Nasty Black Pool Inherited from Home Purchase

If there are holes in the filter grids, then you MUST replace them. You can find a set of 8 on Ebay for < $150. I think I got Unicel (although Filbur or Pleatco are also fine).
 
If you have any holes in the filter grids the DE is just getting back into the pool and keeping the water cloudy. You can kill everything with chlorine and get the CC down to zero, but you will never clear your water with bad filter grids. A new set of grids can be had for about $100 and if yours are bad, that's the only way to clear the pool.
 
@gearjammer...what is the name of that filter? If AWT wanted to rent one, what would he ask for? Would sludge clog it up fast? Or can It handel super heavy particulate?

In AWT's case, he's not in CA with water restrictions, so in theory could use a trash pump which might be more effective on a sludgy bottom, but he also has a vinyl liner and is rightly worried about water table.

Folks with water restrictions who cant vacuum to waste would love access to something like that, i suspect.
 
AWT, just to cheer you up at a time when you're learning you might now have to spend more money on new grids, let me share something about my little foreclosure adventure.

We also have a crawl space that needed attention, attic sheathing issues, electrical issues, boiler issues, etc. it was a bit o a money pit for the first few months. We sunk a chunk, but love the place ;)

So last summer, a house across the street from ours that's nowhere near as pretty sold for DOUBLE what we paid for ours. Guess who won the home-equity-lottery with just a bit of sweat equity ;)

So hang in there...some day floating in your beautiful pool on a sunny summer day, this will just be a funny story you tell to folks admiring you're recovered digs ;)
 
The house I bought was a short sale. It appraised at 315 and I got it for 280. It's about 3000sq ft and didn't have any maintenance done on it for several years after the owners husband died. I just found out recently that she was hardly ever there. We have put money into our crawl space also. It had some moisture problems. Next project after the pool is some attic insulation. It's all matted up and not doing anything positive for our electric bill.
I bought some filter grids yesterday. Got them on sale at the pool store for 200. I know ebay or amazon would have been cheaper but it was almost $100 off. Not too bad. Everyone one of mine were busted and had tiny holes all in them after a closer inspection. I suspect that was a big part of my DE problem. When I took them out of the filter there was about a foot of water in the bottom of each one that wouldn't come out unless I dumped it out upside down. They definitely weren't doing there job. The guy said that with proper maintenance they can last up to 10 years so I think it was a good investment.
So far the only thing that I regret buying with the pool is the DE when I had a junked up filter. Everything else has been an investment so it was worth it.
I just get down about stuff when money seems to be flying everywhere. I'll be alright and like you said I will eventually have a nice place and will make it all up in equity. :)
 
@gearjammer...what is the name of that filter? If AWT wanted to rent one, what would he ask for? Would sludge clog it up fast? Or can It handel super heavy particulate?

In AWT's case, he's not in CA with water restrictions, so in theory could use a trash pump which might be more effective on a sludgy bottom, but he also has a vinyl liner and is rightly worried about water table.

Folks with water restrictions who cant vacuum to waste would love access to something like that, i suspect.

Hi Swampwoman. That is a 2" duplex filter. Depending on your level of filtration they clog up very fast and are quite a workout to operate sometimes. You only filter with one cylinder at a time, and when it clogs you switch to the other and clean the first. If the water is really bad, you won't even have time to clean it and have to just toss in a new bag. Adler, Baker, and Rain for Rent all rent these filters in various sizes. There may be other local vendors that I am not aware of as well.
 
awt! You got a short sale to go all the way through??????? How long from putting in the first offer to closing was it?

I have never know anyone that was able to go all the way through with it mostly due to the bank dragging it's feet.

Kim
 
AWT - just to let you know - my brother in law and I insulated my attic ourselves using lowes insulation and a blower rented from there - It has done wonders. We just blew about 18 inches over the existing matted down stuff. Totally doable
 
Glad you were able to get new grids!

Not sure if you've done it yet or not but make sure you don't vacuum that floc you used through your new filter.
I'm pretty sure it can really mess stuff up because it gums up. Blech.

I know it's probably part of the instructions but I figured I'd mention it anyway just in case.


Hopefully with the new grids you'll be able to start seeing faster improvement!

Have you been keeping your FC at SLAM level this whole time?

(on second thought, I guess you can't really add chlorine if you had to shut off the pump for the floc)
 
It took us about 7 months to get the short sale to go through. Luckily we had plenty of time and just waited. Yeah the bank took forever and wanted tons of paperwork. Well worth it though.
Been I did not put it through the filter. I vacuumed yesterday to waste. Honestly I got a ton of stuff out from looking at the water coming out of my backwash pipe.
I was not able to keep FC levels up because the pumps were **** off. I started at about 16ppm and ended up at 6 yesterday after I got through vacuuming. I have since raised the level back up and keeping it there.
Wpturner how much did you end up paying and for how much sq ft. I have read that it's easy to do just don't know about the cost.
We use duplex strainers in the navy but they can clog up quickly even in decent conditions. The micron size is so small that it catches soooo much stuff.
 

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For anyone who was wondering and since it's been a while here are some pics.
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