this stretch of time and the water temperature rose from about 65 to 87 during this time as well. Thoughts?
Next to chemistry - the inline chlorinator has never seemed to add enough chlorine, even turned all the way up. I have been supplementing with liquid bleach to maintain the FC as best as possible, but it's a difficult task when I'm putting in nearly 3,000 gallons of fresh water per week. CYA is usually nill due to all the fresh water going in - I just added 16 pounds today that should bring it up to around 50 ppm if I'm correct.
So I think I know the answers to my questions, but I'm asking anyway.
I guess my question is, am I crazy or missing something obvious? I'm constantly adding bleach and have the chlorinator all the way up in order to even keep the FC around 3 ppm. So far each morning when measured it's barely been 0.5 ppm.
I'm hoping to have the cover fixed very soon which will help with chlorine loss from sun and nearly eliminate evaporation (at least when covered).
Any suggestions?
It started with the simplest thing - they mis-measured the layout of the pool four times. This normally wouldn't be too big of a deal, but we had to dig through 8 feet of rock, so a mis-measurement meant lots more money. I won't go into all the details at this point, but the end result is plumbing in the wrong locations, a leak (part of my question), multiple cover failures, the list goes on.
Right now my question deals with chemistry and water loss.
The pool is a 20' x 45' and goes from about 3 feet to 8.5 feet deep, with a pebble sheen finish. Since it was originally filled last June it has lost anywhere from 1/4 inch to 1.5 inches of water per day. They did come out once and found a leak in the main drain and a broken light conduit which where both plugged. That only slowed the leak.
Over memorial day I had to drain and acid wash the pool (long story there too) and upon filling it (finished Tuesday) I've been keeping detailed records on water loss, temperature, FC, etc.
I've made a mark on the tile line that is about 2 inches from the top of the tile as my starting point each time. I started my record keeping on Wednesday afternoon when water level was at 1.875 inches from the top. This morning at 6:30 am the water level had dropped to 3.125 inches from the top or 1.25 inches of water loss in about 40 hours. The pool has been uncovered and heated this whole time, so I understand there will be some evaporation, but I don't think it would be near that much. Temperatures have ranged from high 40s to low 80s over this stretch of time and the water temperature rose from about 65 to 87 during this time as well. Thoughts?
Next to chemistry - the inline chlorinator has never seemed to add enough chlorine, even turned all the way up. I have been supplementing with liquid bleach to maintain the FC as best as possible, but it's a difficult task when I'm putting in nearly 3,000 gallons of fresh water per week. CYA is usually nill due to all the fresh water going in - I just added 16 pounds today that should bring it up to around 50 ppm if I'm correct.
So I think I know the answers to my questions, but I'm asking anyway.
I guess my question is, am I crazy or missing something obvious? I'm constantly adding bleach and have the chlorinator all the way up in order to even keep the FC around 3 ppm. So far each morning when measured it's barely been 0.5 ppm.
I'm hoping to have the cover fixed very soon which will help with chlorine loss from sun and nearly eliminate evaporation (at least when covered).
Any suggestions?
Welcome to TFP!!!
Stick to liquid bleach only. It's cheap and has very little residual effects on your water. BIG question .. how (or with what kit) are you testing your water? Everyone will want to know. If you aren't using a TFP-recommended kit (i.e. TF-100 linked below) please consider doing so. You are correct - without CYA, chlorine was probably getting used right away. Stabilizer (CYA) takes a while to record on your CYA tests, so give it a few days and check again. Again, welcome!