Hi all--My siblings and I recently inherited my Dad's property. He hadn't cared for the pool at all for at least the last 7-8 years. It was black and swampy, with its very own salamanders and even it's own bullfrog (named Bud). We are now starting the huge project of trying to get it swimmable again. It's a very old (built in 1959 by Paddock Pools) outdoor in-ground gunite pool, 20x40. We have drained it. We had to get a pump truck to suck out the deep black sludge in the bottom (we saved as many of the salamanders as we could first). We have power-washed it. The walls and shallow end came out really quite well with the power wash, but the area underneath the black sludge (most of the deep end) is still pretty black. The first time the pool was drained (many, many years ago by my Dad, in November, in rainy Vancouver), it floated and rose up about 6'. So although we've had great weather here recently, and very little rain, we decided to be cautious and, on the same day it was drained and the sludge removed, we had a water truck deliver 3,000 gallons. So that's what's in it currently. The 3,000 gallons covers the black stained area. I've got lots of questions:
-Any suggestions as to how to get rid of the black staining?
-The skimmer is a real mess of rust. I'm pretty sure it has never been replaced. Can anyone suggest a brand and model to replace it that would be good for this type of pool? How do I figure out what I would type or size I would need? Is it a job that a handy person could do on their own, or would it be better to get a pro?
-Would having only 3,000 gallons in it effect the ability of the pump to function? The pump doesn't seem to be working very well. It might need a new pump as well. (I don't have the pump and filter info yet, but will add it as soon as I get it. My Dad was a wee bit on the cheap side, so I suspect that the pump might be undersized.) Any suggestions for a replacement pump (brand, etc.) would be great.
Any other suggestions, thoughts or comments would be most welcome! It really is an overwhelming task, but we would love to get this grand old pool back to sparkling blue like it was in the old days.
-Any suggestions as to how to get rid of the black staining?
-The skimmer is a real mess of rust. I'm pretty sure it has never been replaced. Can anyone suggest a brand and model to replace it that would be good for this type of pool? How do I figure out what I would type or size I would need? Is it a job that a handy person could do on their own, or would it be better to get a pro?
-Would having only 3,000 gallons in it effect the ability of the pump to function? The pump doesn't seem to be working very well. It might need a new pump as well. (I don't have the pump and filter info yet, but will add it as soon as I get it. My Dad was a wee bit on the cheap side, so I suspect that the pump might be undersized.) Any suggestions for a replacement pump (brand, etc.) would be great.
Any other suggestions, thoughts or comments would be most welcome! It really is an overwhelming task, but we would love to get this grand old pool back to sparkling blue like it was in the old days.