Another PSA, this time on Confer Step-1X

[VinnyinNJ]

We put together the steps today, the pool store lied to us because the "new design" still has the steps floating. I was NOT going to fill the ladder with sand and weighing down the steps with anything was not getting them down as I could not push the steps underwater.

My solution: I drilled 12 - 1/8" holes on the inside of the stair walls 3 on the bottom and 3 up under the steps on each side, the ones under the steps went higher as the steps went higher. I also drilled 2 -1/8" holes into the bottom of the bottom riser where the handrail attaches, I found the risers without water made the steps float. The steps sank fairly quickly and had some buoyancy so all that was needed was to tilt the steps forward to get the air to go to the back where it could escape from the top riser hole. It is not floating anymore! I think the 1/8" holes may not let the water drain quickly but I didn't want to affect the structural integrity of the steps, I don't think I did.

 

[ajw22]

the pool store lied to us ...

I am shocked! Just shocked!

 

[VinnyinNJ]

I am shocked! Just shocked!

Yeah, as we were going through the process we realized that some of the things he said were not actually true. He told us they redesigned the steps to eliminate the sand, it could have been a pool float! We have already discussed the Aquatrol, he wasn't too forthcoming on that as I'm sure he is aware of his township (which is mine as well) requirements. But in the end we got a decent price, was able to choose the liner of our choice, hard piped the system and had his people do startup. The other pool store where we bought our last pool had nothing like that and was more money. Oh, somehow I also got 3 extra bags of pool filter sand and salt.

I won't need to step foot into the store again for "testing", chemicals and supplies. My son will be adding unions to the long PVC pipes they hard piped so I can remove them for winter storage. Our last pool and original equipment lasted 20 years with only a pump replacement at about 4 YO and DE grids at 17 YO. Pump was bought at a pool store and the grids online. Online and big box stores for me going forward!

 

[Mdragger88]

I have drilled lots of holes in my steps (algae hotel) with no effect on their integrity. All my holes are 1” or larger (most are 1 1/2” or 2”) so i can stick the water hose or vac hose in there or a long brush to scrub.
It took several rounds of watching what accumulated & modifying to get them trouble free.
Mine are weighed down with 4 removable concrete & sand filled sealed bleach jugs & some sealed containers of concrete in the little ballast in the step (which the installers initially filled directly with sand & said that would be plenty of weight & definitely wouldn’t get algae )

 

[VinnyinNJ]

I have drilled lots of holes in my steps (algae hotel) with no effect on their integrity. All my holes are 1” or larger (most are 1 1/2” or 2”) so i can stick the water hose or vac hose in there or a long brush to scrub.
It took several rounds of watching what accumulated & modifying to get them trouble free.
Mine are weighed down with 4 removable concrete & sand filled sealed bleach jugs & some sealed containers of concrete in the little ballast in the step (which the installers initially filled directly with sand & said that would be plenty of weight & definitely wouldn’t get algae )

I'm a big guy and I worry about the integrity of things when "I make them better" so I tend to not take a lot off. We loved our last pool ladder but unfortunately they no longer make it. The only drawback was it was extremely heavy especially when filled with water. I needed to drill holes in that one too as it was a floater as well. We lived with the green water draining from the holes, my closing routine was and probably will still be take the ladder out of the pool and hit it with bleach to raise the chlorine level a lot, let it filter for 24/48 hours and then put the cover on it. Our pool stops getting direct sunlight around 3 PM so if we timed it right the chlorine was used up killing algae overnight and once covered it was dark enough I guess to stop algae growth as I always opened up to a very clean pool in the spring except 2 times - once the winter cover gave out and another time I opened to 0 CYA and I used a lot of liquid chlorine to eat up whatever was in that pool; the chloramine smell was wild coming from the pool.

But I'm glad to hear others have the same idea as I had and had equal or even better success!

 

[Mdragger88]

Mine are made differently than those & already had large holes in places- just not enough of them. I think @kellyfair has the ones u have - maybe she has some ideas