brand new pool owner, first time test results. Is this right?
- Thread starter sangree99
- Start date
what can I say? I'm new here, go easy! the worst part is, when Marian asked if there was gas in there, my first thought was that she was just confirming it had enough weight to keep the sock in place. haha.
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Yes, I'm on it! It seems like pool care time is getting later and later for me. We have two 3 year olds (twins) and an almost 1-yr-old so as you can imagine not much gets done when I get home from work until after they're in bed. We just went to check on them and one of the twins was missing- found her fast asleep in the closet with the sliding doors shut. What kid does that?! I'll post some new numbers shortly.
ok, I'm back with latest test results:
FC: 3.5 still (this is with the FAS-DPD test. I seem to get a 5 with the OTO color-matching test. But that one's not really accurate and is more of "yes you have chlorine" test right?
PH: 7.65
TA: 70
didn't test CYA or CH.
CSI is -0.26 which according to PoolMath has moved from "potential to become corrosive" to "balanced" Yay!
Now that I'm within the recommended ranges, my question is, where within those ranges should I target? I was thinking for PH I should shoot for the lower end of the range (7.5) since it's new plaster and will tend to creep higher, but that skews my CSI back to dangerously high levels. Atttech-2 shared his similar experience and pointed me to a thread where JoyfulNoise and ChemGeek spoke of leaving PH higher in the winter for this very reason. Thoughts?
Same question for TA. Recommended range is 70-90. Should I target 80 or leave it as is?
It's satisfying to see the levels changing in response to what I'm doing. Go chemistry!
FC: 3.5 still (this is with the FAS-DPD test. I seem to get a 5 with the OTO color-matching test. But that one's not really accurate and is more of "yes you have chlorine" test right?
PH: 7.65
TA: 70
didn't test CYA or CH.
CSI is -0.26 which according to PoolMath has moved from "potential to become corrosive" to "balanced" Yay!
Now that I'm within the recommended ranges, my question is, where within those ranges should I target? I was thinking for PH I should shoot for the lower end of the range (7.5) since it's new plaster and will tend to creep higher, but that skews my CSI back to dangerously high levels. Atttech-2 shared his similar experience and pointed me to a thread where JoyfulNoise and ChemGeek spoke of leaving PH higher in the winter for this very reason. Thoughts?
Same question for TA. Recommended range is 70-90. Should I target 80 or leave it as is?
It's satisfying to see the levels changing in response to what I'm doing. Go chemistry!
On another note, I took bmoreswim's advice and got PB's blessing to take over without sacrificing warranty. And I got it in writing.
My email: "Hi Brandee, I think you are just about done having to deal with me! Our pool is finished and we love it. I'm writing today about the 2 months of service included in our contract. I'd like to know if I can let you guys off the hook for our second month of service and take over myself, without jeopardizing our warranty. The reason is- I want to balance the water and keep it balanced on a daily or every-other-day basis, rather than having the chemical swings that you get with weekly service. I understand it's impossible for you guys to be servicing pools every day or two, but for us- I want to take care of our investment and baby it so it lasts as long as possible. But I don't want to do that if it means forfeiting the one-year warranty on the plaster and equipment. If you can run that by Brian and let us know if he's okay with that, we'd sure appreciate it. I have a quality test kit and a pretty good handle on what's required (muriatic acid to keep the PH in check, sodium bicarbonate to raise TA, chlorine with stabilizer, etc). Thanks so much!"
PB's response: "Brian said yes that is perfectly fine if you would like to take over the chemicals for the pool now. It will not void anything with the warranty. I will let the service guy know that he will not need to do service for the second month of comp service."
So this pool is now 100% in my hands! Glad I'm not completely on my own. Thanks TFP!
My email: "Hi Brandee, I think you are just about done having to deal with me! Our pool is finished and we love it. I'm writing today about the 2 months of service included in our contract. I'd like to know if I can let you guys off the hook for our second month of service and take over myself, without jeopardizing our warranty. The reason is- I want to balance the water and keep it balanced on a daily or every-other-day basis, rather than having the chemical swings that you get with weekly service. I understand it's impossible for you guys to be servicing pools every day or two, but for us- I want to take care of our investment and baby it so it lasts as long as possible. But I don't want to do that if it means forfeiting the one-year warranty on the plaster and equipment. If you can run that by Brian and let us know if he's okay with that, we'd sure appreciate it. I have a quality test kit and a pretty good handle on what's required (muriatic acid to keep the PH in check, sodium bicarbonate to raise TA, chlorine with stabilizer, etc). Thanks so much!"
