Pre-Build Panic

[BowserWowser]

Welp, just found out today, after not hearing from my installer for a month, that they may be able to come begin our install NEXT WEEK.
I have the big things - pool, liner, pump, filter, SWCG, skimmer, and, you know, a cute little purple puffer fish pool thermometer. But I feel like I'm still missing a LOT. Like a ladder/steps, vacuum, test kit (this is the one thing I at least know where to order from), long pole cleaning net thingy (I'm confident that's the technical term)...I don't even know what I need as far as chemicals, salt, etc.

I'm envisioning a pool full of plain water (which will be discolored and gross in a matter of days) that we have no means of getting in/out of. Wish me luck! Anyone have an AGP with SWCG starter checklist for dummies??

 

[Chad1979]

I would get your test kit before you have the pool ready to go so you can get familiar with it before you need to use it. You can probably practice with tap water just just to get used to using it. As for a handheld pool skimmer just go to walmart or menards or lowes and pick one up. They arent that expensive. Chemicals youll need? Pool salt at a minimum. Probably borax, some liquid chlorine until the salt gets dissolved enough to use the swcg. Hopefully others will steer you in a more apecific direction on chemicals.

 

[Teald024]

If nothing else, you can add 3ppm of chlorine per day and stir with your brush. That will keep the pool from going green until you get your equipment up and running.

 

[AJ.A]

First - read the ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry: ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry - Trouble Free Pool

Second - I would recommend you getting this test kit: TF-Pro *Salt with Smart Stir-for pools with SWG

That will let you test your water and adjust as needed. You will test for the salt in the water then add salt according to the SWCG's recommendation to bring the water up to the correct salinity. And as others say - using liquid chlorine at first would be a good step until your water is warm enough to generate chlorine. You will also need to add stabilizer (CYA) so the chlorine will not get burned off quickly.

As for steps/ladder - I would just look around and pick out what you want. I went with an A-Frame ladder at first but now I'm having a deck built so I switched to steps that attach to the deck.

 

[BowserWowser]

I would get your test kit before you have the pool ready to go so you can get familiar with it before you need to use it. You can probably practice with tap water just just to get used to using it. As for a handheld pool skimmer just go to walmart or menards or lowes and pick one up. They arent that expensive. Chemicals youll need? Pool salt at a minimum. Probably borax, some liquid chlorine until the salt gets dissolved enough to use the swcg. Hopefully others will steer you in a more apecific direction on chemicals.

I get myself caught up in "researching" everything. I've seen the skimmer nets at Walmart and thought, "I'll have to research the best kind..." And then by the time I've researched and decided, the one I've chosen is out of stock or something

If nothing else, you can add 3ppm of chlorine per day and stir with your brush. That will keep the pool from going green until you get your equipment up and running.

I need to get a brush

First - read the ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry: ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry - Trouble Free Pool

Second - I would recommend you getting this test kit: TF-Pro *Salt with Smart Stir-for pools with SWG

That will let you test your water and adjust as needed. You will test for the salt in the water then add salt according to the SWCG's recommendation to bring the water up to the correct salinity. And as others say - using liquid chlorine at first would be a good step until your water is warm enough to generate chlorine. You will also need to add stabilizer (CYA) so the chlorine will not get burned off quickly.

As for steps/ladder - I would just look around and pick out what you want. I went with an A-Frame ladder at first but now I'm having a deck built so I switched to steps that attach to the deck.

I've read the ABCs, but it doesn't really tell you how to start. Do I just fill my pool from my hose and test it with nothing and adjust from there?
Yup, that's the testing kit I knew to order, just haven't done it yet. I've added it to my cart about 17 times and then start questioning what else I need...
I've been looking at steps/ladder for months. The ones I want are sold out everywhere, and we've postponed our deck because of lumber prices, so the style we need has changed...I was hoping to find one locally (Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp), but most of what I'm finding is just the flimsy Intex type ladders. Back to searching for in-stock options!

