Brand New Pool Cloudy— Help I’m Desperate!

[PoolStored]

You don't think there's something wrong with the filter?

No, but if dirty in sight glass, and filter pressure is rising, likely not the filter.

Should we start filling with hose or wait for rain?

Yes, if you didn't get the rain, your pool should have enough water so the water level is 50% in the skimmer.

So, square 1.

Contractor filled, had debris and algae. He drained and refilled. Then he added what?
Did he clean it before the refill? Don't know why there is so much debris if he cleaned and refilled.
Did he empty the pool?
Where did the fill water come from and do you know your water rates?

7600g isn't a bad refill, and potentially a good option at this point. My water rate is $1.75/100gallons so a refill would be $130.

 

[Royaloaker]

No, but if dirty in sight glass, and filter pressure is rising, likely not the filter.

Yes, if you didn't get the rain, your pool should have enough water so the water level is 50% in the skimmer.

So, square 1.

Contractor filled, had debris and algae. He drained and refilled. Then he added what?
Did he clean it before the refill? Don't know why there is so much debris if he cleaned and refilled.
Did he empty the pool?
Where did the fill water come from and do you know your water rates?

7600g isn't a bad refill, and potentially a good option at this point. My water rate is $1.75/100gallons so a refill would be $130.

There are bottles of Clear Result Poly Clear 60 Algaecide, Clear Result Super Clarifier, and Phosfree Max Phosphate Remover that were left by contractor. I've asked what was added before and how much, but he never responded. Just asked again, but I don't expect a response. I'm assuming he added everything and just dumped a ton in. We, of course, did not add any of that. Asked him about the cleaning and where the fill water came from too, but I don't expect a response there either. Knowing the level of care he's given us so far and the state of the pool, I'm fairly certain that he didn't clean the pool before refilling. I assume it was fully emptied, but who knows. We were at work when he did it. I assume he was basically sick of us telling him the pool was cloudy so was like, "Fine, I'll refill it myself" which doesn't really help if you don't clean it first.

 

[PoolStored]

The foaming is the result of whatever he added and the chlorine is clearing it. Algaecide, Clarifier and Phosphate removers can all foam. Maintaining slam FC will eventually clear it. How long and how much chlorine is an unknown.

We are not even certain that he did in fact replace water. He may have just dumped stuff in and said he replaced water.

If your water rates are low (you likely will have to include sewer rates if you use your hose to fill), then a water replacement is an option. The only risk with draining and refilling is that you pop your pool. Do you know your water table level? I know, I know, another thing to worry about. The other option is to do a no-drain water exchange. Read the "No Drain Water Exchange here:"

Draining - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Royaloaker]

The foaming is the result of whatever he added and the chlorine is clearing it. Algaecide, Clarifier and Phosphate removers can all foam. Maintaining slam FC will eventually clear it. How long and how much chlorine is an unknown.

We are not even certain that he did in fact replace water. He may have just dumped stuff in and said he replaced water.

If your water rates are low (you likely will have to include sewer rates if you use your hose to fill), then a water replacement is an option. The only risk with draining and refilling is that you pop your pool. Do you know your water table level? I know, I know, another thing to worry about. The other option is to do a no-drain water exchange. Read the "No Drain Water Exchange here:"

Draining - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Wow, he actually responded. He said he added Clear Result UV Block, Clear Result Super Clarifier, alkalinity up (I think just baking soda), increased hardness (not sure product), and salt. I think he added that algaecide too bc it's partially gone. We have a Ring camera, and I know he at least drained *some* of it. He said he drained all but 12" in the deep end. Still didn't answer whether he cleaned it (I'm sure he did not). He said he's not sure exactly where they filled up, but they used "A1 water from the Dearborn area". We will maintain SLAM and start calling and asking around about quotes to drain, CLEAN REALLY WELL, refill, and NOT add Crud to it.

We have that water table hole (Lol IDK what it's called), but hub just measured, and it's 68" deep and no water at all. Deep end of pool is 65".

 

[PoolStored]

Clear Result does not disclose ingredients.

