New House came with a neglected pool - SLAM DONE!
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Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
I don't open my own pool, but I'm guessing it may be a skimmer plug. See if it will turn.
Re jacks magic, the pink is supposed to be good for iron....but we don't know for sure what, if any, metals might be in your water. I might go with Metal Magic instead, which is less "specific" but IMHO just as effective
I don't open my own pool, but I'm guessing it may be a skimmer plug. See if it will turn.
Re jacks magic, the pink is supposed to be good for iron....but we don't know for sure what, if any, metals might be in your water. I might go with Metal Magic instead, which is less "specific" but IMHO just as effective
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
Yup, that looks like a plug. Loosen the wingnut and you should be able to wiggle it free (of course clear the gunk out first). Maybe that's a good sign that someone (at some point) tried to properly close and protect the pipes from freezing.
Good Luck!
Yup, that looks like a plug. Loosen the wingnut and you should be able to wiggle it free (of course clear the gunk out first). Maybe that's a good sign that someone (at some point) tried to properly close and protect the pipes from freezing.
Good Luck!
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
So all of you closers--------------what else should they look for if it was closed? Where should they look and do?
I am not help as I keep mine open year round.
Kim
So all of you closers--------------what else should they look for if it was closed? Where should they look and do?
I am not help as I keep mine open year round.
Kim
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
Rocco, I'm re-reading and we are having issues finding out where the returns are and how many. There only seems to be 1 plug at the bottom of the skimmers, will I still remove them? My husband tried to, but they are pretty stuck in there. The plugs to the filters are still in place, but I did find a closing checklist from the owner and on it lists them putting the plugs back after blowing the lines out. The pump has instructions to prime it, so I will do that. I don't want to test the filter and pump out until I find and unplug everything, correct?
Rocco, I'm re-reading and we are having issues finding out where the returns are and how many. There only seems to be 1 plug at the bottom of the skimmers, will I still remove them? My husband tried to, but they are pretty stuck in there. The plugs to the filters are still in place, but I did find a closing checklist from the owner and on it lists them putting the plugs back after blowing the lines out. The pump has instructions to prime it, so I will do that. I don't want to test the filter and pump out until I find and unplug everything, correct?
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
Thanks everyone! I'm getting an order of everything written down and I will post it as a double check once I'm done. I ordered some Calcium increaser and CYA increaser online to have on hand since my practice test they were both low. Hopefully only a day or 2 more of filling and we will be ready to SLAM this weekend! I've only been adding water for an hour 2 times a day since we are on a well. I still have to work on getting the plugs out and finding the returns though.
Should I add the stain preventer at this point? Then test the water once the pump is running to check CYA and PH before doing anything else? Just making sure I have the order of everything right!
Thanks everyone! I'm getting an order of everything written down and I will post it as a double check once I'm done. I ordered some Calcium increaser and CYA increaser online to have on hand since my practice test they were both low. Hopefully only a day or 2 more of filling and we will be ready to SLAM this weekend! I've only been adding water for an hour 2 times a day since we are on a well. I still have to work on getting the plugs out and finding the returns though.
Should I add the stain preventer at this point? Then test the water once the pump is running to check CYA and PH before doing anything else? Just making sure I have the order of everything right!
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
I can't remove the plugs from the skimmers. If I undo the wing nut, nothing happens - it won't move. I removed the wing nut all the way, then removed a large washer that was underneath and when I reach in I can feel another, smaller washer and what I feel is the plug, but it is very snug and won't budge at all. Am I missing something?
Also the screw part isn't short like the others I've found not being used, its a longer screw
I'd imagine it looks like this without the thing on the top :http://www.poolweb.com/Shop-On-Line/Winter-Plugs/WINTER-PLUGS-VALVE
I can't see anything since the water is dark.
I can't remove the plugs from the skimmers. If I undo the wing nut, nothing happens - it won't move. I removed the wing nut all the way, then removed a large washer that was underneath and when I reach in I can feel another, smaller washer and what I feel is the plug, but it is very snug and won't budge at all. Am I missing something?
