First time opening!

[Chris.rago64]

I feel so incompetent.. this fits but I must be missing some sort of compression fitting right? It won't stay and I can't vacuum because the hose just pops right off the head

 

[Texas Splash]

That hose cuff appears to be a bit large for the vacuum head stem, even though it's made with a couple slip-on sizes. It should slide on and be snug. You may need an adapter.

 

[Texas Splash]

If you don't have anything laying around, or can't find anything locally, you may need something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/VACEXT-Vacuum-Hose-Adapter-Convert/dp/B07SJBL8J3/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2RCCAHAQFIKGO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.I3q6FmQlcSJGRaWgZqpdMdMK7zaQ3TNCm0D5Z3sGHWvKULxZolFjHBHTtf1znn9IJuzOMY_0DenfYI_728K_42khHm8N2JlXNwG6lyYeh4-baDSjtM4IQfFOaTYwf88sRJYXTMa0COexEZ6v-vhAOe2K0FT308FyCGliKJOmtCfB2hkTpEPDBHsEAzjcx3TeCfY5nyD-vWOOkvNLrYuqfPh9fO20uuesL0bt2os_WOg.TWje5Pm39I7WvS3fbUUd6We1ZjIOrNU5qElm2-ADKtM&dib_tag=se&keywords=pool+vacuum+head+adapter&qid=1717693761&sprefix=%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-10

 

[Darin]

put a few wraps of duct tape on it or take it back and get a bigger size.

 

[Chris.rago64]

In my excitement, I destroyed the packaging, so I think returning is not an option. I just thought of duct tape too, and I think that'll be the route I take.

I promised pictures, so here is the only one I have. If I'm honest, even though I am pretty frustrated, the water does look much better and it's been less than 72 hours, which I have to keep reminding myself.

Also, would you guys recommend I get a new skimmer basket? Because of the handle, I have to remove it to put the adapter plate in place. That's not good right, because then everything I suck up is going to the pump.

 

[Darin]

I would get a different one because as you stated you don't want to always shut pump off and clean pump strainer.
One other thing, cut the smaller portion of the vac attachment. No sense in decreasing you vac that small.

 

[SecoSteve]

The schedule is difficult because I haven't moved in yet, so I'm having to stop by a couple times a day. But that changes this weekend.


Yeah, a friend said the pool store may be able to sell me a large enough vinyl patch if I wanted to go that route, but honestly I'm going to try to just limp along until next spring I think.

I would not leave that liner alone like that if you plan to swim this season. I know you've got your hands full with the SLAM, but you don't want water getting behind the liner. Even rain will be getting in there. The liner patch is your best bet. I had a liner pull out years ago that I could not pull back into place. I limped by a couple seasons with the vinyl liner patch that I got a a pool store. That will be your best bet. It may not look pretty, but it will get you through.


Good luck with all of it and keep fighting!! It will be worth it in the end!!

 

[Chris.rago64]

I would not leave that liner alone like that if you plan to swim this season. I know you've got your hands full with the SLAM, but you don't want water getting behind the liner. Even rain will be getting in there. The liner patch is your best bet. I had a liner pull out years ago that I could not pull back into place. I limped by a couple seasons with the vinyl liner patch that I got a a pool store. That will be your best bet. It may not look pretty, but it will get you through.


Good luck with all of it and keep fighting!! It will be worth it in the end!!

Thanks for the input! The previous owners mentioned they swam with it this way last year, so I thought it might be ok. What's the risk for water getting behind the liner? I must assume it's been this was at least a full calendar year at this point. Should I be concerned?

 

[SecoSteve]

Thanks for the input! The previous owners mentioned they swam with it this way last year, so I thought it might be ok. What's the risk for water getting behind the liner? I must assume it's been this was at least a full calendar year at this point. Should I be concerned?

Could wash out any soil behind the liner and may let your deck sink if water washes it out. Could corrode any metal structure behind the liner. Or I could be over reacting and nothing could happen. But, I would not leave it that way if it were my pool.

 

[Chris.rago64]

I'll definitely try and patch it this summer, I don't want to risk anything, better safe than sorry.

I can see behind the tear poured concrete, so I'm guessing that the entire pool surface is poured concrete and that there's hopefully no exposed dirt or ground to be washed away, but I have no clue.

 

[Chris.rago64]

Today was move in day to the house and unfortunately I think I lost some ground in the fight.

I did manage to try some tape on the vac head and at first it seemed to be doing great. I got a lot of debris sucked up from the shallow end of the pool, but by the time I got to the deep end it seemed like I had lost the suction and I wasn't picking anything up.

Along the lines of plumbing, I had so many pine needles in the pool today that I really did a lot of trial and error playing around with the valve between the main drain and the skimmer line. With the main drain completely closed, I have to have my pump at 2000 rpm or higher to get any real skimming action. Lower than that and the water flow is so low that floating debris just passes on by without being pulled in to the skimmer. Does that seem normal to need that high RPM setting to get any skimming?

I've read some people do schedules where they leave their pumps running all day at a very low rpm and are still able to skim the pool. I feel anything lower than 2,000 would be wasting electrons, but at 2,000 I don't know how economical it would be to run 24/7

 

[Chris.rago64]

Strike that last message.. I cleaned my water filter and now I'm seeing skimming action down at about 1200 rpm.

