On my way home from the store with two more cases. Told them I'm almost there. Will probably see them on Saturday. Hahaha!
Thankfully it's very close to home.
Thankfully it's very close to home.
New pool owner at new house, opening for summer
- Thread starter lpulley
- Start date
Next time mess with them and buy a tarp and some rope too.
What does it mean if my filter PSI is very low (below 1) but the flow is weaker than it used to be? I've backwashed and didn't get much. Maybe I need to open and clean the filter? I may have abused it with the vacuum. Will vacuum straight to waste next time...
Sounds like a bad gauge. Weak flow would point to a dirty filter with higher PSI and at the very least the gauge should show your regular pressure.
You have a small filter and possibly lots of crud. You probably want to get in there for a deep clean.
Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter
This post will walk you through the anatomy of a sand filter, and then provide a video at the end for how to deep clean your sand filter. The filter used in the photos and videos is a Hayward S180T top mount sand filter. The images are of a similar filter. Obviously not all filters are...
www.troublefreepool.com
The gauge was reading up to 4 PSI the other day... but could be bad. I suppose I'll start by cleaning the filter.
Good news: filter is full of gunk. I cleaned a lot of it out.
Bad news: standpipe came out, and I think I screwed up and lost some sand. Should I empty it and start over? Should I try to keep the sand, or should I run to the store and get some new sand?
Bad news: standpipe came out, and I think I screwed up and lost some sand. Should I empty it and start over? Should I try to keep the sand, or should I run to the store and get some new sand?
The sand will clean as good as new if you can physically save it. It's also dirt cheap if you need more or accidentally dump half of it in the grass.
I would try reassembling the guts with it empty.
I would try reassembling the guts with it empty.
Draining the filter now and will probably go get some spare sand in case I can't salvage it.
In the meantime, I switched to pumping directly without the filter, and still disappointing flow. Turns out there's gunk clogged in the pump. Ugh. Guess I need to use skimmer socks from now on?
I'm going to clean out the pump as best I can.
In the meantime, I switched to pumping directly without the filter, and still disappointing flow. Turns out there's gunk clogged in the pump. Ugh. Guess I need to use skimmer socks from now on?
I'm going to clean out the pump as best I can.
Maybe leaves or pine needles jammed in the impeller. Get all up in there with the power off and make sure it spins freely.
Jeez! The impeller was disgusting. Completely clogged and then some. I'm understanding why the previous owners had skimmer socks; these leaves go right through the basket.
Now I just have to get everything back in service.
Now I just have to get everything back in service.
I'm sorry you had a need to go find answers, but I'm doing backflips you found them without too much trouble.
If the vac debris is heavy it will clog the skimmer socks (going forward). Keep an eye on the returns for good flow as you move around with the vac.
If the vac debris is heavy it will clog the skimmer socks (going forward). Keep an eye on the returns for good flow as you move around with the vac.
Many have tried filter balls and the same many didn't do so hot.
Sand it still the most trouble free.
Sand it still the most trouble free.
There's a behemoth of an industry within the industry to seperate you from your money. Most of it is targeting your need for algae control such as the filter balls likely claiming to remove more of your algae.
99% of what's out there no longer applies to you. Let your friends and neighbors waste $45 here and there because they don't want to learn how to not have alage that needs controlling. They won't listen to you anyway so most of us stopped trying a long time ago.
But you're here so you'll be on the cheap and easy from here on out. Balance to TFP specs, with no extras of any kind and you'll have obnoxious sparkles.
Is there such a thing as a coarse skimmer sock or a mesh skimmer basket? I don't really want to replace slimy skimmer socks twice a day, but I'd like to catch some of those leaves that sometimes make it through the big slots in the basket.
My advice is to hit Amazon. They sell spun polyester hairnets in packs of 100 (or more!) for very cheap. I think my pack last year cost around $10-$11. Not sure if they come in different "grits" or not. They're made for the food prep industry to trap human hair, so probably not. When they get nasty, just pull 'em out of the basket and throw them away. NO CLEANING NECESSARY!
Early season, I often use 2-3 per day. If overly full of junk, they can starve your pump of water; you don't need to go there! Change frequently. Use them in your skimmer forever every day your pool is open. You won't regret it. Good luck and welcome to TFP! (Better hope your new-found 300,000 friends here don't all decide to show up for a swim on the same day!)
Early season, I often use 2-3 per day. If overly full of junk, they can starve your pump of water; you don't need to go there! Change frequently. Use them in your skimmer forever every day your pool is open. You won't regret it. Good luck and welcome to TFP! (Better hope your new-found 300,000 friends here don't all decide to show up for a swim on the same day!)
Pool is now astonishingly clear, or at least clearer than I thought it could get. OCLT was difficult since the earliest I could test was during sunrise, but it dropped from 12 FC just after sunset to 10.5 FC during sunrise, which sounds sufficiently close... but I'm not sure y'all would agree. 0.5 CC and 30 CYA. pH is around 7.2 (tested when FC was a bit lower).
I'm thinking I call the SLAM complete, bring my CYA up to 45, let my FC fall to 6, and get the pH up around 7.4. Am I rushing it?
I'm thinking I call the SLAM complete, bring my CYA up to 45, let my FC fall to 6, and get the pH up around 7.4. Am I rushing it?
A great many got bit ending too early. Maintaining a slam at the end is easy peasy compared to starting your next one.
Food for thought. So much so I'd get 2 passes with flying colors before calling it myself. IMO, borderline passes raise more questions because what if.