Afraid Of My Pool
- Thread starter beachglass
- Start date
It does seem like that. I have been doing elimination tests for two months trying to figure it out. Makes no sense that when we built our house and I went in to this new pool around March/April I was fine, it wasn't until this salt water change in August.
Pool filter is Pentair. Heater is Hayward.
Pool filter is Pentair. Heater is Hayward.
It does sound like it could possibly be the salt given your timeline. When our pool was at start up, the company added a ridiculous amount of salt. My reading and an independent reading was 6,700! This was in May, which is our winter. I wasn’t swimming, but my arm would rash up after taking a water sample. I even posted about it in my build thread. It was plain good quality pool salt. No additives - I checked. Now at this time I was also struggling with cc level of 0.5-1 but was passing the oclt. I did bring it up to slam level for a couple of days using lc. This seemed to eliminate the ccs. I didn’t physically get in the pool(briefly) until late June and to say I was nervous about a reaction is an understatement. I had no problem at all. No rash, no hives, nothing. Now in the period before I swam, I did stop noticing the irritation on my arm during testing but I can’t recall when. I was backwashing quite a bit back then and there was also the elimination of ccs. I still can’t be sure, but I think it was either the super high salt level or the ccs. I am leaning more toward the ccs though. Ph was good throughout. I would double/triple check your testing and reagents. As someone who is anaphylactic I was very nervous about being allergic to my new pool. I have had hives before in public pools. Keep in mind that you can develop an allergy to anything, at any time in your life. My anaphylaxis didn’t read its head until I was 23. I do think that you will be able to get to the bottom of this and be back to swimming in your pool in no time.
Thank You Riley . I am sorry you had to go through this. It does keep coming back to this salt issue.
I was wondering does anyone know if there is a particular test to test for bacteria in the pool, just to rule this out.
I was wondering does anyone know if there is a particular test to test for bacteria in the pool, just to rule this out.
I wonder if your health dept would be a good place to ask for a full water test? I really don't know. I wonder if a high quality fish store would be able to test for bacteria? Just throwing ideas out to see if any could work.
Saturn94
Bronze Supporter
- Mar 11, 2015
- 1,864
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,173
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
You have a 12,000 gallon pool. 7,000 gallon water trucks by me run around $450. It will take two water trucks to refill your pool with fresh water and let you start new. For around $1,000 you can start fresh. I suspect you have spent more than that much already on this problem.
We can all guess what your problem is and send you in various directions. It is totally random if you stumble on a fix to your problem. If something got into your water that you are allergic to then nothing will remove it other then new water.
The quickest fix is pump the water out and arrange for water trucks to refill your pool the same day. Then take total control of your pool, all testing, and know every chemical that is put in it. Chlorine, MA, CYA, and high quality pool salt if you have a SWG is about all you usually need. I use Mortons Pool Salt, available at Walmart. Do not use Clorox Pool Salt or Clorox chlorine.
I would give the SWG another try with fresh water. But whatever salt you are going to use, first fill up a bathtub with water and add salt to the 3000ppm level in the tub and take a soak. See how your body reacts. That way if the salt is a problem you don't contaminate your entire pool. You can simulate your pool environment in the tub with some CL and CYA also. Once you find chemicals that work for you stick with them.
We can all guess what your problem is and send you in various directions. It is totally random if you stumble on a fix to your problem. If something got into your water that you are allergic to then nothing will remove it other then new water.
The quickest fix is pump the water out and arrange for water trucks to refill your pool the same day. Then take total control of your pool, all testing, and know every chemical that is put in it. Chlorine, MA, CYA, and high quality pool salt if you have a SWG is about all you usually need. I use Mortons Pool Salt, available at Walmart. Do not use Clorox Pool Salt or Clorox chlorine.
