First pool Tampa area - Plumbing question

[HermanTX]

Ok, I'm unsure what to do now. Of course the pool guy that was going to come by today didn't (actually, I'm 0 for 2 on pool guys today). I was getting ready to put CYA granules and liquid chlorine in b/c according to my tests, my CYA is 0 and FC and CC are .5. So I opened the skimmer and saw this...soooo multiple questions...
1. Can anyone tell what this is from the picture? Trichlor? Cal hypo? (Whatever it is I'm pretty sure the skimmer isn't the recommended location).
2. Should I raise CYA and FC based on what pool math told me to do anyway and leave this here? remove it?
3. Leave pool alone until pool guy maybe comes on Monday?

Thanks for any help...sorry for being so needy today, lol.

P.S. I washed my hands after touching this b/c it occurred to me that maybe I should have worn gloves.
View attachment 380942

It appears to be what remains of a 8 oz trichlor puck - 1 8oz adds about 2.6ppm FC and 1.6ppm CYA for 21,400 gals. So not much. And appears your FC burned off. I don't like putting it directly in a skimmer but many pool services do that. I use a floater if I have to use these pucks.

The good thing about zero CYA is that you do not have to have a very high FC to protect against algae but the bad part with no CYA, the FC burns off rather quickly. So it is important to raise CYA if you have sunny weather so you can maintain some level of FC in your pool.

Remember, if you add CYA, it may take 24-48 hrs to register on your tests, so do it in small batches if you do add CYA. If you have liquid chlorine, every gallon of 10% will raise FC by 4.7ppm. You can verify with your Pool Math app if you have a different % of LC. I used your pool volume of 21,400 gals.

It was OK to touch the puck, just wash your hands. What you do not know is if the pool service put 2 or 3 in the skimmer. With such a large volume, 1 puck has little to no effect as indicated by your test data.

 

[KCNM]

Also, if you have granulated CYA, use the sock method rather than adding it to the skimmer. Because you want to be cleaning your filter, which is where it ends up when you add it to the skimmer... Just put it in a sock and hang the sock in front of a return jet.

 

[TampaKathy]

It appears to be what remains of a 8 oz trichlor puck - 1 8oz adds about 2.6ppm FC and 1.6ppm CYA for 21,400 gals. So not much. And appears your FC burned off. I don't like putting it directly in a skimmer but many pool services do that. I use a floater if I have to use these pucks.

The good thing about zero CYA is that you do not have to have a very high FC to protect against algae but the bad part with no CYA, the FC burns off rather quickly. So it is important to raise CYA if you have sunny weather so you can maintain some level of FC in your pool.

Remember, if you add CYA, it may take 24-48 hrs to register on your tests, so do it in small batches if you do add CYA. If you have liquid chlorine, every gallon of 10% will raise FC by 4.7ppm. You can verify with your Pool Math app if you have a different % of LC. I used your pool volume of 21,400 gals.

It was OK to touch the puck, just wash your hands. What you do not know is if the pool service put 2 or 3 in the skimmer. With such a large volume, 1 puck has little to no effect as indicated by your test data.

I went back and watched my camera and best I can tell, he put 1 in. I got 10% LC. Good to know about the 24-48 hours...don't want to overshoot the cya. Thank you!

 

[TampaKathy]

Also, if you have granulated CYA, use the sock method rather than adding it to the skimmer. Because you want to be cleaning your filter, which is where it ends up when you add it to the skimmer... Just put it in a sock and hang the sock in front of a return jet.

I had it in nylons ready to go when I was thrown off by the puck, lol!

 

[kimkats]

You are learning SO much and someone else will learn for you down the road!!!

 

[ajw22]

There's not really any harm in it being there.

You never want Trichlor pucks sitting in a skimmer. The puck contains acid and creates very acidic water. Especially if the pool pump is not running 24/7 you don't want acidic water running directly into the pool equipment.

Trichlor puck shsould be put in a floater or in a chlorinator plumbred in the correct place in the system.

 

[TampaKathy]

After 2 swims in 70 degree water and it's only November, I have realized the error in my ways in not getting a heater, lol. I am trying to figure out how much it will cost to run a heat pump (gas is not an option, yes I will use a cover). I realize there are a lot of variables but I'm just trying to get a ballpark...like will my electric bill go up $200 a month or $2,000?

Here are my assumptions (using Nov as an example):
Average air temp: 70
Desired water temp: 80
Surface area: 600 sq ft
Cost per kWh: $.12
Pool only, no spa
140k btu heat pump (not sure this matters)

I would be swimming every other day so I believe I would need to maintain the temperature, not turn it off and on. I think it will cost me about $62 to raise the water temp by 10 degrees. I'm not sure how to estimate what it costs to maintain it...any thoughts?

 

[Poolnerdgrandma]

After 2 swims in 70 degree water and it's only November, I have realized the error in my ways in not getting a heater, lol. I am trying to figure out how much it will cost to run a heat pump (gas is not an option, yes I will use a cover). I realize there are a lot of variables but I'm just trying to get a ballpark...like will my electric bill go up $200 a month or $2,000?

