Yes it was $4500 additional for us! I was like yeah, nahThey lost me at $8k to install. *record scratch* whaaaaaaat ?
oh good idea! I was looking at the bundle packs that come with the “whale brush” too
To maintain your pool yourself - or hire out - thats the question
- Thread starter JenniferMarie90
- Start date
You should do it yourself, at least to start with. That way you understand the pool and what is involved in maintaining it, and you’re in a much better position to decide whether it’s something worth paying someone to do it. Personally I wouldn’t dream of paying someone to maintain my pool. It’s my pool and I enjoy taking care of it.
RexO
Well-known member
My pool opened about a year ago. Maintain it yourself. It's easy and no one will care for your pool like you. Read Pool School and get advice here and you will know more than most service people.
Hey JM, check this thread out while you decide if you want to be ‘one of us’, or let somebdody come in 6 days too little to do the best they can in 15 minutes a week. It’s long and a lot of scrolling but the pics just keep getting better and better so it’s worth it.
www.troublefreepool.com
Every last one of us was in your shoes at one point. We feel you wondering and being overwhelmed. Every last one of us in that thread will tell you that they got there easily and with fairly little effort. I know it doesn’t feel like it yet, but it is that easy.
How Clear is TFP Clear? Let's See (Pics Only Please).
How clear should my water be? A very common question. Here is mine on a calm morning where I could finally vacuum. Yes I know, I'm still manually vacuuming. It took me 7 years to finally get an SWG, I'm working on a robot. :) So now let's see your water clarity.
www.troublefreepool.com
Every last one of us was in your shoes at one point. We feel you wondering and being overwhelmed. Every last one of us in that thread will tell you that they got there easily and with fairly little effort. I know it doesn’t feel like it yet, but it is that easy.
Heck, just get the test kit and we will gladly walk you through the rest like this.
JM : My test says this. (Blah blah blah)
TFP: Cool !! Add a 10oz of (cheap X) and 2 lbs of (generic)Y
JM : Really ??? That’s it
TFP: Exactly that easy. Do it.
*pool SPARKLES*
in just a few rounds it will ‘click’ and you won’t even need us. At that point *you* will be preaching to the next newb.
JM : My test says this. (Blah blah blah)
TFP: Cool !! Add a 10oz of (cheap X) and 2 lbs of (generic)Y
JM : Really ??? That’s it
TFP: Exactly that easy. Do it.
*pool SPARKLES*
in just a few rounds it will ‘click’ and you won’t even need us. At that point *you* will be preaching to the next newb.
- Jul 17, 2019
- 4,078
- Pool Size
- 13000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
My standard answer is that you can do it yourself way better than a pool service for a fraction of the price.
This week was crazy in Texas where pools were freezing over and equipment was freezing and breaking. This exposed just how many people know absolutely nothing about their pools because "they have a guy".
So now I will also add that by doing it yourself you also learn about your pool and can save yourself $ thousands if something goes wrong.
It is really not that hard, especially with salt water. Go for it and you have thousands of people on here to help you.
This week was crazy in Texas where pools were freezing over and equipment was freezing and breaking. This exposed just how many people know absolutely nothing about their pools because "they have a guy".
So now I will also add that by doing it yourself you also learn about your pool and can save yourself $ thousands if something goes wrong.
It is really not that hard, especially with salt water. Go for it and you have thousands of people on here to help you.
Turbo1Ton
Gold Supporter
- Dec 26, 2019
- 1,995
- Pool Size
- 14500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
This place is the best. Last year was my first year with the pool. I found TFP while searching for information on my automation that was being installed. My pool was almost complete when I got here, so I missed out on the building advice. Fortunately my builder did a fantastic job and there are not many things I would have done differently.
Once the PB turned the pool over to me, I had already ordered my TF-100, and had practiced several times testing the water and testing my tap water. Had read enough to kinda know what levels I needed. Posted up my test results and asked for some quick guidance, and within a couple of weeks, I had a good handle on what to adjust and how. I started early enough in the season that I had to supplement with liquid chlorine since the water temps were still below SWCG operation.
In my first year, I have added liquid chlorine, muriatic acid, and CYA, to my pool. That is all. During the swim season, I just had to adjust the SWCG output occasionally, instead of adding the chlorine.
Good luck! You got this! And if you ever think you don't, like JJ said, there's thousands of people here who will help you and remind you that you do.
--Jeff
Heck, just get the test kit and we will gladly walk you through the rest like this.
JM : My test says this. (Blah blah blah)
TFP: Cool !! Add a 10oz of (cheap X) and 2 lbs of (generic)Y
JM : Really ??? That’s it
TFP: Exactly that easy. Do it.
*pool SPARKLES*
in just a few rounds it will ‘click’ and you won’t even need us. At that point *you* will be preaching to the next newb.
Perfect! Yes if I can post test results and get some feedback that'll be great, at least until I can try to get my own understanding down.
That's definitely true. I do want to KNOW how these things work, especially after spending so much cash on it. I don't blindly let people maintain my car, why would I do it with this but it is intimidating. I'll order my test kit today and get to practicing. Thank you!
