Bought a home and over my head

[TatianaP]

Hello everyone! I just bought my first home and it has an in ground pool. I have no knowledge whatsoever on pool maintenance but I’m willing to learn. The previous owners left me nothing so I have no clue what I need to do or even what I have. I know that my pool vacuum doesn’t work but I can’t tell if it’s cause of the vacuum or the pump. I noticed today algae on the walls and I have a test kit I found in the pool supply closet. I’ve included pictures so hopefully someone(s) can help me!

 

[CrystalRiver]

Nice job on the photos so far. What test kit do you have? Most likely you'll need to buy a TF-100 or Taylor 2006C.

How have you been chlorinating the pool? Do you know how large your pool is? What surface is it (vinyl, fiberglass, or concrete)? Don't worry if you don't have all the answers right now, just do your best and we'll help you fill in the blanks.

Most urgent is to get an approximate volume, and start adding 5 ppm per day of liquid chlorine.

 

[CraigChing]

Ditto what @CrystalRiver said, just want to add that pictures of the pool itself will also help.

 

[Oly]

Welcome to TFP. Thinking you're in over your head is just your opinion, we can help you change that in no time. ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

 

[setsailsoon]

Tatiana,

Welcome to TFP. We'll help you get control of your pool quickly and at the minimum cost possible with mostly generic chemicals you can find at big box stores.. Please start by reading ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry. Ask any questions you have. If you want to use our system you'll need a recommended test kit so please order it asap.Test Kits Compared. Check to see what chemicals you have so we can get a feel for the pool maintenance techniques have been used before. We don't sell anything and that's not what happens at the pool store so you may want to stay clear of them until you get then basics down.. Won't take long.

Chris

 

[kellyfair]

Hello, Tatiana! Congrats on buying your new home, and never fear, we’ll help you get comfortable with maintaining your pool!

 

[TatianaP]

Nice job on the photos so far. What test kit do you have? Most likely you'll need to buy a TF-100 or Taylor 2006C.

How have you been chlorinating the pool? Do you know how large your pool is? What surface is it (vinyl, fiberglass, or concrete)? Don't worry if you don't have all the answers right now, just do your best and we'll help you fill in the blanks.

Most urgent is to get an approximate volume, and start adding 5 ppm per day of liquid

Hello everyone! I just bought my first home and it has an in ground pool. I have no knowledge whatsoever on pool maintenance but I’m willing to learn. The previous owners left me nothing so I have no clue what I need to do or even what I have. I know that my pool vacuum doesn’t work but I can’t tell if it’s cause of the vacuum or the pump. I noticed today algae on the walls and I have a test kit I found in the pool supply closet. I’ve included pictures so hopefully someone(s) can help me!

 

[TatianaP]

Nice job on the photos so far. What test kit do you have? Most likely you'll need to buy a TF-100 or Taylor 2006C.

How have you been chlorinating the pool? Do you know how large your pool is? What surface is it (vinyl, fiberglass, or concrete)? Don't worry if you don't have all the answers right now, just do your best and we'll help you fill in the blanks.

Most urgent is to get an approximate volume, and start adding 5 ppm per day of liquid chlorine.

I have not been chlorinating it. The home has been vacant for a year and I just moved in this week. I think the bottom is concrete. How could I find out the volume of the pool?

 

[Bperry]

I have not been chlorinating it. The home has been vacant for a year and I just moved in this week. I think the bottom is concrete. How could I find out the volume of the pool?

The pool looks like a concrete/plaster pool. If you can measure the depth at the deep end and the shallow end you can get an average pool depth, then this math will give you estimated gallons: length x width x average depth x 7.5
It doesn’t look bad for a year of no maintenance so I suspect someone has been chlorinating it or it has an operational salt chlorine generator. Get a few gallons of “chlorinating liquid” from Home Depot/Lowe’s/Walmart to have on stand by.

I’m the meantime, get a net and scoop out the leaves and junk from the bottom. Those will make algae worse.

 

[kellyfair]

That’s a beautiful setting!

 

[Orion7319]

Roman style pool, nice.

 

[CrystalRiver]

That pool has definitely been chlorinated recently. I believe @Bperry is correct that there is a working salt cell. That's great! The bottom really doesn't look bad, either, debris-wise. If they had a service until closing that was chlorinating, your pool may turn green quickly. If so, let us know promptly and we'll get you on track to prevent it from going out of control.

 

[TatianaP]

Sorry for the late reply, alright so I did the math and my pool is approx 9,977 gallons. How would I be able to tell if there is a salt cell? I just had the pump fixed and the pool tech said nothing about it, but he may have not thought it was important. It is starting to turn green quite quickly. I’m trying to find chlorine but it’s sold out everywhere right now. I ordered the Taylor kit so it will be here next Wednesday. Right now the owners left a bio guard multitest 1200v. I ordered a new vaccuum cause the one in the pool is dead. Thank you so much everyone on this thread for helping me. Next on the list is buying a cover cause of course all the trees are “shedding” flowers and I just don’t have the time to clean it all the time

 

[Bperry]

Share a picture of your equipment pad, from far away so everything on it is visible.

for chlorine, try Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, ace hardware, the grocery store. As long as it’s plain bleach with no additives, it’s ok.

 

[TatianaP]

Share a picture of your equipment pad, from far away so everything on it is visible.

for chlorine, try Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, ace hardware, the grocery store. As long as it’s plain bleach with no additives, it’s ok.

 

[Bperry]

Looks like the thing on the floor on the right side might be a tablet feeder? I don’t see a salt cell. Maybe someone else can chime in. Was the pool covered until recently?

 

[TatianaP]

No, it could have been the brother of the seller. He lives next door cleaning it. I would ask him but he’s been out of town since I closed on vacation.

 

[Lilypad]

Welcome to TFP and congrats on the house and great pool! You can find liquid chlorine
at the Lowe's in Abilene. I just checked and found this:

 

[setsailsoon]

Tatiana,

I would start by putting 1 gal of bleach in the pool now and .5 gallon each day until you receive a recommended test kit. If you haven't already done so, use a brush and net to get as much of the debris out of the bottom of the pool and anything floating on the surface. The debris consumes free chlorine quickly. We've found these kits (Test Kits Compared) are very reliable and give great results even from very new pool owners. After you get the kit we can help you get rid of any algae and start the process to get your pool "trouble free". Shouldn't take long if you get that required kit asap! Our system is simple, cheap to do and is based on test results. It also works very well, over 200,000 pool owners currently. The fact your pool is turning green indicates you are having the beginning of an algae bloom so time is of the essence to get started. If you get that test kit and nip this in the bud you will be way better off.

I hope this helps.

Chris

 

[TatianaP]

Welcome to TFP and congrats on the house and great pool! You can find liquid chlorine
at the Lowe's in Abilene. I just checked and found this:
View attachment 330603

Lowe’s website is a lie I went there and they are all sold out my mother is coming from Florida so she’s bringing me chlorine tomorrow