Water service typically don't do draining. Good luck finding someone to drain and refill. <-that is not a snide comment, I'm truly wishing you luck.

You can get a sump pump for $100, and do the water exchange from your hose. Don't know your water rates.

If you get someone to do it all, tell them you want them to add NOTHING, you will do it.

 

[Royaloaker]

We have a sump. Water rates:

• $14.15 per unit for first 20 units per billing period ($4.93 water + $9.22 sewer = $14.15)
• $16.28 per unit in excess of 20 units per billing period ($5.67 water + $10.61 sewer = $16.28)

So not bad. We are just really worried that we will do this all ourselves and still have the same problem. Hubby is dead set against doing it ourselves. :/ He says we need "experts", but if our pool contractor is the "expert", I think we are doomed.

 

[PoolStored]

I don't know what a unit is in RO. 1000 gallons? So $100?

We have had 1000s of people do no drain water exchanges. They aren't hard, do take a little time, and little risk of having the same problem...but I understand his perspective.

If you are confident that the water table is low, then other option is to rent a trash pump from HD, drain it and re-fill. Trash pump would be fast. If you could get A-1 to deliver, you could have the whole thing done in a short period of time. Do you have a place to put the water (large drain?)

 

[Royaloaker]

I think it's like 748 gallons, so still pretty inexpensive. We had a drain that leads to our sump installed a few summers ago. Now I'm arguing with hubby about what to do...he wants nothing more to do with it. :/

 

[PoolStored]

If you don't have a drain, I would not put it through the sump that was installed. Not a good idea.

If you don't have a place to put it, then hire it out.

 

[Royaloaker]

Still SLAMming. Got about 1.5” of rain so that brought my FC down quite a bit. Still raining. Hubby is real crabby, but I told him I wanna keep doing this while he’s making calls. We vacuumed, backwashed, and backfilled with 3 cups of DE this morning. Been running the WYBOT, pulling it out, charging, and putting it back in. All we can do. Water looks a tiny bit better (pics were taken about 45 min after sweeping). Accumulation on the steps has improved. I’m drained. I’m going to try to pop home at lunch bc this rain is going to keep messing w my SLAM levels. All I can do.

 

[PoolStored]

We do what we can do. Were you able to vacuum?

 

[Royaloaker]

Vacuumed last night and this morning (in addition to Wybot), but hubby said he just noticed a crack on the head, so he ordered a new one. Wondering if that may have been reducing effectiveness. Also, I just talked my college student daughter into testing and adding chlorine every 2 hours. She was like, "Mom. I literally did this exact thing in chemistry this year." Lol.

 

[BigSexy]

Check the salt

 

[PoolStored]

Check the salt

SWCG is off for SLAM. We'll check the salt when we are done with SLAM and ready to turn the SWCG on...

 

[Royaloaker]

Check the salt

I'm SLAMing, so chlorinator is off. Salt level was plenty high before starting.

 

[Royaloaker]

We do what we can do. Were you able to vacuum?

Also, I do have that Sea Klear coming, but again, I promise I won't use it until you say so!

 

[PoolStored]

Great. Do an OCLT every night. Also, to CC test a couple times, no need everytime...just like to know where you stand there...Certainly do the CC on the morning OCLT test.

 

[PoolStored]

Log all test results if you can.

 

[Royaloaker]

Great. Do an OCLT every night. Also, to CC test a couple times, no need everytime...just like to know where you stand there...Certainly do the CC on the morning OCLT test.

I'll start doing OCLTs every night starting tonight and will test CC in the AM. Didn't do last night or this morning because I was depressed lol. Daughter just FaceTimed me and did the FC test & chlorine addition. It's been raining really hard all morning, so I'm glad she's doing.

 

[Royaloaker]

So here's what we will continue to do: OCLTs daily (with CC test in morning), morning & evening sweeping and vacuuming, backwashing and DE addition (3 cups) if filter increases > 12.5% (or if rain keeps raising water level), FC checks/chlorine addition every 2 hours (or as often as we can but no less than 3-4 times per day), and Wybot running as often as we can. Anything else?