When I posted this, which is 100% true about the happy folks who will guide you, I forgot about your SWG. We will help balance the pool originally which is pretty easy and you SWG will do most of the rest (with some simple guidance from us and you making minor adjustments to pump/SWG runtime..... a few clicks and that’s all). I said it would be easy but it will be even easier than THAT.
You soooooooooo got this
Maintaining your own pool is easy, especially when you aren’t starting with a green swamp! Even those who DO come here with a green swamp quickly learn how to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,826
- Pool Size
- 28000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Jen,
Welcome to TFP! We're here to help you learn you can use TFP methods to take care of your pool and do it dirt cheap. Reason we are successful? We sell nothing.
Enjoy all the money you'll save. And if you need any help at all don't hesitate to ask here.
Chris
Welcome to TFP! We're here to help you learn you can use TFP methods to take care of your pool and do it dirt cheap. Reason we are successful? We sell nothing.
Enjoy all the money you'll save. And if you need any help at all don't hesitate to ask here.
Chris
We can even help you blow all the savings on $1200 lounge chairs that have fancy schmancy ‘ergonomic libation holders’ instead of just plain old drink holders. Sheesh. I’m my own drink holder for free. Pinky in the air and everything. But if you wanna go that way we can help there too.
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Jenn, I can't count the number of posters who come here after their "Pool Service Guy" has wrecked their pool. They've added copper or some other miserable product which saves them time but can actually hurt your pool. Or let the pool get so acidic swimmers eyes hurt. All sorts of problems!
Take charge, don't put anything in to your pool you don't know what the result will be, and we'll be here to guide you.
Maddie
Take charge, don't put anything in to your pool you don't know what the result will be, and we'll be here to guide you.
Maddie
mguzzy
Gold Supporter
I vote NOTHING!... oh rats I'm late to the party.. just like everyone else sez this is easy to do, A lot cheaper than the pool guy, and you will have a better handle on what state your pool is in. I can't add anything that everyone hasn't already said... BUT you have to promise one thing... after you nail down how to manage your own pool, you have to come back and visit us.. we are a gregarious bunch and love helping other people. BTW welcome!
Jenn, I'm living proof that you should trust in the wisdom of the TFP way. I was in exactly your position during our pool construction, and had pretty much convinced myself that hiring a pool service was just gonna be part of the deal with pool ownership (the only experience I had with pools was swimming in them). As luck would have it, a co-worker mentioned troublefreepool.com to me, and here I am, three years later with a pool that has never been anything other than crystal clear, never had an algae bloom, has had minimal tile scaling, and never needed anything more than some muriatic acid weekly, and a very occasional smidgen of salt & cyanuric acid since new....and it has all been done by ME!
This forum, PoolMath (get the app, it rocks!), a good test kit, and a willingness to ask questions (none of them are stupid) are all that you will need!
This forum, PoolMath (get the app, it rocks!), a good test kit, and a willingness to ask questions (none of them are stupid) are all that you will need!
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You can totally do this. I first started researching pool care before my pool was built. It seemed overwhelming until I found this web site.
Start with the ABCs section of the Pool School. If you need more detail about a particular subject, go to the wiki page here (TFP Wiki Page).
I found the challenge with a new pool is that you have extra work at the beginning, because it's a new pool. You can't use your robot cleaner or the salt water system for the first 30 days. And you have to brush the pool A LOT. However, once you get past the 30 days, things get much much easier. The salt water system really helps for ease of maintenance also.
Start with the ABCs section of the Pool School. If you need more detail about a particular subject, go to the wiki page here (TFP Wiki Page).
I found the challenge with a new pool is that you have extra work at the beginning, because it's a new pool. You can't use your robot cleaner or the salt water system for the first 30 days. And you have to brush the pool A LOT. However, once you get past the 30 days, things get much much easier. The salt water system really helps for ease of maintenance also.
Thank you! Yes I am like wow I gotta brush this thing?! I did order my TF100 kit does that mean I can be in the club now?! I hope so because everyone here seems to really know their stuff
- Apr 10, 2018
- 6,384
- Pool Size
- 18375
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Most of us don't get to join the club until we fail at pool maintenance or break something. You keep making all the right decisions. Just doesn't seem fair.
MAPR-Austin
In The Industry
A couple of years ago I visited a pool that I had labored on in high school, about 20 years prior. They had called in for a resurfacing.
When I felt the surface of the pool it was very smooth. The surface had a single crack that was barely visible. I remarked on the condition of the (dark gray plaster) finish and that I knew how long it had been in place. I asked her who took care of her pool. Her answer: "I check the chemistry every day and just keep it perfect."
I agree with everyone else saying take care of it yourself. Even disregarding the cost of a service company, doing it yourself is almost unquestionably the best way to keep your pool and pool surface in good condition.
When I felt the surface of the pool it was very smooth. The surface had a single crack that was barely visible. I remarked on the condition of the (dark gray plaster) finish and that I knew how long it had been in place. I asked her who took care of her pool. Her answer: "I check the chemistry every day and just keep it perfect."
I agree with everyone else saying take care of it yourself. Even disregarding the cost of a service company, doing it yourself is almost unquestionably the best way to keep your pool and pool surface in good condition.