SOS!

[Lauriebobby]

Hi everyone! New to the site and new to pools. My husband and I just purchased a new home which has a 30 year old salt water pool (cement bottom and fiberglass walls). We decided to attempt to open the pool for summer ourselves because the pool companies in our area are booked until July. We have been able to get appropriate water chemistry levels however we have a few problems.
First is a question about our skimmer. During our pool inspection, we were told by the inspectors that one skimmer may be sealed shut and not functioning because they were unable to get the plug off. However, we asked the previous owners and they told us they never had a problem with the skimmer. It is sealed with a square top plug that won’t budge. We have tried everything including a basin wrench to get it loose. My question is - could this be a permanent plug and not meant to be removed and the previous owners were giving us false info?
Second, when the salt water generator is on, it looks as though milky bubbles are coming out of the jets. I filled a clear water bottle and the water looks carbonated but then settles and is clear. We cleaned our salt cell and there still seems to be this issue. Are these bubbles normal or do we need to change the salt cell? Of note, we added only 2 bags of salt before my husband got nervous and stopped. Im trying to convince him to add the rest of the salt and see if this helps. Could not enough salt cause this issue?
Thanks so much!
Laurie

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
What you are seeing from the SWCG is normal. What you are seeing seems to happen most in pools that are shutdown over winter and then the SWCG produces what you are seeing for awhile. We have never nailed down a chemistry reason for it to occur.
You should test your salt level with a K1766 test kit prior to adding salt.
I have no ideas on the plug. Let's see if @ajw22 might have some ideas.
How are you testing your pool water chemistry?
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.

 

[Lauriebobby]

Thank you! We will test our salt level with the salt test kit. We have been bringing a water sample to our local pool store for chemistry tests but will read the article you suggested!

 

[splashpad]

First is a question about our skimmer. During our pool inspection, we were told by the inspectors that one skimmer may be sealed shut and not functioning because they were unable to get the plug off. However, we asked the previous owners and they told us they never had a problem with the skimmer. It is sealed with a square top plug that won’t budge. We have tried everything including a basin wrench to get it loose. My question is - could this be a permanent plug and not meant to be removed and the previous owners were giving us false info?

Can you share a picture(s)?

 

[Lauriebobby]

Yes!

 

[IceShadow]

Is there a second hole somewhere in the skimmer? My skimmer has two holes at the bottom - one is plugged, but that's just an extra hole in case a main drain goes to the skimmer (my pool has no main drain). The other one leads to the plumbing.

 

[Newdude]

Hey Laurie and Bob. For reference when you want to search for your style pool, its called a hybrid pool and there are many stories and fixes for them here. Always use the `G-search' blue button for better results.

On mobile there is a settings gear icon to the right of the search bar. If you click that it opens the menu with the google search. On other devices it just comes up with the magnifying glass.

 

[Lauriebobby]

Is there a second hole somewhere in the skimmer? My skimmer has two holes at the bottom - one is plugged, but that's just an extra hole in case a main drain goes to the skimmer (my pool has no main drain). The other one leads to the plumbing.

You’re right! Just did some digging and found the other hole. It looks like it’s pretty clogged up though.

 

[Flying Tivo]

We have been bringing a water sample to our local pool store for chemistry tests

You need to get your own Test Kits Compared, we trust you more than the pool store. Can you also take a picture of your pool and your equipment pad. Please fill in your signature with your pool info, look at mine as an example.

 

[IceShadow]

You’re right! Just did some digging and found the other hole. It looks like it’s pretty clogged up though.

Might want to try to get what you can out with a shop-vac. It could be that other hole goes nowhere and the plug is on the one that goes to the pump. Won't know unless you get at least a few inches of the stuff out of the other hole.

 

[Lauriebobby]

Hi everyone! New to the site and new to pools. My husband and I just purchased a new home which has a 30 year old salt water pool (cement bottom and fiberglass walls). We decided to attempt to open the pool for summer ourselves because the pool companies in our area are booked until July. We have been able to get appropriate water chemistry levels however we have a few problems.
First is a question about our skimmer. During our pool inspection, we were told by the inspectors that one skimmer may be sealed shut and not functioning because they were unable to get the plug off. However, we asked the previous owners and they told us they never had a problem with the skimmer. It is sealed with a square top plug that won’t budge. We have tried everything including a basin wrench to get it loose. My question is - could this be a permanent plug and not meant to be removed and the previous owners were giving us false info?
Second, when the salt water generator is on, it looks as though milky bubbles are coming out of the jets. I filled a clear water bottle and the water looks carbonated but then settles and is clear. We cleaned our salt cell and there still seems to be this issue. Are these bubbles normal or do we need to change the salt cell? Of note, we added only 2 bags of salt before my husband got nervous and stopped. Im trying to convince him to add the rest of the salt and see if this helps. Could not enough salt cause this issue?
Thanks so much!
Laurie

Update: here are pictures of the pool and equipment