Also the screw part isn't short like the others I've found not being used, its a longer screw
I'd imagine it looks like this without the thing on the top :http://www.poolweb.com/Shop-On-Line/Winter-Plugs/WINTER-PLUGS-VALVE
I can't see anything since the water is dark.
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
I may be dealing with an Aqua Flow Control Plug, but I'm not sure and I'm not sure if I need to remove it. Both skimmers have the same thing. Anyone familiar with these?
The manual states: When opened, this plug allows varying degrees of suction between the skimmer and the bottom drain.
1. to draw water from the skimmer and the bottom drain at the same time turn the plug 4 revolutions from tightened position
2. To draw water from the bottom drain alone, close the plug all the way.
It then has variations depending on how many floor drains there are, but I can't see them, so I don't know.
I may be dealing with an Aqua Flow Control Plug, but I'm not sure and I'm not sure if I need to remove it. Both skimmers have the same thing. Anyone familiar with these?
The manual states: When opened, this plug allows varying degrees of suction between the skimmer and the bottom drain.
1. to draw water from the skimmer and the bottom drain at the same time turn the plug 4 revolutions from tightened position
2. To draw water from the bottom drain alone, close the plug all the way.
It then has variations depending on how many floor drains there are, but I can't see them, so I don't know.
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
http://blog.poolcenter.com/discuss.aspx?frompagetype=article&articleid=6496 This might be it! under:Combo Skimmer: Old Style Sylvan
It still doesn't say what to do it with though...
http://blog.poolcenter.com/discuss.aspx?frompagetype=article&articleid=6496 This might be it! under:Combo Skimmer: Old Style Sylvan
It still doesn't say what to do it with though...
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
Ok, I was able to get the plugs out by using vise grips. They are double plugs. I checked for a plug in the return I can see and there wasn't one I could feel so I out the directional in it. I have some stabilizer and CH on hand since those were low on my initial test a few weeks ago. I hope to get the pump and filter running and backwash. I was at 0 with CYA on that first reading, should I retest once the pump is running or add the stabilizer?
Ok, I was able to get the plugs out by using vise grips. They are double plugs. I checked for a plug in the return I can see and there wasn't one I could feel so I out the directional in it. I have some stabilizer and CH on hand since those were low on my initial test a few weeks ago. I hope to get the pump and filter running and backwash. I was at 0 with CYA on that first reading, should I retest once the pump is running or add the stabilizer?
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
Mickey, sorry that you have gone a few days without a response. I normally check while at work but missed this thread. Sounds like you got the plugs out, I normally have to wiggle them back and forth to get them loose enough to remove and to make it worse the water in the skimmer is normally the worse and has all the dead bugs in it.
It is recommended that you get the equipment running and water flowing for approximately 1 hour before testing. I know it is hard to wait, when I first got my pool it got to the point that it was hard to sleep and when I did sleep I had dreams about the pool. There have been several dreams where a tree has grown through the side of the pool and one of the walls fell down for some reason.
Mickey, sorry that you have gone a few days without a response. I normally check while at work but missed this thread. Sounds like you got the plugs out, I normally have to wiggle them back and forth to get them loose enough to remove and to make it worse the water in the skimmer is normally the worse and has all the dead bugs in it.
It is recommended that you get the equipment running and water flowing for approximately 1 hour before testing. I know it is hard to wait, when I first got my pool it got to the point that it was hard to sleep and when I did sleep I had dreams about the pool. There have been several dreams where a tree has grown through the side of the pool and one of the walls fell down for some reason.
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
Thank you Rocco! I have been dreaming about the pool stuff! I have stopped doing anything related to the pool for a few hours before bed so they would stop! I called the local pool store today and she told me what to do for the plugs, they are great there! Now next time I have to remove them it will be better.
A friend was here today and he helped me get the pump/filter system started. The one skimmer isn't pulling as much water as it was when we first started it, but everything else is ok (one skimmer was pulling a lot at first while the other wasn't doing much, after backwashing, the other is pulling more and the one that was doing the most in the beginning has slowed down a bit).