I would give the SWG another try with fresh water. But whatever salt you are going to use, first fill up a bathtub with water and add salt to the 3000ppm level in the tub and take a soak. See how your body reacts. That way if the salt is a problem you don't contaminate your entire pool. You can simulate your pool environment in the tub with some CL and CYA also. Once you find chemicals that work for you stick with them.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,640
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Google "water test lab" and the area in which you live and see what pops up. Give them a call. Describe your issue and ask about what their capabilities are regarding this type of sleuthing.
Do perform the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test and double check the CCs first, of course, as those could be a clue.
You skipped one of my questions, regarding swimming in others' pools. Has this reaction only happened in your pool? And if that's the case, have you swam in enough other pools, recently, to confidently rule out pool chemistry in general, and that it must be something unique to your pool?
Do perform the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test and double check the CCs first, of course, as those could be a clue.
You skipped one of my questions, regarding swimming in others' pools. Has this reaction only happened in your pool? And if that's the case, have you swam in enough other pools, recently, to confidently rule out pool chemistry in general, and that it must be something unique to your pool?
Hi. Thanks you again. Will run the CC test tonight. It has happened every time I go in my pool. I went to the Keys 2 weeks ago, salt water pool. I had no issues. the previous rash was still present from going in my pool a few days prior to the trip, but I did not have a reaction to the pool in the Keys. No burning or irritation when I went in and nothing when I came out.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,640
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
And what did you mean when you wrote about your friend's pool: " "I went in their pool again and had the same reaction."
We have thought of this, but the pool is not even a year old and we are very afraid of the pool popping. I would think we would have to hire professionals for this. Cant afford to replace this pool if something goes wrong. It makes the most logical sense to start out new, just not so easy. I would like to rule out as much as I can before making that big move. Still think we should test for bacteria, so going to call our health dept and see what I can find out. Also going to do the CC test tonight.
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I asked Pinch a Penny when they initially system in what the brand was. They could not tell me other than that it was pure and from Turkey. Hmmm. I did not however have a problem until our pool guy showed up a week later and added another bag which I have now found was from "Allied" based in Tampa Florida. Again, told purest form of salt. ???
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I asked Pinch a Penny when they initially system in what the brand was. They could not tell me other than that it was pure and from Turkey. Hmmm. I did not however have a problem until our pool guy showed up a week later and added another bag which I have now found was from "Allied" based in Tampa Florida. Again, told purest form of salt. ???
Saturn94
Bronze Supporter
- Mar 11, 2015
- 1,864
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
The reason I ask is unless I see the label I’m suspicious when someone claims the salt is “pure”.
I think I remember reading somewhere on this forum that some companies will add stain inhibitors in the salt, and that shrimp shells or something like that is sometimes used as such. If you are allergic to shellfish (or recently developed such an allergy?), that might explain he reaction you’re having.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,640
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Saturn94
Bronze Supporter
- Mar 11, 2015
- 1,864
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Here’s an example of salt I tried (I don’t use it anymore) that claims highest purity, but what’s hard to see in the picture is the statement about stain inhibitors.
I contacted the company to find out what they add to inhibit stains, but they could not tell me.
I contacted the company to find out what they add to inhibit stains, but they could not tell me.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,173
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Let's say that you found out there is bacteria in the pool. What would you do?
Chlorine is the best pool sanitizer that I know of. You can raise your FC to shock levels for your CYA following [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA] for a few days. Then let the CL level drift back down and try the pool.
Other than SLAM Process your pool I don't know what else you can do to "fix" your water.
In the end I think you will end up replacing your pool water and starting over.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,640
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I agree. If the OP rules out everything but the pool water, and it's not something that chlorine can kill, then what else can be done?
If it comes to that, I had mentioned cleaning the pool while it's empty. If the OP is going to do it, do it right. That means flushing out all the pipes, and pump(s), everything. Skimmer, drains, returns. Probably changing out all the filter media. Steps. Lights. Ladders. Etc.
If it turns out to be something she's hyper-sensitive to, then the task has to be done thoroughly.
Hopefully, it's something else. Something much simpler. If it's in the pool, it could be quite a process.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,173
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I say you might be correct or what you describe could be Dirk overkill. OP does not yet have a signature describing the pool equipment ( Pool School - Read This BEFORE You Post ) so we don't know what type of filter we are dealing with.
