Greetings :-)

[Jeffrito]

Hi All
I'm a newbie pool owner, but hanging in there after a year of taking care of things myself. I use a basic Taylor kit and go to Leslie's every couple of weeks for a complete check. I have a separate hot tub.
I still haven't cleaned my filter, that's on the to do list, and I'm just now trying to figure out how to start up my chlorinator. The salt is in the pool, now I just need to figure out how to control the chlorine level.
I'm in my pool every day, even in the winter at 59 degrees, but there's not a lot of swimming until it hits the 70s water temp which, with the solar system, it just did and it was still March.
I teach online, have a 1/3 acre here is San Diego County and it keeps me busy.
The pool adds a lot to quality of life. Still paying it off though
Jeff

 

[Texas Splash]

Hello Jeff and welcome to TFP! We have several sub-forums for subject issues like you mentioned, so feel free to start a new thread(s) as needed for each issue. We'll be glad to help. Nice to have you on the forum.

Also see Pool Care Basics

 

[Newdude]

Hey Jeff and Welcome !!!

I use a basic Taylor kit

Your choice if you want to add the components that you're missing like the K-1515 (fas/dpd) test, or start over with a full kit. They have expiration dates and chances are when you buy one from the store or Amazon, its been on a shelf for a while. Tftestkits.net is always garaunteed fresh. See Test Kits Compared.

On the plus side, with a full kit, you can kiss the pool store goodbye and head on over to Home Depot or Walmart where baking soda is simply called baking soda and it's $0.40 a pound. The fancy labels at the pool store are spendy.