I have a problem - self induced, sort of, but I finally finished building a replacement pool control box (which I'll post more about eslwhere) and was able to start opening the pool today...
Last fall, when closing down, I couldn't find the stopper for the line that went into the line that connects the booster pump to the Polaris pool robot... We put the cover on figuring to open it up when I'd gotten a replacement stopper - but by the time I did the water level in the pool had gotten above that line's opening, and the weather had turned nasty - so we didn't put the stopper in... I went through the winter hoping the pipe wouldn't freeze and being afraid that it would...
Today when we pulled the cover off, I found the water level was about a foot low, or about 1-2" above the opening in the wall for the line. Normally the pool is full to the brim when we open, especially given the heavy snow we had this past winter, and the extra rainy spring... So I am assuming that the pipe has broken somehere under ground, most likely under the slab.
It is about 10-15' from the wall fitting to the equipment area, and it does look like a straight run.... The existing pipe is 1.5" PVC, with a glued in adapter at the pool wall to allow connecting the Polaris hose fitting. The booster pump outlet is only 3/4" IIRC and the Polaris hose is also 1/2 or 3/4" so I could go smaller on the pipe size I think...
1. What is the most painless way to fix this?
I'm wondering about just trying to slide a smaller pipe down the existing one, with a reducing coupler at the pool wall... Doing some quick looking at specs, it appears that 3/4" pipe would fit, even if I have to use a coupler....
Quite aside from the hassles involved otherwise, it would be a MAJOR problem to try to get through the slab, as the pipe runs under the area that is occupied by the pool equipment...
2. Being stuck in a wheelchair, this is probably not something I can do myself, though I can describe what exists in detail... Are there any pool repair folks in my area (Billerica, MA, which is just south of Lowell) that other TFP folks have had good luck dealing with?
3. Right now the pool has a serious case of the green slime / stinking swamp syndrome from having been closed all winter... The water level is to low for the main pump to circulate, and filter, but I could stopper the Polaris outlet and isolate the line, then fill the pool enough to circulate with a bunch of chlorine to try and reduce the worst of it. Is this a good idea? How much of a pumpdown will then be needed to do the repair?
Any other thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks,
ex-Gooserider
Last fall, when closing down, I couldn't find the stopper for the line that went into the line that connects the booster pump to the Polaris pool robot... We put the cover on figuring to open it up when I'd gotten a replacement stopper - but by the time I did the water level in the pool had gotten above that line's opening, and the weather had turned nasty - so we didn't put the stopper in... I went through the winter hoping the pipe wouldn't freeze and being afraid that it would...
Today when we pulled the cover off, I found the water level was about a foot low, or about 1-2" above the opening in the wall for the line. Normally the pool is full to the brim when we open, especially given the heavy snow we had this past winter, and the extra rainy spring... So I am assuming that the pipe has broken somehere under ground, most likely under the slab.
It is about 10-15' from the wall fitting to the equipment area, and it does look like a straight run.... The existing pipe is 1.5" PVC, with a glued in adapter at the pool wall to allow connecting the Polaris hose fitting. The booster pump outlet is only 3/4" IIRC and the Polaris hose is also 1/2 or 3/4" so I could go smaller on the pipe size I think...
1. What is the most painless way to fix this?
I'm wondering about just trying to slide a smaller pipe down the existing one, with a reducing coupler at the pool wall... Doing some quick looking at specs, it appears that 3/4" pipe would fit, even if I have to use a coupler....
Quite aside from the hassles involved otherwise, it would be a MAJOR problem to try to get through the slab, as the pipe runs under the area that is occupied by the pool equipment...
2. Being stuck in a wheelchair, this is probably not something I can do myself, though I can describe what exists in detail... Are there any pool repair folks in my area (Billerica, MA, which is just south of Lowell) that other TFP folks have had good luck dealing with?
3. Right now the pool has a serious case of the green slime / stinking swamp syndrome from having been closed all winter... The water level is to low for the main pump to circulate, and filter, but I could stopper the Polaris outlet and isolate the line, then fill the pool enough to circulate with a bunch of chlorine to try and reduce the worst of it. Is this a good idea? How much of a pumpdown will then be needed to do the repair?
Any other thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks,
ex-Gooserider