New to TFP, new to pool ownership, extremely lost and I think I messed up

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newdude said:
Likely not, without a fence. It's probably there to satisfy a 5 foot barrier or such.

Your concern would be a (neighbors) kid being able to climb over the slightly lower pool wall, and not be able to swim.
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I was thinking the same, but looking around.. a lot of people have pools and not all have the rails, some were up all winter without. Either way, I'm off for the rest of the week so I'll call and ask them, and also be hitting the SLAM every three hours wed-sun
 
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hvstle said:
Here's the kicker though... my pump has an on switch, but it (like everything else on it label/instruction wise) is super faded. So I went out today to look at it and I had turned it off, then accidentally pushed it harder another way and it turned on on, my pressure went up to 10... I think I have had it running on a "low" mode this entire time >.<. I wonder if that had something to do with my issue.
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You likely received advice to backwash your sand filter when the pressure is 25% above clean pressure (i.e. just after a backwash + rinse). If you just discovered you have a 2 speed pump, your backwash evaluation should be based on the pump at high speed. Not sure if you've been backwashing too frequently since a pump on low speed may require less than 1psi to hit 25% change.
 
bobloblaw42 said:
Not sure if you've been backwashing too frequently since a pump on low speed may require less than 1psi to hit 25% change.
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Welp. It's the same 25% increase either way. But it's way easier to notice 25% of 20 psi on high speed than it is to notice 25% of 3(?) psi on low speed. We're all getting older, no need to squint at the gauge. :ROFLMAO:
 
I have only backwashed for about 30 seconds, maybe less, every other day. Either way, could the lower speed of the pump be slowing the filtration of the pool, and that's why it's maybe not working as quickly?
 
hvstle said:
I have only backwashed for about 30 seconds, maybe less, every other day. Either way, could the lower speed of the pump be slowing the filtration of the pool, and that's why it's maybe not working as quickly?
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No, lower speed improves filtration as high pressure can "blast" some particles through. Lower speed is often paired with higher run time in normal circumstances but if you're in SLAM, pump should be on 24/7 anyway.

Ease off the backwashing and only do it when the pressure on high rises 25%. A somewhat dirty sand filter will remove smaller particles better than a freshly backwashed filter. As debris enters (but does not exit the filter back to pool), it fills in the gaps between the sand particles. This in turn reduces size of the gaps and traps smaller particles that would have otherwise passed through the filter. Backwashing resets this dynamic by removing that debris. Backwashing is good when the debris has reduced the flow to pool to the point where it is more detrimental than beneficial. We've determined that to be at about at 25% rise in PSI.
 
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Do any of you have issues with Frogs? Just found two dead in the skimmer basket... Curious if there is something I can do to guide them out of the pool. I am not super concerned with it, it is what it is, but my wife is the type of person who would swerve to avoid an animal knowing that a person would get hit instead.. 😅
 
You want to filter at high speed upon opening your pool. The goal is to filter as much water as possible. Slow speed is for after your water is cleared as long as the skimmers work. The filter is made to run a high speed.
I like to backwash in the morning and evening until my pool is cleared. Others here don't that much. When cleared i let it rise ~30%.

Frogs in pool, where you and i live, YES. and snakes, turtles, cottontails, mice, voles, screws. have not had any squirrels yet. Big time worms, but they may have a hard time getting in your pool. As far as keeping them out, hire a Great Blue Heron.

My geese used to try to get in so i had to keep my gate closed. Years ago during closing we had a Christmas family picture taken with the all of us in pool with the kids holding the geese. People actually thought we let them swim all summer long. The geese not the kids.
 
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hvstle said:
TY, ordered a couple
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Frog logs are GREAT. We get almost no dead creatures when they’re in place. Now the frogs (and chipmunks, and squirrels, and mice, and bunnies…) just swim around, climb out, towel off, and go get their friends for a pool party. As long and they don’t die in my pool and pick up their empty beer cans, I’m ok with it.
 
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Alright guys... new problem...

Went out this morning to check the skimmer basket and the switch wouldn't work on the pump. I finally got it to turn off, but now I can't get it to turn back on... It's that yellow globby looking thing in the front. Any ideas/suggestions? I am 100% not an electrician, but the good news is my dad is here for the weekend so I can enlist his help.

1717849850729.png
 
It looks like it's part 62018 for the pump itself. I did some digging, and it looks like maybe a Rocker Switch, Dpdt, 6 Connections is what I need? Am I safe to order one from Amazon, or do I need to find one with a water proof housing?

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Is it hardwired or plugged in? I'd prefer the switch go bad in the "on" position so that you can turn off via breaker or unplugging.

Can't help with the pump repair / replacement component so here's a bump for you.
 
bobloblaw42 said:
Is it hardwired or plugged in? I'd prefer the switch go bad in the "on" position so that you can turn off via breaker or unplugging.

Can't help with the pump repair / replacement component so here's a bump for you.
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The pump is plugged into an outlet under the deck. So far, it's started working again but I suspect I need to plan for it fully breaking in the future.
 
It's not easy to see in the pics, but I snagged these this AM before heading to the office. I will try to get a sample of the material after work.

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The reason I thought it was algae and not sand is when I brush it, it doesn't move like I would suspect sand would - it clouds up and disperses rapidly.
 
Seems like dead garden variety algae or pollen. Normal. Vacuum slowly to prevent billowing. If you suspect its passing through your filter, consider pool grade DE in your sand filter to improve filtration.

www.troublefreepool.com

Add DE to a Sand Filter

A clean pool filter will increase the efficiency of your pool! ... your filter are to backwash it, clean the manifolds and grids, and add new DE.
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
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