The pressure gauge on my filter is broke, so I'm working blind until I get a new one.

 

[Chris.rago64]

Here are some updated pictures after netting floating debris and FINALLY vacuuming the pool, it's looking a lot better. This is in heavy overcast, it's about to storm.

Going to be checking chlorine about every 2 hours today. Today.. we turn the tide of this battle!!

 

[Chris.rago64]

This has been the best day for slamming so far, I've kept a pretty tight watch on it and have gone through about two cases of chlorine but the difference is water clarity is really amazing

 

[SecoSteve]

Looks good! Keep at it and make sure you meet all three criteria before you stop the SLAM.

 

[Darin]

Looks great, just keep up on the liner so it does not get water behind it. It just makes replacing more of a pain ($$).

Manual vac is what i do. It truly makes a difference, does not take long, and is really cheap.

Keep up on SLAM parameters as stated above.

 

[Chris.rago64]

Planning a trip to the pool builder soon (previous owners were kind enough to tell me who it was) and going to try and get a vinyl patch large enough to cover the hole for the season. Planning a replacement next year if the budget allows for it.

Slamming continues, though I need to get to the store on my lunch for a few more cases of chlorine. Too bad they don't have a frequent buyer card. Buy 10 cases, get 1 free would be really nice!


Question for you all: should I be bothering to test my CC levels daily or just wait until chlorine consumption drops and OCLT passes before bothering with the CC test? Don't want to be wasting reagents if I don't have to.

 

[Darin]

I only do the FAS-DPD method for free chlorine. 0870 powder and 0871 drops. I dont see a need for any other test.

 

[PrairieGirl]

Vacuum situation isn't great. I have a hose but no vacuum head. I almost bought one today but am concerned. I don't seem to have enough suction from the skimmer basket to put my hose there (I think that's where I'm supposed to put it right?)

I think the low flow/suction is because of the in floor cleaning. There's a large drain at the deep end that I think pulls in a lot of water. Or maybe it's this other moderately sized diameter thing that's pulling in water. I'm just not sure how all the plumbing works.

There's also this second box near the skimmer that I'm not sure of it's function either.View attachment 581769View attachment 581770

The photo above is the deck side canister for the in-floor cleaning system. If you can get a good clear view of one of the popup heads in the floor, it would have some marking that tells you the kind of system you have. There are online guides to help you identify the kind of system you have. - Paramount Pool & Spa Systems

If I'm seeing this right, the line from the main drain to the deck canister is still plugged. We have this same canister, and the plug in the side looks like a Schrader valve that you use at the end of season/closing to blow out the line from the canister to the main drain to create an air lock, so set that aside, or mark it to be reinstalled in that port at closing. The port at the bottom is the suction line to the pump. Is there an opening/plug in the wall of the pool right next to the deck canister? If so, that is an equalizer that allows water from the pool into the canister, and it's part of the system design to hold the clear lid in place inside the canister.

I'm curious what your equipment set up is? can you share photos of the pad?

SO all that said - I think if you remove that plug, the canister will fill, and you'll have suction from the main drain with that clear cap installed. Did you find any kind of a long basket that fits in that canister? look on the Paramount website, and you'll find some visuals for the equipment that should be in place for the cleaning system.

ALSO! if you're a document and manual collector like we are, you can probably get the system plan for the paramount system directly from Paramount. The pool builder was not able to supply us with any plans or diagrams, paramount still had their drawings on record from 10 years previous.

 

[Chris.rago64]

Hi @PrairieGirl,

Wow thanks for the response! I'm going to try and answer everything you've asked. I definitely have some updates since sending that photo.

The photo above is the deck side canister for the in-floor cleaning system. If you can get a good clear view of one of the popup heads in the floor, it would have some marking that tells you the kind of system you have. There are online guides to help you identify the kind of system you have. - Paramount Pool & Spa Systems

I might have the original owners manual. The sellers left me a lot of documentation that I have shamefully not had a chance to read all of yet.

If I'm seeing this right, the line from the main drain to the deck canister is still plugged. We have this same canister, and the plug in the side looks like a Schrader valve that you use at the end of season/closing to blow out the line from the canister to the main drain to create an air lock, so set that aside, or mark it to be reinstalled in that port at closing. The port at the bottom is the suction line to the pump.

I think I got all the plugs out, and the basket does fill. There was a large(ish?) mesh net filter that seemed to fit perfectly in the basket.

Is there an opening/plug in the wall of the pool right next to the deck canister? If so, that is an equalizer that allows water from the pool into the canister, and it's part of the system design to hold the clear lid in place inside the canister.

Yes there is! I'll attach a photo

I'm curious what your equipment set up is? can you share photos of the pad?

Yep, I'll attach some of those too.

ALSO! if you're a document and manual collector like we are, you can probably get the system plan for the paramount system directly from Paramount. The pool builder was not able to supply us with any plans or diagrams, paramount still had their drawings on record from 10 years previous.

Wow that is amazing, I may contact them for this reason alone.