First time owner, going to be gone for a week.

[suttonjacob]

Pool has been opened for a couple weeks. Water is clear, chemicals seem fine (have been testing with a strip, TF 100 kit comes in tomorrow). I will do a full test tomorrow to check all chemical levels, but just so I can be planning what do I need to do if I will be gone for 8 days? I have a floating chlorine tab holder I could use if that is the best option. I have been adding 8.25% generic liquid bleach for shocking/adjusting chlorine levels to this point. Again, have just been using test strips waiting for my kit to arrive. If the tests tomorrow using the TF 100 kit all come back in normal ranges, what should I do to keep the pool decent while being gone?

 

[Texas Splash]

Great job on the TF-100. You'll see why soon. For a week or so, most of us simply increase our FC level to the SLAM level as noted on the Chlorine/CYA Chart (link below). You'll be able to figure that out once your kit arrives. The elevated level will get you 2-3 days worth, then a floater might be the next best option unless you have a friend or neighbor you trust to add bleach.

 

[suttonjacob]

Thanks for the quick reply. Can I put the floater in along with adding liquid chlorine to the SLAM level? How many tabs should be in the floater?

Again...newbie. Sorry if these questions are dumb.

 

[Texas Splash]

Sure. Add the regular bleach and let it mix well in the water, then just before walking out the door drop the floater in with maybe a couple tabs. That should hold you over until you get back and can re-test everything.

Remember, the only dumb questions are the ones that don't get asked.

 

[lmisko]

Ooh! Same situation here. Gone for a week in June. What about if the pool is covered with an auto cover? Am I better to leave it open? That makes me nervous for safety/security purposes. Or should I have the mother-in-law pop over and open it for a few hours? How long is too long to leave it on continuously?