There is a small leak coming from one of the pipes that goes from the filter to the pump. I think my husband can take care of it.
We ran it on filter, then rinse, then on backwash and then on filter again and I ran that for 90 mins. After that I took a sample, I have to wait till I get back home to test it. It also looks like it's going to thunderstorm, so am I better to wait and test new water after it rains?
The pressure gauge on the filter was reading at about 10psi and only went up to about 12psi while it was running. I will post test results once I have them and hopefully I can start SLAMing tomorrow!
- - - Updated - - -
Should I start a new thread after I have my test results and am ready to start SLAMing?
Thank you Rocco! I have been dreaming about the pool stuff! I have stopped doing anything related to the pool for a few hours before bed so they would stop! I called the local pool store today and she told me what to do for the plugs, they are great there! Now next time I have to remove them it will be better.
A friend was here today and he helped me get the pump/filter system started. The one skimmer isn't pulling as much water as it was when we first started it, but everything else is ok (one skimmer was pulling a lot at first while the other wasn't doing much, after backwashing, the other is pulling more and the one that was doing the most in the beginning has slowed down a bit).
There is a small leak coming from one of the pipes that goes from the filter to the pump. I think my husband can take care of it.
We ran it on filter, then rinse, then on backwash and then on filter again and I ran that for 90 mins. After that I took a sample, I have to wait till I get back home to test it. It also looks like it's going to thunderstorm, so am I better to wait and test new water after it rains?
The pressure gauge on the filter was reading at about 10psi and only went up to about 12psi while it was running. I will post test results once I have them and hopefully I can start SLAMing tomorrow!
- - - Updated - - -
Should I start a new thread after I have my test results and am ready to start SLAMing?
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
I am glad you got the plug out! NICE job!
Good job on getting everything running! You will learn how to make everything work just right.
It is up to you about starting a new thread. It goes both ways------keep it here to let everyone know what has happened or start a new one and maybe others will join in to help.
Kim
I am glad you got the plug out! NICE job!
Good job on getting everything running! You will learn how to make everything work just right.
It is up to you about starting a new thread. It goes both ways------keep it here to let everyone know what has happened or start a new one and maybe others will join in to help.
Kim
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
Thanks Kim, I guess I will start here and see how it goes!
I'm all set for the slam, but unsure of when to add CYA, CH and all.
Here are my test results using the Speed Stir:
FC: 0 (water never changed color)
CC: 0 (I wasn't sure if I was still supposed to add the same amount of drops for getting the pink to change since I had no pink to change back - this may need redone)
CH: 75
TA: 50
CYA: 0 - There was no cloudiness
PH: 7.3-7.4
Thanks Kim, I guess I will start here and see how it goes!
I'm all set for the slam, but unsure of when to add CYA, CH and all.
Here are my test results using the Speed Stir:
FC: 0 (water never changed color)
CC: 0 (I wasn't sure if I was still supposed to add the same amount of drops for getting the pink to change since I had no pink to change back - this may need redone)
CH: 75
TA: 50
CYA: 0 - There was no cloudiness
PH: 7.3-7.4
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
Okay this is what I would do and in what order:
-Get some CYA- it is sold a pool balances or stabilizer. You can buy it at wallmart. Add it using a tube sock like you wear on your feet. Hand it over the side of the pool so that it is in front of your return. The more you squeeze the fast it will get into the water. Do NOT test until a week has passed.
-Bleach/chlorine-get a large supply on hand and ready to go. Does it as if your CYA is already in the water using this link-
http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/128-chlorine-cya-chart-slam-shock
-Test every hour or as often as possible and dose with bleach as needed.
That should get you started!
Kim
Okay this is what I would do and in what order:
-Get some CYA- it is sold a pool balances or stabilizer. You can buy it at wallmart. Add it using a tube sock like you wear on your feet. Hand it over the side of the pool so that it is in front of your return. The more you squeeze the fast it will get into the water. Do NOT test until a week has passed.
