New Pool Owner - Resurface?

[golfski]

We bought a home with a pool in the desert (Palm Springs), I noticed the pool bottom looked good except a few ‘moon crater’ looking chips in the floor (pics attached). Lately I feel like more and more are popping up and found some of the chip peices today, so it seems actively happening. I did replace the navigator (Hayward blu) recently, replaced the salt cell and had the surface tiles sand blasted. Is this something I’m causing or just aging of the pool? House is 20 years old and assume the pool was built then. It’s a salt water pool.

 

[kimkats]

Hi and welcome to TFP! How are you testing your water? Those look like they may be calcium nodules. They can be caused by unbalanced water. We can help you with them if you would like. Just let us know!

Kim

 

[Jimrahbe]

Ski,

Plaster in a gunite pool only lasts so long and then will need to be redone.. When you get calcium nodules, it is a good indication that the plaster is compromised and water is getting between the plaster and the gunite.. If you sand one of the nodules down, you will find a small pin hole.. It is like a mini volcano..

The only real fix is to remove the old plaster and replaster the pool. It is not a major issue, just an ugly issue..

Here is a good read... Calcium Nodules in pools

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[mmardini]

Hi neighbor! I also live in Palm Springs. We had those when we moved into our house and recently had the pool resurfaced. We weren’t sure the age of our pool either and wanted to start fresh. Let me know if you need any referrals!

 

[golfski]

Hi and welcome to TFP! How are you testing your water? Those look like they may be calcium nodules. They can be caused by unbalanced water. We can help you with them if you would like. Just let us know!

I have personally not tested my water - I probably need to do this. This is our first pool as homeowners, so I am a totally newbie! We have a pool person who comes twice a week, scrubs the sides, tests the water and adjusts chemicals. I actually have been meaning to test the water just to double check whats going on since there is a language barrier between myself and the pool professional. I did notice these start popping up after we drained and re-filled our pool after cleaning the tiles.

Hi neighbor! I also live in Palm Springs. We had those when we moved into our house and recently had the pool resurfaced. We weren’t sure the age of our pool either and wanted to start fresh. Let me know if you need any referrals!

Hi There! We are loving the desert lifestyle, even if part time. I am aligned with your line of thinking, probably just going to start fresh and limit the things that can just pop up randomly and not know the background. I would love some referrals and any ballpark cost info you can provide - I am just curious as to cost in this area. What surface did you chose for your resurface?

 

[mknauss]

I did notice these start popping up after we drained and re-filled our pool after cleaning the tiles.

Welcome to the forum!
I suspect what you are seeing is delaminating of the plaster. It can be caused by draining the pool, especially if done during warm temperatures and direct sunlight on the pool surface. How long was the pool drained for?
I suggest you review Test Kits Compared

 

[golfski]

Welcome to the forum!
I suspect what you are seeing is delaminating of the plaster. It can be caused by draining the pool, especially if done during warm temperatures and direct sunlight on the pool surface. How long was the pool drained for?
I suggest you review Test Kits Compared

It was only drained for a day and a half - the pool cleaner drained it at evening then sand-blasted the tiles the next day and then it was filled back up by the next morning. It was warm but not over 90 at the time.

 

[mmardini]

I have personally not tested my water - I probably need to do this. This is our first pool as homeowners, so I am a totally newbie! We have a pool person who comes twice a week, scrubs the sides, tests the water and adjusts chemicals. I actually have been meaning to test the water just to double check whats going on since there is a language barrier between myself and the pool professional. I did notice these start popping up after we drained and re-filled our pool after cleaning the tiles.



Hi There! We are loving the desert lifestyle, even if part time. I am aligned with your line of thinking, probably just going to start fresh and limit the things that can just pop up randomly and not know the background. I would love some referrals and any ballpark cost info you can provide - I am just curious as to cost in this area. What surface did you chose for your resurface?

Hey! We love it here too. Where do you spend the other half of your time? I am from Orange County but prefer it here.

We got bids from all the big pool companies out here but decided to do an owner build (we hired all the subs from the big companies to do it for us for cheaper! Just offer all cash and there eyes sparkle). Our bids ranged from 12,000-15,000. That included pebble and basic tile. We went with mini pebble for the surface with glass beads added and glass tile
For the waterline, spa wall, spa and steps. All in, we paid roughly 12,000$ but that also included color LED lights and installation of lights. I included a pic for reference.

Also I highly recommend getting a pool service company that speaks English so you can talk to him about what he’s doing to your pool. There are hundreds of them out here!

 

[golfski]

Hey! We love it here too. Where do you spend the other half of your time? I am from Orange County but prefer it here.