Here are my assumptions (using Nov as an example):
Average air temp: 70
Desired water temp: 80
Surface area: 600 sq ft
Cost per kWh: $.12
Pool only, no spa
140k btu heat pump (not sure this matters)

I would be swimming every other day so I believe I would need to maintain the temperature, not turn it off and on. I think it will cost me about $62 to raise the water temp by 10 degrees. I'm not sure how to estimate what it costs to maintain it...any thoughts?
View attachment 381083

I will pull up some of my actual numbers when we get back from a short trip. We've had a heat pump from the beginning and love, love, love it. Once you get it to temperature, and keep it covered maintaining it doesn't cost nearly as much. We did add solar electric panels the fall after we got the pool, so we have never paid full freight for the electric. Our current total electric bill averages around $200 a month, after the solar has done its thing. But I have become a warm water wimp, heating my pool to 88° from March through October (as needed), and using the spa frequently in the fall, winter, and spring.
I figure we paid so much for the pool, it would be pennywise and pound foolish to not use and enjoy it.

 

[kevin76]

So funny you mentioned heaters as I'm in the same boat as you and researching as we speak. Originally planned on being done by July but its looking like January.

Here is the one the guy doing my plumbing recommended and my pool is smaller than yours. I'm close to pulling thr trigger on it.

112K Ecostealth Optimizer Heat Pump - OPTIMIZEEP120TI

112K ECOSTEALTH OPTIMIZER HEAT PUMP - OPTIMIZEEP120TI

www.thepoolsupplywarehouse.com

My neighbor keeps his pool heater set at 90 degrees year round with no cover and he said his bill is in the 400's range. I figure I'd probably only heat during weekends and heard that those cheap bubble plastic covers make all the difference in the world(similar to leaving your windows open with the ac on).

 

[TampaKathy]

So funny you mentioned heaters as I'm in the same boat as you and researching as we speak. Originally planned on being done by July but its looking like January.

Here is the one the guy doing my plumbing recommended and my pool is smaller than yours. I'm close to pulling thr trigger on it.

112K Ecostealth Optimizer Heat Pump - OPTIMIZEEP120TI

112K ECOSTEALTH OPTIMIZER HEAT PUMP - OPTIMIZEEP120TI

www.thepoolsupplywarehouse.com

My neighbor keeps his pool heater set at 90 degrees year round with no cover and he said his bill is in the 400's range. I figure I'd probably only heat during weekends and heard that those cheap bubble plastic covers make all the difference in the world(similar to leaving your windows open with the ac on).

Wow, if he keeps it at 90 and open, then me keeping it at 80 and covered should be a lot less (well I guess I don't know the size of his pool, but still ). I've been told the heater that I want is on backorder (of course) until May so I might be stuck with polar swims this winter. Here's me today...wearing a wetsuit to float in the pool reading a magazine is normal, right?

 

[Poolnerdgrandma]

Wow, if he keeps it at 90 and open, then me keeping it at 80 and covered should be a lot less (well I guess I don't know the size of his pool, but still ). I've been told the heater that I want is on backorder (of course) until May so I might be stuck with polar swims this winter. Here's me today...wearing a wetsuit to float in the pool reading a magazine is normal, right? View attachment 381127

Totally normal. Totally.

 

[TampaKathy]

I thought it was normal, my bf disagreed but obviously he's wrong.

 

[kimkats]

It is OH SO NORMAL!!! Well as any pool owner gets! It does not get much better than that!

Kim

 

[mknauss]

Take a look at this.

Heat Pump Calculator

See how much you could save by switching to one of our pool heat pumps in just three easy steps. Use our Pool Heat Pump Calculator to see your savings today!

www.pentair.com

 

[HermanTX]

Wow, if he keeps it at 90 and open, then me keeping it at 80 and covered should be a lot less (well I guess I don't know the size of his pool, but still ). I've been told the heater that I want is on backorder (of course) until May so I might be stuck with polar swims this winter. Here's me today...wearing a wetsuit to float in the pool reading a magazine is normal, right? View attachment 381127

That is total dedication!

 

[Newdude]

Don’t worry about the heat pump. They work great by you. They need relatively warm air temps and humidity to shine. You think it’s cold of course, because you’re used to 110 all
Summer, but the rest of us come there in Feb to swim.


I like to draw an imaginary line splitting the country into North and South. Anywhere North does better with gas and anywhere South does better with HPs. The further you go from that line, the more it works in your favor. And you’re plenty south of that line.

 

[kevin76]

Hmmm are you sure about 80 ? I need 87/88 at least for lounging . I'm born in florida so I have thin skin I guess. Lol

 

[TampaKathy]

Hmmm are you sure about 80 ? I need 87/88 at least for lounging . I'm born in florida so I have thin skin I guess. Lol

Maybe a few degrees higher but I'll be swimming laps so too high and I'll overheat.

 

[Poolnerdgrandma]

Hmmm are you sure about 80 ? I need 87/88 at least for lounging . I'm born in florida so I have thin skin I guess. Lol

I'm with you! Especially as the air gets cooler .

 

[HermanTX]

I like to draw an imaginary line splitting the country into North and South. Anywhere North does better with gas and anywhere South does better with HPs. The further you go from that line, the more it works in your favor.

Hey, just want to say that many people in the south use natural gas because in severe storms, hurricanes, etc. natural gas stays functional. So gas hot water heaters and stove tops are great to cook and boil water. Also many have NG fireplaces (for those that have a fireplace). If you have natural gas to your house you would more than likely go to a NG pool heater. Obviously there is a role for a heat pump where homes do not have natural gas or propane. Agree they work best in hotter climates.

FWIW, I had a close relative in Austin TX who only has electric and they have a heat pump to cool and heat their home. During last February's freeze they kept power but the heat pump AC/heater unit could not keep up and they suffered for 3 days. A HP for the pool is different than for a home but the functionality is the same, it really needs to be warm climate to perform best.