Hi guys,
I hope this is the right folder for this question:
I have a decent sized (25k g?) shotcrete pool that is 40 years old. Recently I have had some trouble with my hydrostatic relief valve (probably). I appreciate getting steered in the right direction here:
www.troublefreepool.com
I've got the pool empty right now while I wait for replacement part to arrive and I find myself wondering if I should:
[trigger warning
SCOPE CREEP!]
install a sump basin in the bottom of the pool to more easily empty it out.
First, some back story. The pool is troublesome to keep clean and running well. Many decisions, years before we owned it, were not oriented towards easy maintenance.
- It has a dozen mature trees within leaf drop zone radius (they literally shade the pool). It's a beautiful woodsy setting but a very difficult cleanout each spring
- There is one skimmer
- All the plumbing is 1.5"
- There is a waterfall (more leaves!)
- It is almost impossible to cover it well because of the water fall (and just forget automatic covers)
So each spring, I end up emptying it with sump pumps etc (my water is expensive in the summer but not in the spring), removing all the leaves, and refilling it. Crazy, I know. Next year, I want to make this easier and have the domestic spending budget congressional approval to make it so.
Do I:
A. Modify the waterfall surround to make the cover fit better (Ugh, that sounds like a lot of concrete work)
B. Suspend some crazy leaf net over the pool (likely decimated by sticks and winter so probably not)
C. Cut down the trees (domestic approval unlikely and $$$$)
D. Buy a really nice trash pump (recommendations for brand etc?) so I can fire and forget the sump out (regular sumps clog on the leaves (the above options make this look relatively cheap
E. Install a special hole in the bottom of the pool deep enough to hold a sump pump/trash pump etc
This post is really about D or E (not the A-C silliness) but I thought A-C might explain my problem...
Why might E be necessary? Unfortunately, the deep end part of my pool is very flat and doesn't pitch especially well to the drain. There is definitely no small low spot that allows easily draining so there a lot of gallons and leaves left when you get to the minimum depth on the sump pump. I have addressed this problem in the past by bailing into a big trash can and then tossing the sump pump in for 30 seconds or by using a shop vac and then sumping out the vac body once its full. I haven't had any luck just using the pool pump for this. Between the long 1.5" run to the main drain and the grill and the large quantity of organic materials, I just risk an epic underground clog. SUPER FUN TIMES.
So I'm wondering:
- do other people who have leaf problems have any special setups (pump pit or other) that allow them to easily empty the pool? If you do have something like this and the main drain isn't in the bottom of it, how do you keep it from becoming an algae/debris haven when the pool is operating?
- If that's just a fantasy, any recommendations for a serious leaf eating trash pump?
- If anyone has a brilliant solution for covers when a waterfall feature causes a lift off the pool deck (i.e. leaf entry opening in the winter cover), I'd be interested in hearing about that too.
Well thanks for any ideas.
I hope this is the right folder for this question:
I have a decent sized (25k g?) shotcrete pool that is 40 years old. Recently I have had some trouble with my hydrostatic relief valve (probably). I appreciate getting steered in the right direction here:
Leak deep underground, your basic pool nightmare
Hi guys, I'm new to this forum and having a terrible week pool wise. I'm hoping to get ideas and directions for how to DIY a repair as the local pool industry here is not very deep and is very busy. I've got a shotcrete (smooth concrete) pool with a gunnite surround. It's about 40 years old...
www.troublefreepool.com
I've got the pool empty right now while I wait for replacement part to arrive and I find myself wondering if I should:
[trigger warning
SCOPE CREEP!]install a sump basin in the bottom of the pool to more easily empty it out.
First, some back story. The pool is troublesome to keep clean and running well. Many decisions, years before we owned it, were not oriented towards easy maintenance.
- It has a dozen mature trees within leaf drop zone radius (they literally shade the pool). It's a beautiful woodsy setting but a very difficult cleanout each spring
- There is one skimmer
- All the plumbing is 1.5"
- There is a waterfall (more leaves!)
- It is almost impossible to cover it well because of the water fall (and just forget automatic covers)
So each spring, I end up emptying it with sump pumps etc (my water is expensive in the summer but not in the spring), removing all the leaves, and refilling it. Crazy, I know. Next year, I want to make this easier and have the domestic spending budget congressional approval
to make it so.Do I:
A. Modify the waterfall surround to make the cover fit better (Ugh, that sounds like a lot of concrete work)
B. Suspend some crazy leaf net over the pool (likely decimated by sticks and winter so probably not)
C. Cut down the trees (domestic approval unlikely and $$$$)
D. Buy a really nice trash pump (recommendations for brand etc?) so I can fire and forget the sump out (regular sumps clog on the leaves (the above options make this look relatively cheap
E. Install a special hole in the bottom of the pool deep enough to hold a sump pump/trash pump etc
This post is really about D or E (not the A-C silliness) but I thought A-C might explain my problem...
Why might E be necessary? Unfortunately, the deep end part of my pool is very flat and doesn't pitch especially well to the drain. There is definitely no small low spot that allows easily draining so there a lot of gallons and leaves left when you get to the minimum depth on the sump pump. I have addressed this problem in the past by bailing into a big trash can and then tossing the sump pump in for 30 seconds or by using a shop vac and then sumping out the vac body once its full. I haven't had any luck just using the pool pump for this. Between the long 1.5" run to the main drain and the grill and the large quantity of organic materials, I just risk an epic underground clog. SUPER FUN TIMES.
So I'm wondering:
- do other people who have leaf problems have any special setups (pump pit or other) that allow them to easily empty the pool? If you do have something like this and the main drain isn't in the bottom of it, how do you keep it from becoming an algae/debris haven when the pool is operating?
- If that's just a fantasy, any recommendations for a serious leaf eating trash pump?
- If anyone has a brilliant solution for covers when a waterfall feature causes a lift off the pool deck (i.e. leaf entry opening in the winter cover), I'd be interested in hearing about that too.
Well thanks for any ideas.
