If I am leaving for 7 days, what is the best way to care for the pool; lets assume I have no one to come over and put chlorine in on a daily basis. I have an inline chlorinator that will hold roughly 7 3" tabs and I can purchase a floating chlorinator to hold an additional 4 tabs. Would you recommend leaving the pump running for 6-8 hours per day? What if the skimmer basket gets clogged with debris? Just trying to figure out the best way to handle so I don't come back with a mess on my hand.
Vacation
- Thread starter mkolb
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 67,098
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
- Jun 7, 2017
- 10,035
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
7 days is a long time to go without anyone checking things. I'd find someone to come over at least once. First thing is bring your chlorine to shock level just before you go. Then load up the pucks. For the skimmers if they usually fill quickly can you split your suction water more towards your main drain? What is your CYA level? Do you ever have critters in the skimmers?
Water chemistry has been perfect:
PH:7.6
FC:8
CC:0
CYA:60
TA:90
CH:320
Over the last three days, I have had 3 dead mice floating in the skimmer (1 each day). I would definitely bring it to shock level, and put the tabs in the inline chlorinator and floater, but just nervous about the skimmer getting blocked and not having enough suction; I do not have a main drain on the bottom of my pool.
I typically run the pump from 8:00 AM-8:00 PM.. Assuming I need to run the pump for 4-6 hours/day or I will come back with a mess on my hand.. Any suggestions?
PH:7.6
FC:8
CC:0
CYA:60
TA:90
CH:320
Over the last three days, I have had 3 dead mice floating in the skimmer (1 each day). I would definitely bring it to shock level, and put the tabs in the inline chlorinator and floater, but just nervous about the skimmer getting blocked and not having enough suction; I do not have a main drain on the bottom of my pool.
I typically run the pump from 8:00 AM-8:00 PM.. Assuming I need to run the pump for 4-6 hours/day or I will come back with a mess on my hand.. Any suggestions?
- Apr 10, 2018
- 6,593
- Pool Size
- 18375
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Here are a couple ideas for keeping your skimmer clear of debris (and carcasses).
DIY...Low Cost Leaf Blocker
Amazon...Amazon.com : CMW Skimmer Wizard - Skimmer Guard, Fully Assembled (Basket is 20"x 13"x 5"deep, to fit All Skimmer Openings) : Garden & Outdoor
DIY...Low Cost Leaf Blocker
Amazon...Amazon.com : CMW Skimmer Wizard - Skimmer Guard, Fully Assembled (Basket is 20"x 13"x 5"deep, to fit All Skimmer Openings) : Garden & Outdoor
These are some great ideas, thanks!! Anyone ever used these? I'm not very handy, so I would probably go with the second option. Do you think the leaves would get stuck on the guard and block the flow?
- Apr 10, 2018
- 6,593
- Pool Size
- 18375
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
I've never used one, but the reviews look pretty good. I like the DIY version because of the additional surface area. I would think that when the pumps shuts down, most of what's in contact with the device would release and sink or drift away. Either way, better than having nothing to guard the skimmer.
Holydoc
Gold Supporter
- Jul 17, 2016
- 515
- Pool Size
- 17500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I have the CMW Wizard that we use when we go on vacation. The leaves will gather around the sides but there are also slits down in the bottom of the Wizard that allow pool water to flow freely. This also works nice when we have a large group of people with different floats, noodles, etc. It keeps the loose floats from drifting up to the skimmer and clogging it.
Thanks for the replies.. If I were to add 10 3" tablets; would that be enough chlorine to get me through the week? Is that too much? If that's true, would I really be raising my CYA by 12? (Seems absurd!!) I typically lose between 2-3 PPM of chlorine per day. Trying to figure out if I can do this without having anyone come over to help.
- May 3, 2014
- 63,121
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I doubt you would get that many to dissolve in a week. Will you be using a floating dispenser?
Load up whatever you have for dispensing them. I imagine 5 is the limit. Each puck adds 2 ppm FC and 1.2 ppm CYA.
Load up whatever you have for dispensing them. I imagine 5 is the limit. Each puck adds 2 ppm FC and 1.2 ppm CYA.
I have an inline chlorinator; typically I just set the valve to 3, but don't put any tablets in there. I was planning on loading that up with 5-7 tablets and loading 3-5tablets in the floating dispenser. When I used to use the inline chlorinator, I felt that the tablets dissolved rather quickly..
- May 3, 2014
- 63,121
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Run your pump for a shorter time while you are gone so the tablets last a bit longer.
Test when you get home and deal with any issues.
Test when you get home and deal with any issues.