 

[magiteck]

I get myself caught up in "researching" everything. I've seen the skimmer nets at Walmart and thought, "I'll have to research the best kind..." And then by the time I've researched and decided, the one I've chosen is out of stock or something


I need to get a brush


I've read the ABCs, but it doesn't really tell you how to start. Do I just fill my pool from my hose and test it with nothing and adjust from there?
Yup, that's the testing kit I knew to order, just haven't done it yet. I've added it to my cart about 17 times and then start questioning what else I need...
I've been looking at steps/ladder for months. The ones I want are sold out everywhere, and we've postponed our deck because of lumber prices, so the style we need has changed...I was hoping to find one locally (Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp), but most of what I'm finding is just the flimsy Intex type ladders. Back to searching for in-stock options!

I’ve been pretty happy with this one:

Vinyl Works Slide Lock A-Frame Above Ground Pool Ladder

Get a deal on a Slide Lock A frame pool ladder by Vinyl Works Canada. Easy to set up above ground pool ladder made with long lasting construction making the strongest above ground pool ladder option available!

www.nationaldiscountpoolsupplies.com

When you build your deck they make a conversion kit so you can still use it. That’s what I did this year:

Conversion Kit For SLA | Vinyl Works Canada

 

[kellyfair]

Hi, Bowser. Breathe!

Get a brush and net from Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, etc. You can also get your liquid chlorine there, as well as dry stabilizer (CYA). Get salt as well... but make sure it is pure, no additives. That is all you need, to start. Or, you can get LC at pool store - many have refillable jugs.

Once filled, use Pool Math to figure out how much CYA to add to get you to your target. May want to do in stages so you don’t overshoot. Hang CYA sock in front of return and squeeze it now and then to help it dissolve.

Test your water, then add LC (use Pool Math to determine how much). I would test chlorine a few minutes after adding to see if you hit your target - it’s a good way to see if your estimate of pool volume is correct.

You can go ahead and add salt, stirring with brush to help dissolve. Don’t turn on SWCG until salt has been in and dissolved for 48 hours. Add salt in stages too, so you don’t overshoot.

Post your full test results and we’ll take a look. Please note CYA can take time to show, after it is dissolved.

 

[Newdude]

Hey Bowser !!! Are you a member at Costco/Bjs ? I have found they have much better quality stuff than Walmart/Home Depot. The brushes, nets, floats, noodles etc are noticeably better quality. WM/HD have stuff that’s more Dollar store quality.

Don’t buy any chemicals at any of them that are 4-in-1 (etc) or have anything ‘blue’ on the label.(code word for copper). You want plain bleach/ chlorine, 100% Cyanuric Acid, 100%Calcium, baking soda, etc.


Fill with your hose and test it. It will have calcium, a PH and TA. It may have some Chorine but won’t have any CYA or salt. Download poolmath for free and enter your pools info. From there click on any tab, the PH for example and enter your 6.3 (?). It will then tell you that you need to add 3 lbs (?) of borax. (20 mule brand in a white box in any laundry detergent aisle).

You can test your hose water ahead of time and know what / how much to buy to start off

 

[BowserWowser]

Thanks, guys! Breathing...
My installer came yesterday for some final measurements. I should be excited, but now I'm just panicking that I should have bought a 24' instead of 27' pool because, in order to be within city regulations regarding distance from fences/property lines, it's going to come very close to our sidewalk and heat pumps. I keep telling myself it's a circle, so it will only be that close at one point...and I can't return/exchange the pool, and 24' liners are becoming hard to find, so we're just running with it!

kellyfair, THANK YOU for the step-by-step of what to do! That's exactly what I needed.

Newdude, I feel a tag-along trip on my sister's Costco membership in my near future...

Jared, I ordered stairs!! With both little kids and my mother who lives with us and has some leg/hip pain, I really wanted to avoid ladders if possible. This finally popped back into stock in a few places (and the price has already increased since I placed my order!), so I jumped on it.

Good news is, with the lockable gate, it should also meet the fencing requirements for the city, so I won't have to worry about the specifics I'd read about getting door and window alarms for all the openings on the back of my house (since the house "acts" as part of the fence).
Aqua Select Everest Above-Ground Bridge System - walmart.com

 

[magiteck]

Jared, I ordered stairs!! With both little kids and my mother who lives with us and has some leg/hip pain, I really wanted to avoid ladders if possible. This finally popped back into stock in a few places (and the price has already increased since I placed my order!), so I jumped on it.

