New pool filled, but filtration system not started?

[Falcons Fan]

Hello, I am a brand new pool owner, with the pool just being filled last Friday around lunch time. It is a concrete freeform pool, with NPT Stonescapes pebble finish. The PB says there was a scheduling mix up, and the crew that starts the equipment did not show up. So, the pool is filled and sitting over weekend (except for our brushing twice per day and doing some skimming). If they show up Monday, which is questionable given the whole construction reliability situation, it will have sat for ~72 hours with fill water that was trucked in.

My question is whether or not this harms the warranty with NPT in any way, or will it harm the curing process of the finish, practically speaking? Also, with pollen falling, and other surface debris in the pool with no chemicals, will this make the initial start up and balance any more difficult for the company that starts it up?

 

[titleistseemore]

We had a similiar experience last year, keep brushing. A short delay should not hurt the startup. We followed the NPT once are start up was completed with no issues.

 

[proavia]

While not ideal, it's probably fine until Monday morning.
I would be on the phone first thing Monday morning with the PB and have them get someone out there ASAP.

What exact startup procedure are you planning on using?

Do you have one of the recommended test kits? Test Kits Compared - add your test kit to your signature.
Post a full set of current test results.
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA (hold off on this as they probably didn't add any stabilizer yet)
Water temp

No salt should be added for 28 days or whatever the plaster manufacturer recommends.

 

[kimkats]

You are doing the correct thing by brushing the pool during this time. Well done!

 

[Falcons Fan]

While not ideal, it's probably fine until Monday morning.
I would be on the phone first thing Monday morning with the PB and have them get someone out there ASAP.

What exact startup procedure are you planning on using?

Do you have one of the recommended test kits? Test Kits Compared - add your test kit to your signature.
Post a full set of current test results.
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA (hold off on this as they probably didn't add any stabilizer yet)
Water temp

No salt should be added for 28 days or whatever the plaster manufacturer recommends.

The pool company is having a subcontractor who set the equipment do the start up and water balance for the first 30 days, following the NPC guidelines - at least that is the intent. This is not an ideal start from them. They have supplied a Taylor k2005 test kit, but nobody from the pool company or the service company have been onsite since the pool was filled Friday at mid-day, including the construction supervisor. I did test for pH, and it is off the charts high - far above 8. I was curious, more than anything, since nothing has been added yet, and I am instructed not to add anything - let them handle it for the first 30 days. We have been brushing!

 

[kimkats]

No one else will care for your pool like you do. If/when they show up it may only be once a week or so. Do you have a copy of the NPC guidelines?

 

[Falcons Fan]

No one else will care for your pool like you do. If/when they show up it may only be once a week or so. Do you have a copy of the NPC guidelines?

That's a good point. I did find the guidelines. Once I see if they show today, I will get a better idea of their plan. If they don't show, I will dive in - pun intended - on my own. They haven't yet programmed/setup the panel, and the breakers for the pump/filter/heater are all off. Here's hoping they show today. I did get the start up manual for the equipment and think I can make my way through it, assuming all equipment works as intended. I was told the system would run for 23 1/2 hours per day for the first few weeks.

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

They have supplied a Taylor k2005 test kit, but nobody from the pool company or the service company have been onsite since the pool was filled Friday at mid-day, including the construction supervisor. I did test for pH, and it is off the charts high - far above 8.

The K-2005 is a good start but what you need is the K-2006. You can upgrade your 2005 to a 2006 by buying the K-1515. You need that to accurately measure free and combined chlorine. Order it today.

If your guys don't show up, do dive in and get some chemicals in there. You need to knock that pH down into the 7's using muriatic acid. pH will rise constantly with new plaster, so you'll want some acid on hand in any case. And get some cyanuric acid stabilizer in there as well as some liquid chlorine. Without circulation from the pump, you'll need to brush the chemicals to disperse them. And don't let the guys show up later and just dump in more chems without accurately measuring what you put in.

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Falcons Fan]

The K-2005 is a good start but what you need is the K-2006. You can upgrade your 2005 to a 2006 by buying the K-1515. You need that to accurately measure free and combined chlorine. Order it today.

If your guys don't show up, do dive in and get some chemicals in there. You need to knock that pH down into the 7's using muriatic acid. pH will rise constantly with new plaster, so you'll want some acid on hand in any case. And get some cyanuric acid stabilizer in there as well as some liquid chlorine. Without circulation from the pump, you'll need to brush the chemicals to disperse them. And don't let the guys show up later and just dump in more chems without accurately measuring what you put in.

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

Thank you for the advice on the kit - i will get that ordered up. The pool service did show up and start everything. They added liquid chlorine, put chlorine tabs in the skimmer, and added a gallon of muriatic acid to bring the pH down. While they are handling it for 30 days, I am going to be testing behind them, if for no other reason than to learn!

 

[kimkats]

Did they say how often they would be coming by?

 

[reggiehammond]

Thank you for the advice on the kit - i will get that ordered up. The pool service did show up and start everything. They added liquid chlorine, put chlorine tabs in the skimmer, and added a gallon of muriatic acid to bring the pH down. While they are handling it for 30 days, I am going to be testing behind them, if for no other reason than to learn!

Pull the tabs out of the skimmer - all they’re doing there is shortening the life of the plastic basket. Get a proper floater if you intend to use the tabs. They’re a poor short term and long term solution. It’d be best to add stabilizer via sock method and chlorinate via liquid chlorine only. Tabs are slow to release FC, but doesn’t take a lot of them to push CYA past optimal levels.

 

[Falcons Fan]

Did they say how often they would be coming by?

Daily for the first 7 days, then weekly after that. They set the system to run for 23 hrs, 55 min per day in pool mode. They did set freeze protection up to bounce between pool mode and spa mode of below 34 degrees. From my first couple of test results, I can tell they will be fighting high pH due to the plaster curing. It was 7 when they left yesterday after putting muriatic acid in, and it is somewhere above 8 this morning. We’ll see what they do today.