PB's response: "Brian said yes that is perfectly fine if you would like to take over the chemicals for the pool now. It will not void anything with the warranty. I will let the service guy know that he will not need to do service for the second month of comp service."
So this pool is now 100% in my hands! Glad I'm not completely on my own. Thanks TFP!
Good for you! What a feeling is must be to KNOW what you need to do with your pool. Just think of all of the pools built without TFP 
They do not have a clue so their pool's suffer. It might not show right away but it will down the road.
Kim
They do not have a clue so their pool's suffer. It might not show right away but it will down the road.Kim
Sangree99,
That is an absolutely EXCELLENT letter. It indicates you have kept an open line to your PB and, in return, he has responded well to you.
That's how you complete a good business transaction. That's also how you get involved in the management of your own pool in plenty of time so you don't have to fight a green swamp.
Hat's off to you......I hope all members doing a new build will read your note.
Congratulations on taking your pool back. You've done well in grasping the information at hand. And, I gotta tell you, I wouldn't put anything past a 3year old. 
I bet they are just precious! I have my 2.5 year old granddaughter here as I type and she's just darling. Don't blink though.... they grow up incredibly fast!!!
I bet they are just precious! I have my 2.5 year old granddaughter here as I type and she's just darling. Don't blink though.... they grow up incredibly fast!!!
To not answer your chemistry target questions (hahaha), I would wait and see what your pool does for a while. Each pool is different and you need time to get to know yours. Keep testing daily and see what happens. Are you still brushing daily? Are you getting any plaster dust?
3 year old twins AND a 1 year old?????? How do you even hold your head up once you put them down? You found her IN the closet with the door shut??????? What even made you look in there? I bet you lost a few heart beats over that one! KIDS! LOL
So tell us about what you have done to kid proof your doors and windows please.
Kim
So tell us about what you have done to kid proof your doors and windows please.
Kim
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,283
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Having the community here to provide chemical (and other) guidance/feedback/fun when needed is the only reason I can recommend taking care of your own pool to almost anyone who is so inclined. This is an invaluable and unbelievably robust resource for pool owners.
Kim, it's our biggest concern with the pool. The yard is fenced, windows are high with latches and blinds, and there are alarms on the doors, but we are debating a safety fence for just the pool too. I really don't like the look, but at the same time it's lives we're talking about. If we don't add the mesh fence I might at least add a 2nd set of locks up high at the top of the doors near the ceiling so that there is a physical barrier besides the audible alarm.
Not only are alarms great but also is the gift of learning to swim. Start early n you'll raise children who know n love the water n know how to swim.
There are alarms for the pool also! I am not sure how they work but have seen them in ads. Might be worth looking into.
You just need to slow them down.........the mesh fence can be made where you can take it down when they are grown up more. You MIGHT even be able to buy a used one if you are willing to look around.
I am SO glad you have already thought about their safety!
Kim
Pretty good, I think!
FC: 4
CC: 0.5 (this is the first time I've had something other than 0. Does this mean there's something growing in my pool?)
PH: 7.6
TA: 80*
CH: 325
CYA: not tested (waiting a full week since I added)
CSI: -0.21
*our babysitters (great-grandparents) tell me the PB's service guy showed up again yesterday and added stuff to the pool. Grrr. PB secretary says she will find out what he added and "remind" him not to come any more. It seems their communication issues extend to their own team as well as customers. "White powder" was seen being sprinkled in. TA went up from 70 to 80 so that makes sense. At least he didn't REALLY screw up my numbers as far as I can tell.
I got my new 100-pack of hairnets from Amazon for the skimmer basket, thanks to the "tips and tricks" thread. Also been tweaking my pump settings. Going to try 4 hours at 1100 rpms and 1 or 2 at higher speed for the cleaner. Still have to dial in the optimal speed for poolvergnuegen =)
Look at you with such wonderful numbers AND knowing what he did to increase your TA! Nice job!
Kim
Kim
hmm, so I just tested chlorine (fine) and PH tonight, and the PH remains unchanged at 7.6. I thought with new plaster I would be adding acid every day or two, but my PH level hasn't really moved in at least 4 days. Is this cause for concern?