Temporary air relief plug

[Sidemoves]

I bought a house with a pool last month and today there was air bubbles coming out of the returns and bubbles in the pentair pump (visible through window on strainer basket). In my newb attempts to bleed air out of the system, I tried the air pressure relieve valve on top of the filter and accidentally broke it. The filter is a Waterway Crystal Water DE filter (yes, I know it’s a piece of Crud). It’s going to take 4-5 days to get the part, and I’m worried about leaving the pump and filter off for that long. Was thinking of temporarily inserting a cork or some sort of rubber stopper and using zip ties to keep in place to run the pool for a few hours a day until the part arrives.

Any advice on how I can temporarily get the system online until the part gets here? Or any alternative approaches?

Any and all advice is appreciated.

 

[PoolStored]

Put your multiport into the recirculate mode. Will keep water moving and bypass the filter. Won't filter, but will allow you to add LC and keep your FC up. *MAKE SURE TO TURN YOUR PUMP OFF BEFORE MOVING YOUR MULTIPORT TO RECIRC, THEN START THE PUMP AGAIN*

If that won't work, do you have a sump pump? You can throw the sump pump into the pool (in a bucket) to keep the water circulating. Just add your Liquid Chlorine to the pool over the sump pump.

 

[Sidemoves]

Thank you! I will give that a try. Just so I’m clear…can I put the chlorine tabs in skimmers and run it on recirculate? Or are you saying I should get chlorine in actual liquid form and add it in (I guess the deep end)? If actual liquid form of chlorine …how much should I put in per day?

Also, would it be safe to swim in during this phase?

Sorry for the rookie questions. Don’t want to screw it up any more.

Thank you!

 

[PoolStored]

Thank you! I will give that a try. Just so I’m clear…can I put the chlorine tabs in skimmers and run it on recirculate? Or are you saying I should get chlorine in actual liquid form and add it in (I guess the deep end)?

Also, would it be safe to swim in during this phase?

Your pool information indicates "liquid chlorine." I would update your signature to include detailed information about your pool and how you chlorinate.

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

As to chlorination, we recommend Liquid Chlorine or SWCG. Tablets aren't bad, but they add CYA to your water. Understanding the relationship between CYA and Free Chlorine (FC) is foundational to pool maintenance. You should read these two links:
Pool Care Basics
FC/CYA Levels

Tabs should NEVER be added to a skimmer. They are acidic and do damage to the skimmer and equipment. If you do use tabs, they should be added using a floater.

Yes, I'm suggesting you should add liquid chlorine. You should add it *SLOWLY* to your pool over the returns (think pencil thin pour).

If you have a smartphone, download PoolMath. Register with the same ID/PW as your TFP ID/PW and use it to help you determine how much Liquid Chlorine to add to maintain Free Chlorine (FC) for your CYA level.

Do you have a test kit? You need a decent test kit to maintain your pool. Here is a comparison of the available test kits that will help you -->Test Kits Compared

Welcome to TFP!!! Your pool will look like this when you are done -->How Clear is TFP Clear?

 

[Sidemoves]

This is super helpful! Thank you!

Question…any harm in using a rubber pipe plug to plug the air bleed valve until the screw/part comes in?

 

[PoolStored]

This is super helpful! Thank you!

Question…any harm in using a rubber pipe plug to plug the air bleed valve until the screw/part comes in?

I would be concerned that, under pressure, it will pop out. If you put it in, seems like it holds, you walk away and it pops out, it could drain the pool and you won't know it. Rubber plugs don't hold well under pressure.

 

[PoolStored]

Question…any harm in using a rubber pipe plug to plug the air bleed valve until the screw/part comes in?

One other thought for you. Do you have a variable speed pump? If you can find a short bolt that fits the threads, and an o-ring that fits the bolt, you may be able to put your VSP on a very low setting (and associated system pressure), allowing the air to escape, then put the bolt in. Haven't done it myself, will depend on if you get the pressure low enough to allow you to put the bolt in, and if the o-ring seals the bolt.

 

[Kaylee34]

If I were you, I'd do as poolstored suggested and switch the multiport to recirculate, add LC daily to keep the FC up and wait for the new part to come in. The only thing you'll be doing differently from running as normal is that you'll lose the filter for a few days. You might have fine debris in the water depending on what normally gets in the pool but that will disappear quickly once you're filter is back online. If you do decide to try a bolt or something else as a temp plug, be very careful the threads match and do not cross thread it.

 

[1poolman1]

Thank you! I will give that a try. Just so I’m clear…can I put the chlorine tabs in skimmers and run it on recirculate? Or are you saying I should get chlorine in actual liquid form and add it in (I guess the deep end)? If actual liquid form of chlorine …how much should I put in per day?

Also, would it be safe to swim in during this phase?

Sorry for the rookie questions. Don’t want to screw it up any more.

Thank you!