I would think replacing the water and filter elements should be sufficient. Maybe blow out the lines, like is done when winterizing the pool, while it is being drained. I don't know how else you can "flush out the lines" with the pool empty. And I think the OP does want to get new water dumped back in the pool as soon as it is emptied.
I might do an experiment to determine how sensitive she is to the contaminated water. Fill a tub, or barrel, or bucket, with pool water. Whatever it takes to get a reaction from a hand or foot. Then dilute the bucket by half. See if she still reacts. Keep on diluting until she finds what concentration she does not react to. That should tell if trace amounts of the contaminated water will be a problem. I doubt a few gallons of contaminated water remaining in the pipes will cause a problem with 12,000 gallons of fresh water. But in the spirit of Dirk it is worth a test.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,640
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Well, yes, there is always the overkill factor to consider, but she's already diluted the pool twice, by 50% each time. And if a contaminant came in in just that one, last bag of salt, then that's an indication that she's pretty sensitive to whatever it is. She's already pointed out her trepidation (rightfully so) about emptying the pool. I'm just throwin' it out there that if she has to go to that length, that she go a little extra further, so that she doesn't have to do it again.
I agree flushing the pipes of an empty pool would be a challenge, but it's possible, I think, with some ingenuity. It'd be a multi-step process, and somewhat dependent on the complexity of the plumbing. Remove the filter media. Rinse out the filter housing and reassemble without media. Screw a simple PVC adaptor into the skimmer port, connect up a garden hose, and let it run while the pool is being emptied. Depending on the plumbing, that'd fill all the plumbing and flush it out. Might have to regulate the returns with another screw in adaptor, to get everything to fill, bleed out the air through the filter gauge, etc., but I could make it work, I think, if I was tasked to.
I agree flushing the pipes of an empty pool would be a challenge, but it's possible, I think, with some ingenuity. It'd be a multi-step process, and somewhat dependent on the complexity of the plumbing. Remove the filter media. Rinse out the filter housing and reassemble without media. Screw a simple PVC adaptor into the skimmer port, connect up a garden hose, and let it run while the pool is being emptied. Depending on the plumbing, that'd fill all the plumbing and flush it out. Might have to regulate the returns with another screw in adaptor, to get everything to fill, bleed out the air through the filter gauge, etc., but I could make it work, I think, if I was tasked to.
Thats intesting. I am not allergic to any shellfish, but it might be worth calling Allied to see what they put in there. Do you think they will tell me the truth.
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Wow, that's crazy. I am going to look up Allied which is the last bag that went in from the pool service company and see if I can find anything online. If not, I will have to call on Monday.
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The Pentair system we have is brand new. It only has a cartridge which is cleaned weekly.
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Now, I just need a tub, we didn't put one in the house.
The pool system is a Pentair with a cartridge. It is called Pentair Clean and Clear. I will update my info on signature.
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Reaction in water and when I got out. Especially bad a few hours later and through the evening into the next day.
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Is there anyway to do a sort of water transfusion. Say stir up the bottom and sides with a brush, hook up a pump at the bottom to let the water out and at the time add water in?
Also, we tested the CC it is -0-.
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Wow, that's crazy. I am going to look up Allied which is the last bag that went in from the pool service company and see if I can find anything online. If not, I will have to call on Monday.
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The Pentair system we have is brand new. It only has a cartridge which is cleaned weekly.
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Now, I just need a tub, we didn't put one in the house.
The pool system is a Pentair with a cartridge. It is called Pentair Clean and Clear. I will update my info on signature.
- - - Updated - - -
Reaction in water and when I got out. Especially bad a few hours later and through the evening into the next day.
- - - Updated - - -
Is there anyway to do a sort of water transfusion. Say stir up the bottom and sides with a brush, hook up a pump at the bottom to let the water out and at the time add water in?
Also, we tested the CC it is -0-.