Hi,
I just put an offer on a house that has a pool. I've never owned/maintained a pool in my life and I didn't know the first thing about pool maintenance or pool chemistry until this week when I found Pool School.
I had the inspection a few days ago and it went very well. Here's what I know so far about the pool:
It's a smallish (<10000 gal?? See pic) pool/spa with pebble surface. It was constructed from scratch in 2008. It's got 2 fountains, a waterfall and several spilling basin-type water features and has a small tanning ledge.
It's a SWG system using a Goldline ProLogic automation system, two Hayward Northstar pumps and a booster pump. It has a hayward DE filter and a gas heater (and several other pieces of equipment that I don't recognize). It does have an automatic cleaner thing, but I didn't get a chance to see what type. All the equipment is in an enclosed shed protected from the elements and seems to be well maintained (at least from my very very limited knowledge). Everything is clean and well labelled.
The current owners use a pool service for maintenance, but after reading Pool School, I feel like I can handle the little things like basic pool chemistry and cleaning on my own. I would probably only need them to do occasional maintenance on the equipment (cleaning filters, checking/repairing leaks, etc) or to check on it if I ever have to go out of town for any extended time.
I plan on ordering the TF100 test kit and test strips for salt and borates when I get closer to move-in.
So, keeping in mind that I'm completely inexperienced/ignorant (other than what I've read on Pool School), what advice do you have for me with my first pool?
I just put an offer on a house that has a pool. I've never owned/maintained a pool in my life and I didn't know the first thing about pool maintenance or pool chemistry until this week when I found Pool School.
I had the inspection a few days ago and it went very well. Here's what I know so far about the pool:
It's a smallish (<10000 gal?? See pic) pool/spa with pebble surface. It was constructed from scratch in 2008. It's got 2 fountains, a waterfall and several spilling basin-type water features and has a small tanning ledge.
It's a SWG system using a Goldline ProLogic automation system, two Hayward Northstar pumps and a booster pump. It has a hayward DE filter and a gas heater (and several other pieces of equipment that I don't recognize). It does have an automatic cleaner thing, but I didn't get a chance to see what type. All the equipment is in an enclosed shed protected from the elements and seems to be well maintained (at least from my very very limited knowledge). Everything is clean and well labelled.
The current owners use a pool service for maintenance, but after reading Pool School, I feel like I can handle the little things like basic pool chemistry and cleaning on my own. I would probably only need them to do occasional maintenance on the equipment (cleaning filters, checking/repairing leaks, etc) or to check on it if I ever have to go out of town for any extended time.
I plan on ordering the TF100 test kit and test strips for salt and borates when I get closer to move-in.
So, keeping in mind that I'm completely inexperienced/ignorant (other than what I've read on Pool School), what advice do you have for me with my first pool?