Good news is, with the lockable gate, it should also meet the fencing requirements for the city, so I won't have to worry about the specifics I'd read about getting door and window alarms for all the openings on the back of my house (since the house "acts" as part of the fence).
Aqua Select Everest Above-Ground Bridge System - walmart.com

Good deal, those look nice!

Can you detach the “outside” part for when you build your deck and still use the in-pool steps?

 

[BowserWowser]

Can you detach the “outside” part for when you build your deck and still use the in-pool steps?

I'm sure we can find a way!

 

[kellyfair]

PSA: No matter what the instructions say, don’t fill the steps with sand!

 

[BowserWowser]

PSA: No matter what the instructions say, don’t fill the steps with sand!

We won't! I've read your posts about that before We'll see how it sets first, then get some weights if needed. Since it's attached to the outer set, I'm hoping that will keep it pretty stable.

 

[phonedave]

Thanks, guys! Breathing...
My installer came yesterday for some final measurements. I should be excited, but now I'm just panicking that I should have bought a 24' instead of 27' pool because, in order to be within city regulations regarding distance from fences/property lines, it's going to come very close to our sidewalk and heat pumps. I keep telling myself it's a circle, so it will only be that close at one point...and I can't return/exchange the pool, and 24' liners are becoming hard to find, so we're just running with it!

kellyfair, THANK YOU for the step-by-step of what to do! That's exactly what I needed.

Newdude, I feel a tag-along trip on my sister's Costco membership in my near future...

Jared, I ordered stairs!! With both little kids and my mother who lives with us and has some leg/hip pain, I really wanted to avoid ladders if possible. This finally popped back into stock in a few places (and the price has already increased since I placed my order!), so I jumped on it.

Good news is, with the lockable gate, it should also meet the fencing requirements for the city, so I won't have to worry about the specifics I'd read about getting door and window alarms for all the openings on the back of my house (since the house "acts" as part of the fence).
Aqua Select Everest Above-Ground Bridge System - walmart.com

Just so you know, 27' is a bit of an oddball size (I have a 27' pool). You will find liners for a 27' pool of course, or else that would be a real problem, but you are going to likely be buying 28' winter covers. You will also be buying 28' solar covers and cutting them down. Basically you will by getting everything sized for a 28' pool and paying for the extra you do not need.

As far as researching "the best" trust me, I know your pain. I do the same thing every time I remodel something. We can talk about me going back and forth between 120V and 240V for in floor radiant heating, I changed my mind about 6 times. Don't worry about buying the best extension pole, leaf net, skimmer, etc. My experience is no matter if you buy a $10 one or a $30 one they all rip in two years. Same thing goes for winter covers, I stopped buying the extra super primo deluxe ones. They all last 2, maybe 3 seasons tops.

As others have said, at start up you need a couple of jugs of bleach (or liquid chlorine), some stabilizer, salt, and, maybe some baking soda, borax, and/or acid, and a good test kit.

 

[BowserWowser]

Just so you know, 27' is a bit of an oddball size (I have a 27' pool). You will find liners for a 27' pool of course, or else that would be a real problem, but you are going to likely be buying 28' winter covers. You will also be buying 28' solar covers and cutting them down. Basically you will by getting everything sized for a 28' pool and paying for the extra you do not need.

As far as researching "the best" trust me, I know your pain. I do the same thing every time I remodel something. We can talk about me going back and forth between 120V and 240V for in floor radiant heating, I changed my mind about 6 times. Don't worry about buying the best extension pole, leaf net, skimmer, etc. My experience is no matter if you buy a $10 one or a $30 one they all rip in two years. Same thing goes for winter covers, I stopped buying the extra super primo deluxe ones. They all last 2, maybe 3 seasons tops.

As others have said, at start up you need a couple of jugs of bleach (or liquid chlorine), some stabilizer, salt, and, maybe some baking soda, borax, and/or acid, and a good test kit.

Yup, I've already ordered a 28' solar cover!
And I placed my order last week for the TFP recommended test kit