There are two kinds of people that love for pool owners to put tablets in their skimmers (despite them often being referred to as skimmer tablets), those who replace skimmers and those who replace equipment. If you put them in your skimmer with no pump running, you will have a highly chlorinated and corrosive skimmer. Get a floating chlorinator like this one:

FibroPool Supersize Floating Chlorine Tablet Dispenser​

 

[Sidemoves]

Thank you all for the great advice! Have put the pool into recirculate and will read up on the articles shared about chlorinating and testing. And I’m going to purchase the floating dispensers. Thanks all!

Will post an update once I get the part in and turn the filter back on.

 

[Sidemoves]

There are two kinds of people that love for pool owners to put tablets in their skimmers (despite them often being referred to as skimmer tablets), those who replace skimmers and those who replace equipment. If you put them in your skimmer with no pump running, you will have a highly chlorinated and corrosive skimmer. Get a floating chlorinator like this one:

FibroPool Supersize Floating Chlorine Tablet Dispenser​

Thanks for the tip! How many of these do you recommend I put in the pool? And how many tablets do you suggest I load in each one?

 

[PoolStored]

Thanks for the tip! How many of these do you recommend I put in the pool? And how many tablets do you suggest I load in each one?

Before you go that route, do you have a test kit? Can you tell us which one? What is your current CYA level?

Depending on the answer, I would recommend liquid chlorine for now. How have you been chlorinating until now?

 

[Sidemoves]

I’ve just been using a basic pentair tester for chlorine and ph. Chlorine has been 1.5-2.0. Ph has been around 7.2-7.6. Have been putting 1-2 chlorine tabs in each of 2 skimmers. Am about to buy a proper test kit…trying to decide between TF-100 or TF-pro with smart stir. Would welcome your recommendation on that.

I did purchase a 5gal liquid chlorine today. Store did not have CYA in stock.

 

[PoolStored]

I’ve just been using a basic pentair tester for chlorine and ph. Chlorine has been 1.5-2.0. Ph has been around 7.2-7.6. Have been putting 1-2 chlorine tabs in each of 2 skimmers. Am about to buy a proper test kit…trying to decide between TF-100 or TF-pro with smart stir. Would welcome your recommendation on that

I would just add 5ppm of liquid chlorine a day until you get your test kit. If you have been using tabs, your CYA may be very high. Until we know your CYA level, don't add more tabs. In ANY event, never put tabs in the skimmer again, they are very acidic and can damage your equipment. No Bueno!

Use pool math to figure out how much liquid chlorine to add to your pool to add 5ppm. Add 5ppm PER DAY.

Hands down. TF-pro with smart stir. I would fill in my pool without the smart stir. BUY IT TODAY!

 

[Sidemoves]

I would just add 5ppm of liquid chlorine a day until you get your test kit. If you have been using tabs, your CYA may be very high. Until we know your CYA level, don't add more tabs. In ANY event, never put tabs in the skimmer again, they are very acidic and can damage your equipment. No Bueno!

Use pool math to figure out how much liquid chlorine to add to your pool to add 5ppm. Add 5ppm PER DAY.

Hands down. TF-pro with smart stir. I would fill in my pool without the smart stir. BUY IT TODAY!

Thank you. Just ordered the TF-pro. And I’ll follow your advice on the 5ppm per day and hold off on chlorine tabs.

I am in the process of buying a new filter. Am thinking pentair DE FNS plus 48 sq ft. Any thoughts or feedback is appreciated. Also want to get a new multiport valve and would welcome any recommendations.

 

[PoolStored]

Thank you. Just ordered the TF-pro. And I’ll follow your advice on the 5ppm per day and hold off on chlorine tabs.

I am in the process of buying a new filter. Am thinking pentair DE FNS plus 48 sq ft. Any thoughts or feedback is appreciated. Also want to get a new multiport valve and would welcome any recommendations.

Clean and Clear Cartridge, biggest you can get. That is personal advice from all the reading that I've done and all the guides/expert advice I've seen. That being said, NOT all guides/experts here agree with that advice, nor would it be each of their advice. DE, Cartridge, Sand, all can work well. All depends on what you want it to do and what you want to deal with.

Best two places to read for more insight I can find for you on short notice...their may be more:

Cartridge vs DE Filter

I have a sand filter that is leaking and not cost effective to repair. So I need to replace it. However, it is very low maintenance. All I have needed to do is: Backwash every few weeks (takes like 10 minutes each time) Replace sand every few years (only done once, had to hire someone to do it...

www.troublefreepool.com

Pool Filter Comparison

Your pool's filter is a vital part of your equipment pad. We'll take a look at each type of filter and list the pro's and con's of each.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[PoolStored]

Just ordered the TF-pro.

With smart stir?

 

[Sidemoves]

With smart stir?

Yep

 

[Poolbreh]

Did it break inside the relief housing?

 

[Sidemoves]

Did it break inside the relief housing?

No, thankfully was able to get it out.