Covered and unattended pool for three years. What are my first two steps?

[AndyTN]

And the wannabe rednecks are saying "there's a tractor forum?!?! **** yeah!"

Seriously? I can't even say "H-E-L-L yeah"?

 

[dianedebuda]

And the wannabe rednecks are saying "there's a tractor forum?!?! **** yeah!"

I spend a LOT of time there.

 

[Syrr]

Are you sure that it will not float?

Not sure at all. Ultimately emptied half the water, vacuumed out a total of three 50-gal trash bags of debris and dead algae, then refilled. Removing 40,000 gallons of water was just too big of a risk for my taste. Will return to update photos and fuller description of effort soon. Thank you for the cautions.

 

[Syrr]

Recap: First spoke with Germantown water department about properly disposing swimming pool water. They directed me to discharge the vacuum water into my sewage clean-out in order to avoid it running to the storm sewers. I learned that the storm sewers in Germantown empty directly into surrounding natural streams and rivers. Dumping chemically treated water into them endangers humans and area wildlife so really glad I checked.

Ultimately emptied a little more than a third of the water remaining in the pool with that awful "trash pump did make scooping debris much easier. However, discarding forty thousand gallons of water from an in-ground swimming pool represented far too big of a risk for my taste. Suddenly removing 253,000 plus pounds from such a small footprint in the middle of a residential neighborhood? Nah, I'll pass. Yet Being able to see the the bottom in the shallow end allowed me to determine an effective scoping technique with the deep-net bag.

Refilled the pool to a little more than halfway up the skimmer opening to begin vacuuming. Clearing out three 50-gallon trash bags full of leaf, seed and twig debris along with a generous collection of dead algae was a challenge, but doable. I appreciate all the urging to approach draining with extreme caution. Your advice, recommendations and guidance made a huge difference.

The following update photos demonstrate where I am at this point. Such a beautifully clear swimming pool to gaze upon, so far. Currently engrossed in the water chemistry aspect, with the distinct sensation that I'm facing an even steeper learning curve than I previously anticipated. However, I'll continue to keep plugging along!

 

[Bperry]

The nice thing about TFP is that if you follow the advice of not putting anything in the water except chlorine, there really aren’t any “chemicals” like copper, algaecide, etc being dumped when you drain. Still good to drain to the sewer if possible.

 

[Mdragger88]

Wow - what a difference!
Remember- chlorine is paramount!
follow the abc’s & the FC/CYA Levels
ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
& fire away w/ any questions that come up along the way

 

[dianedebuda]

You've come a long way and now on the home stretch. Good Job.

 

[Natnem]

Beautiful!! Good job Syrr you’ve accomplished so much that hopefully the chemistry aspect won’t seem so tough for you! I know you will do great. After all the hard work you have done… I imagine learning how to manage your levels being much easier since you already have the test kit. Keep asking questions, everyone here is on your team!!
Very happy for you and your family!

 

[clambert1273]

Early/late are subjective to everyone’s area. Heck, @kellyfair ’s pool is almost too hot for me.

Then you would def hate our AZ pools lol

 

[Syrr]

The nice thing about TFP is that if you follow the advice of not putting anything in the water except chlorine, there really aren’t any “chemicals” like copper, algaecide, etc being dumped when you drain. Still good to drain to the sewer if possible.

Spoken to several independent pool care operators in the area about SWG. Consensus that a distinct disadvantage of chlorine via Salt Water Generation is it's tendency to promote premature wear in metal parts is apparent among them.

Several mentioned different parts are impacted in virtually every component that the water touches.

Having replaced a primary pump, a multi-port controller & an injection dial, I hope to learn some of your experiences with equipment wear.

 

[wireform]

Spoken to several independent pool care operators in the area about SWG. Consensus that a distinct disadvantage of chlorine via Salt Water Generation is it's tendency to promote premature wear in metal parts is apparent among them.

Several mentioned different parts are impacted in virtually every component that the water touches.

Having replaced a primary pump, a multi-port controller & an injection dial, I hope to learn some of your experiences with equipment wear.

That needs to be proven because there are many here with SWCG for years and they don't have the equipment wear you speak of. We hear plenty of "just chlorine" pools with atleast the same or more equipment problems.

 

[clambert1273]

That needs to be proven because there are many here with SWCG for years and they don't have the equipment wear you speak of. We hear plenty of "just chlorine" pools with atleast the same or more equipment problems.

Had more issues with my old equipment due to previous owners lack of water maintenance

 

[Syrr]

You've come a long way and now on the home stretch. Good Job.

Thank you

 

[Syrr]

That needs to be proven because there are many here with SWCG for years and they don't have the equipment wear you speak of. We hear plenty of "just chlorine" pools with atleast the same or more equipment problems.

I'm convinced that no better place exists for the debate than right here, in the real world with fellow consumers who pay those repair bills.

 

[dianedebuda]

I'd suggest scanning the threads in the Salt Water Chlorine Generators and the Under Construction forums. There's a ton of questions similar to yours. My take was that the salt level isn't high enough to significantly affect anything except the "soft" limestone that is often used by builders here in Texas. See many posts that Texas builders are dead-set against SWGs, but their opposition seems mostly centered on decking materials, not metal. YMMV

 

[bover907]

The salinity of a pool with a SWCG is about the same or less than that of a tear drop. We're not talking ocean level salt here. Ocean water is 35,000ppm. Salt pool water is 3,500ppm. Not enough to be majorly corrosive. That's my take. Others will weigh in.

 

[wireform]

The salinity of a pool with a SWCG is about the same or less than that of a tear drop. We're not talking ocean level salt here. Ocean water is 35,000ppm. Salt pool water is 3,500ppm. Not enough to be majorly corrosive. That's my take. Others will weigh in.

Tears are 9-10k ppm or about 3 times the salinity of the pool water.

 

[Syrr]

I'd suggest scanning the threads in the Salt Water Chlorine Generators and the Under Construction forums. There's a ton of questions similar to yours. My take was that the salt level isn't high enough to significantly affect anything except the "soft" limestone that is often used by builders here in Texas. See many posts that Texas builders are dead-set against SWGs, but their opposition seems mostly centered on decking materials, not metal. YMMV

Thank you

I'd suggest scanning the threads in the Salt Water Chlorine Generators and the Under Construction forums. There's a ton of questions similar to yours. My take was that the salt level isn't high enough to significantly affect anything except the "soft" limestone that is often used by builders here in Texas. See many posts that Texas builders are dead-set against SWGs, but their opposition seems mostly centered on decking materials, not metal. YMMV

Sound advice indeed, for which I am appreciative and will certainly follow.

 

[Syrr]

Update, still new and still learning. Philosophy, approaches and lore regarding water chemistry seems as vast as the numbers of people personalities, but I'm finding value in each. Latest photos attached.

 

[Mdragger88]

Philosophy, approaches and lore regarding water chemistry seems as vast as the numbers of people personalities

This is true & it is also the reason for the creation of TFPC methodology.

What is TFPC?

We believe any pool owner can achieve and maintain safe, crystal clear pool water, by using the science-based, Trouble Free Pool Care (TFPC) methodology.

www.troublefreepool.com