First Year Owning a Pool and Lots of Vacations Coming

[etschwed]

Hi All,

18' 48" Bestway pool with standard filter. I have a TF-100 Test Kit and lots of trips coming up. I want to try and make sure the pool doesn't go to Darn while I'm gone.

I currently have been testing chlorine and pH for a week plus and am about to do the weekly test tomorrow. I leave in 4 days and will be gone for 6 days. I then have various vacations here and there for 3-6 days at a time. We have a young girl watching our house and dog sitting so I don't want to ask her to do chemicals if I don't have to. I currently do not use my pool cover and have trichlor tablets handy if needed.

What would you recommend? Most of these vacations I will be gone for a handful of days, back for a few, then gone again

 

[amymeme]

How's your CYA level?

 

[etschwed]

How's your CYA level?

It was 40 5 days ago. Retesting tomorrow and have not added any

 

[amymeme]

If that's your level and your only going to be gone several days at a time, you could just bring your liquid up to SLAM level and let it drift down while you're gone. With a level of 40, I wouldn't want to use the pucks for your absences - it will quickly increase.

Is the girl old enough you could just leave a jug of Walmart 7.5% bleach in shade near the pool and she could add a jug half way through your absence? Or a friend? You might want to open the jug and remove the little piece of plastic seal inside, sometimes the jug splashes when you peel that off. But put the cap back on.

 

[etschwed]

If that's your level and your only going to be gone several days at a time, you could just bring your liquid up to SLAM level and let it drift down while you're gone. With a level of 40, I wouldn't want to use the pucks for your absences - it will quickly increase.

Is the girl old enough you could just leave a jug of Walmart 7.5% bleach in shade near the pool and she could add a jug half way through your absence? Or a friend? You might want to open the jug and remove the little piece of plastic seal inside, sometimes the jug splashes when you peel that off. But put the cap back on.

Thanks for this. I'll text again tomorrow and don't anticipate it to have moved much. Would covering the pool do anything for me here? I'm still unsure when and if I should cover it.

My pump is single speed but I plan to get a timer hooked to it so it kicks on while we are gone for a few hours.

 

[amymeme]

Covering will definitely slow the chlorine loss. And a timer to run the pump while you are gone is a good thing as well.