Sigh....

[FLIPPERNUT]

I was so hoping to avoid the hopeless newbie post, but I've read until my eyes bled and my pool is still sucking the life out of me.

I purchased a lovely 1920 built home with a 6 y/o pool 8 months ago and was initially thrilled, however after countless leaks, algae blooms, migraines, clogged pipes, blown capacitors, abrasions and avulsions, skimmer cottonmouth surprises, and profanity-inducing mosquito bites , I'm now debating whether to convert my pool into either a very large koi pond or a very small skating rink.

Honestly, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm ever going to be able to actually SWIM in it. The minute I get the water clear and balanced another part in the motor or filter craps out. By the time I've ordered, received, and replaced the part, I have to slam the pool again. The clerk at my bleach store thinks I'm stalking him.

Thanks to this forum, YouTube, and a new prescription I've been able to solve all of these problems thus far with the exception of my leaking filter which continues to defeat me.

Please just tell me that it gets better. I need to know that those of you who've posted about swimming in your pools weren't lying.

I'll try to post pic of my other full-time job. It's still cloudy from my current slam efforts.

 

[Mr Bruce]

Welcome, nice first post

It's not to be easy going all the time. When I went to get everything going this year*, I realized my motor has completely rusted. Ordered a new one, when it came I finally I hooked the whole thing up and immediately found out I was worse at PVC then I thought. Then the motor stopped working. Checked the wiring, it was fine (or so I thought). Pulled the motor off, took it to a local shop. They hooked it up to their power supply and it ran great. Finally figured out it's the breaker Replace that, put everything back together and it leaks like crazy. Cut everything apart and do the PVC right.

Finally. No leaks, perfectly quiet 2 speed motor on a timer. Works like a dream. So yeah, I had about 2 months of chasing my tail myself. But in my relatively short pool life, that's about it, all thanks to this forum.

So back to your last remaining issue, what about a new filter? They are on Craigslist all the time too.

* A good reason to add the arguments for opening early. It was a good idea to shoot for early March, without the cushion I would have had worse problems.

 

[z33tec]

Like Bruce mentioned, have you considered just starting off with a new pump and filter? They really aren't that expensive in the grand scheme of things, and will save you these headaches of broken parts for years to come.

 

[FLIPPERNUT]

Thanks, but after buying a house, new roof, appliances, vet emergencies with 4-legged child, and endless purchases of pool parts and chemicals, I'm now on a Ramen noodle budget. I'll have to make this filter and motor hang on for at least a few more months.
The filter's only 6 y/o and the motor's apprx 2 y/o as the previous owner replaced the .75hp motor with a 1.5hp. I can't help but wonder if that's too much hp for my smaller pool and filter, hence the persistent leak and 18 psi on filter. I guess when the top blows off and knocks my neighbor out of his lawn chair my suspicions will be confirmed.