-Bleach/chlorine-get a large supply on hand and ready to go. Does it as if your CYA is already in the water using this link-
http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/128-chlorine-cya-chart-slam-shock
-Test every hour or as often as possible and dose with bleach as needed.
That should get you started!
Kim
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Please Help!
Thank you! I added some CYA today and got about 5 gallons of bleach put in. I will test again in about 45 mins. I had the pool math calculator wrong with my first try (forgot to change the chlorine to the shock value) and didn't add much (little over a gallon), but the FC went up to 1 so I was happy to see change (I tested it a little over an hour after I added it.) I added the proper amount after that to aim for FC 12 - assuming a 30 CYA since I was at 0. I hope I'm doing things right!
Our pool is gunite and the CH was really low - should I add Calcium Increaser at this point or wait?
Thank you! I added some CYA today and got about 5 gallons of bleach put in. I will test again in about 45 mins. I had the pool math calculator wrong with my first try (forgot to change the chlorine to the shock value) and didn't add much (little over a gallon), but the FC went up to 1 so I was happy to see change (I tested it a little over an hour after I added it.) I added the proper amount after that to aim for FC 12 - assuming a 30 CYA since I was at 0. I hope I'm doing things right!
Our pool is gunite and the CH was really low - should I add Calcium Increaser at this point or wait?
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Starting SLAM 4/18/15!
You are doing fine! Keep using pool math to find you needed levels.
I will let someone else answer about the CH. I have a liner pool so.......
Kim
You are doing fine! Keep using pool math to find you needed levels.
I will let someone else answer about the CH. I have a liner pool so.......
Kim
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Starting SLAM 4/18/15!
I just retested (1 hour 15 mins or so since adding) - it's dark here now and got:
FC: 13.5
CC: 1.5
That is quite the increase! Assuming I won't be adding anything else right now...
Thanks for hanging with me Kim!
I just retested (1 hour 15 mins or so since adding) - it's dark here now and got:
FC: 13.5
CC: 1.5
That is quite the increase! Assuming I won't be adding anything else right now...
Thanks for hanging with me Kim!
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Starting SLAM 4/18/15!
Tested this morning and got:
FC: 6
CC: 1.5
Added 2 bottles of bleach
The skimmer and returns don't seem to be flowing as well as before, is that normal? I checked all of the skimmer baskets and the pump basket and all are good. I added CYA yesterday, when can I backwash again? I thought I remembered reading 1 week. The pressure gauge on the filter has been about the same the whole time, so it's only reading a few psi higher. It was backwashed twice with DE added before adding the CYA. I found the detailed write up about backwashing, so I will be doing it that way from here on out (I didn't add in the rinse).
Pictures Starting:
Pictures this morning:
Tested this morning and got:
FC: 6
CC: 1.5
Added 2 bottles of bleach
The skimmer and returns don't seem to be flowing as well as before, is that normal? I checked all of the skimmer baskets and the pump basket and all are good. I added CYA yesterday, when can I backwash again? I thought I remembered reading 1 week. The pressure gauge on the filter has been about the same the whole time, so it's only reading a few psi higher. It was backwashed twice with DE added before adding the CYA. I found the detailed write up about backwashing, so I will be doing it that way from here on out (I didn't add in the rinse).
Pictures Starting:
Pictures this morning:
Re: New House came with a neglected pool - Starting SLAM 4/18/15!
Hey, I see progress! It went from blackish to dark greenish!
Yes, it is normal for water flow to slow as the filter gets dirty. Clean the filter when the pressure rises 20-25% from clean pressure. Don't wait a week or any set time. It will probably need cleaning sooner than a week.
Hey, I see progress! It went from blackish to dark greenish!
Yes, it is normal for water flow to slow as the filter gets dirty. Clean the filter when the pressure rises 20-25% from clean pressure. Don't wait a week or any set time. It will probably need cleaning sooner than a week.