Trying to open a pool for the first time ever, but it wasn't winterized. Any changes?

[Crepes]

I've posted this a couple of places, but basically a just purchased a home with a 20k gallon in-ground pool. It was unoccupied since September, and the pool was never winterized. The sand filter was destroyed, but the pump and attached plumbing are functional. Now I'm not sure what order to do things in because I don't have a usable filter, and I'm not sure if running the pump with this murky water will damage it.

I'm thinking the right order would be:
Order and install new sand filter
Purchase skimmer and vacuum to remove physical debris from the pool
Get a test kit and determine chemical levels
Learn how to shock/slam/whatever to get chemicals in balance

I think this is right, but I'm actually having trouble finding a concise guide to opening a pool and a list of every piece of equipment I need. I don't want to waste test regents if I'm not in a position to actually adjust the pool to its correct levels, or test before I've done a test, or try to add chemicals if some piece of physical equipment isn't functioning. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[ajw22]

I've posted this a couple of places, but basically a just purchased a home with a 20k gallon in-ground pool. It was unoccupied since September, and the pool was never winterized. The sand filter was destroyed, but the pump and attached plumbing are functional. Now I'm not sure what order to do things in because I don't have a usable filter, and I'm not sure if running the pump with this murky water will damage it.

I'm thinking the right order would be:
Order and install new sand filter
Purchase skimmer and vacuum to remove physical debris from the pool
Get a test kit and determine chemical levels
Learn how to shock/slam/whatever to get chemicals in balance

I think this is right,

Your basic approach is sound. First thing you need to do is get the equipment and plumbing running. Install a new filter, see that the pump works, there are no leaks, and you can get water circulating.

How to deal with the physical debris depends on what kind and how much.

Recommended here is the TF100 test kit.

Read Pool School and ask questions here.

but I'm actually having trouble finding a concise guide to opening a pool and a list of every piece of equipment I need. I don't want to waste test regents if I'm not in a position to actually adjust the pool to its correct levels, or test before I've done a test, or try to add chemicals if some piece of physical equipment isn't functioning. Any suggestions?

Pools are built all sorts of ways. Post pics here of what you have and we can help you identify equipment. Figuring out how a pool operates is a process of trial and error at times. Wasting stuff is part of the learning experience.

 

[JimMarshall]

I've posted this a couple of places, but basically a just purchased a home with a 20k gallon in-ground pool. It was unoccupied since September, and the pool was never winterized. The sand filter was destroyed, but the pump and attached plumbing are functional. Now I'm not sure what order to do things in because I don't have a usable filter, and I'm not sure if running the pump with this murky water will damage it.

I'm thinking the right order would be:
Order and install new sand filter
Purchase skimmer and vacuum to remove physical debris from the pool
Get a test kit and determine chemical levels
Learn how to shock/slam/whatever to get chemicals in balance

I think this is right, but I'm actually having trouble finding a concise guide to opening a pool and a list of every piece of equipment I need. I don't want to waste test regents if I'm not in a position to actually adjust the pool to its correct levels, or test before I've done a test, or try to add chemicals if some piece of physical equipment isn't functioning. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

The water won't hurt your pump. The water goes through the pump, then through the filter, not the other way around.

I agree with AJW.

Get your equipment sorted out, use a leaf rake to blindly clean as much out of the pool as you can and do some vaccuuming to waste (Assuming another sand filter), and get yourself at TF-100 XL, a bunch of bleach, and get to SLAMMING.

 

[Crepes]

Hi all. Thanks for the tips. Guess I'll just have to be patient and wait for this test kit to arrive...

Jim, could you tell me what you meant by "vaccuuming to waste (Assuming another sand filter)"?

Thanks!

 

[JimMarshall]

Hi all. Thanks for the tips. Guess I'll just have to be patient and wait for this test kit to arrive...

Jim, could you tell me what you meant by "vaccuuming to waste (Assuming another sand filter)"?

Thanks!

When you have a sand filter one of the settings on the multi port valve on top of the filter is “waste”. This discharges the water out on the ground rather than sending it through your filter and back into the pool. This can be used, for example, to drain your pool if it gets over filled or you need to do an exchange of water. In this case, if you vaccuum while this valve is set for waste, you will dump all of the “junk” and organics that your vacuum is picking up out in the ground rather than clogging your filter up. This accomplishes 2 things: 1: it reduces the organics content in your pool and it’s plumbing/filtration system, thereby leading to less chlorine use when completing your slam, and 2: it leads to your filter getting dirty less and not needing cleaned as much.

 

[Crepes]

Oh, excellent. I was wondering about that. I might actually attempt to do that with the current sand filter. We don't live in the house yet and I won't be up to actually take a look at it until tomorrow, so I'll check out how bad the leaks are at that time. Would be great to vacuum through the old filter if possible.

Also, have watching a couple of videos, I realize that we already have a skimmer. I was thinking of a rake