We got bids from all the big pool companies out here but decided to do an owner build (we hired all the subs from the big companies to do it for us for cheaper! Just offer all cash and there eyes sparkle). Our bids ranged from 12,000-15,000. That included pebble and basic tile. We went with mini pebble for the surface with glass beads added and glass tile
For the waterline, spa wall, spa and steps. All in, we paid roughly 12,000$ but that also included color LED lights and installation of lights. I included a pic for reference.

Also I highly recommend getting a pool service company that speaks English so you can talk to him about what he’s doing to your pool. There are hundreds of them out here!

Thanks for the advice on the pool service company, my cleaner is an independent and I like to support small biz especially in the current time - but I sometimes worry he’s doing more harm than good and our conversations are very short.

I love your glass tile, it looks really great! That is a pretty decent price, I would probably try to do the same as I mainly just want a basic resurface but may talk to a PB to see if there is anything I am not seeing that should/need be done at the same time.

We spend our time up in the Pacific Northwest in the Portland area most of the time (pre-COVID) but plan to be here as much as possible during COVID!

 

[kimkats]

I strongly suggest you get one of those test kits. That will show you what is what with your water/pool. I am going to guess the levels are off.

 

[golfski]

Following up here. I took my water to get tested at Leslie’s and here is the report. The assume this 0 calcium hardness is what is causing this?
Also would love a breakdown of what this means. I’ve had my pool person replace the TCell940 at $850, put in color lights at $1800, sand blast tiles at $550 and replaced my navigator for $400 through him. 2x a week service is only $120/month but I want to make sure he’s doing what he should be.
Would love a breakdown of what next steps should be. I had someone out to quote resurfacing, still waiting for cost but I’m a newbie and want to make sure I’m protecting my investment.

 

[mknauss]

First step is to get your own proper test kit. See Test Kits Compared

We will not make any recommendations based on pool store tests.

It is impossible for your water to have 0 CH. On that data point alone, the entire test should be discarded.

 

[ajw22]

We don't recommend taking any actions based on pool store tests. We find them too inaccurate and often lead you int he wrong direction. Both your CH results and salt results are suspect.

Get the Taylor K-2006 or TF-100 Test Kits. And with a SWG you should have the K-1766 Taylor Salt Test to accurately test your salt level. Consider adding the Speedstir Magnetic Stirrer which will make testing more accurate and repeatable.

Pool Test Kits - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Also would love a breakdown of what this means. I’ve had my pool person replace the TCell940 at $850, put in color lights at $1800, sand blast tiles at $550 and replaced my navigator for $400 through him. 2x a week service is only $120/month but I want to make sure he’s doing what he should be.

These are typical retail prices. Some things like replacing the cell and the cleaner can be DIY projects.

 

[golfski]

Thank you! I just got a k2006c kit off Amazon.
One thing that I don’t understand is that I have the TCell940 in my system, and the cord going to my ProLogic. But when I look at the ProLogic configuration, it says the chlorinator is disabled. What I don’t get is how I see/change the configuration of the TCell940 in the ProLogic. I changed the chlorinator to enabled and the check system light came on immediately.
I would love some help understanding this thing. I have a TCell940 with a ProLogic PLPS-4 and a AquaConnect modem installed for remote diagnostic and control.

 

[ajw22]

Let's see if @JamesW is around for the Prologic Tcell configuration.

 

[JamesW]

The 940 is the same as the T-15.

 

[JamesW]

It looks like the salt is low, so that can cause the check system light.

Go to the diagnostic screen, note the readings and then press the + button to reverse the polarity.

When the new numbers appear, see what they are.

Then, press + again and note the new readings.

Lately I feel like more and more are popping up and found some of the chip pieces today, so it seems actively happening.

The plaster looks relatively new. I suspect that the old owners probably did a cheap replaster to address the look of the old plaster.

Can you confirm if the pool was replastered?

 

[golfski]

Thanks @JamesW and all!
To clarify, I should have the chlorinator set to enabled, correct? It is currently disabled but very much attached to the system. I only have the TCell940, not a sense and dispense system. Just want to make sure I won’t harm anything by enabling it.
And if it should be enabled, if it’s been disabled this whole time, has it even been doing anything?
Sorry for so many questions, I’m trying to understand how to operate all these things and build on my setup - I’m an engineer - but I also want to verify my pool service guy has been doing what he should be to keep things in order as I’m not a full time resident at this house.

 

[JamesW]

Enable the chlorinator, but not the sense and dispense.

 

[mmardini]

There’s no way your water has 0 calcium. Our water out here has a lot of calcium. What company did you have give you a quote?