I bought a house with an indoor pool. We've been there for less than 2 months, and finally now that we're settled in my focus has been on the pool.
The pool seemed to have been kept in good condition, as per a pre-purchase inspection by a local pool maintenance guy (independent of the previous owner). Here are some details of the pool:
We went to the same pool supply store that the previous owner went to, brought a water sample, and provided it to them. They ran their tests and said there was no chlorine in the pool at all. So on their advise, I was told I could just directly switch to Chlorine right away. We bought the recommended chemicals:
My pool chemistry (as of today is):
The pool seemed to have been kept in good condition, as per a pre-purchase inspection by a local pool maintenance guy (independent of the previous owner). Here are some details of the pool:
- Size: 6800 USgal (about 20ft long x 9ft wide x 3.5ft-5.5ft deep)
- A small 2 person spa beside the pool with water overflowing from the spa into the pool
- Type: in-ground, tiled, indoors (with floor to ceiling glass exterior doors, south facing so lots of direct sun)
- Filter: sand (Hayward), runs the pool and spa
- Pumps:
- 1/2HP Hayward pump, with what appears to be 2" pipes in and out for the pool circulation
- Unknown pump for pool jets (meant for swimming against)
- Unknown pump for the spa jets
- Chemistry: the previous owner was using Bromine for both the pool and spa. She had Bromine discs (1") and some Bromine shock.
We went to the same pool supply store that the previous owner went to, brought a water sample, and provided it to them. They ran their tests and said there was no chlorine in the pool at all. So on their advise, I was told I could just directly switch to Chlorine right away. We bought the recommended chemicals:
- Shock: Chlorinating Granules, 7kg (Calcium Hypochlorite)
- Stabalized Chlorinating Tablets: Trichloro-S, 7kg (3" pucks)
- Alkaline, Calcium, Algeacide, Scale & Metal, and test strips (FC, TC, pH, Alk, TH, CYA)
My pool chemistry (as of today is):
- FC: 2
- TC: 2
- pH: 7.6-7.8
- Alk: 100
- TH: 250
- CYA: 20-30
- It seems I should get Liquid Bleach instead of Chlorinating Granules (due to it adding extra calcium each time). I can pick some up for cheap at Walmart, so I'll do that. Is there any issue with using one or the other interchangeably each time? I have 7kg of this stuff for a tiny pool, I don't want to waste it.
- It seems I probably should not have gone from a Bromine pool to a Chlorine pool. However, I think I might be ok because the pool was tested with neither Chlorine or Bromine (by both the pool maintenance guy and the pool supply store, again independent of each other). Is there a way for me to determine or signs to look out for that would indicate I've still got Bromine messing up the chemistry?
- For those of you with indoor pools, is it ok to be a bit more relaxed on things like vacuuming and backwashing the filter? I see online that you need to backwash when the PSI is 5-10 psi higher than at clean. My PSI hasn't moved at all in the few weeks I've been checking (it's at 18 psi). I have done a backwash every 2 weeks, but I'm not sure if this is necessary. Same with vacuuming the pool, I don't see or feel anything at the bottom when I'm in there (it's shallow enough most places that I can feel with my feet). I'm just trying to gauge how on top of this I need to be and if it's a big deal if I'm away for a few weeks.
- Right now the pool pump is running continuously 24/7 because the timer that it had doesn't have the "OFF" clips. I have those arriving today, and will want to set it to about 8 hrs per day. I think that should be more than enough to allow 2 cycles of my 6800 gal pool from a 1/2 HP pump, right?
- Any other tips for a new pool owner? I'm still reading a ton on this website and others, but any specific tips towards my setup would be really appreciated!
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