Water level in FG pool + vacation question

[SirNoSplashing]

I will start by saying I did some searches on vacation prep, I know its a well covered topic. We just got a lot of rain and the water level is just a couple of inches from the bottom of the 4" concrete decking around the pool. Over the skimmer. Highest its been.

Typically I would pump this down to ~2/3 skimmer height, but I am about to leave on vacation for 11 days (for the first time as a pool owner). Should I leave the water a little high to make sure it does not evaporate below the skimmer level? I don't have the ability to only pull from main drains. Its hot here in the midwest... though seems like it would take more than 11 days to lower the water THAT much. I might be over thinking it.

My SWG setting has done a good job of maintaining FC at ~60% setting, 8 hours pump time. My thought ahead of vacation was to get my FC a bit higher for safety margin, then just keep my SWG at the setting and pump for 8 hours a day which has been working. Keep the solar cover on the entire time. I have never lost my water quality (man's last words!?), so far it has been very maintenance free.

 

[Texas Splash]

You have a good plan for the SWG and FC.

As to the water level, you could just leave the water where it is now. Is anyone going to be checking your pool while you're away?

 

[BDY]

What happens if you get more rain? What is your overflow method?

It sounds like a double edged sword - risk of overflow vs risk of pump dry

Is there a way to connect a hose to a hose timer and add Xx minutes of water a day while away?

 

[SirNoSplashing]

What happens if you get more rain? What is your overflow method?

It sounds like a double edged sword - risk of overflow vs risk of pump dry

Is there a way to connect a hose to a hose timer and add Xx minutes of water a day while away?

I have no overflow method, presumably it would rise above the FG tub and onto the edge of the concrete. Which seems bad. With crazy storms you could get inches of rain at a time, or without them, evaporate. For now I will just pump it down such that we could afford another crazy storm... but not so much the skimmer goes dry. Its anyones guess really.

I don't have a hose timer, though again it would be difficult to know whether or not I needed to add it.

 

[BDY]

Could make a guesstimate based on average evaporation and then have hose add water every few days for Xx amount of time

Just thinking out loud

Or have neighbor stick hose in pool if water level goes below a certain line

 

[SirNoSplashing]

You have a good plan for the SWG and FC.

As to the water level, you could just leave the water where it is now. Is anyone going to be checking your pool while you're away?

I don't have anyone, and I am the only one I know with a pool.... but I have a buddy who is smart enough I could trust him to stop over and take a quick peek. Things like cleaning the basket, checking the water level would be simple enough. chlorine just is what it is, nobody could help me dial that in. So, I will put my trust in the SWG doing its job as it has been.

Per some other advice I found, I could pull the pH down and make sure my CYA is reasonable as well... just to make sure I hold onto chlorine well. My CYA is only 30 right now, guessing I could afford to bump that up.

EDIT: I just measured and FC is 3.0 and CYA is ~30 (I hate this measurement with Taylor kit, a bit subjective). My SWG has been holding 3ppm steady for weeks. For sure I plan to boost FC ahead of the trip using the superchlorinate function, not really sure what to do with CYA or pH.

 

[BDY]

No reason you can’t dump some LC in and raise your pool to SLAM level before you leave… the SWG will help keep it elevated for a while

 

[SirNoSplashing]

No reason you can’t dump some LC in and raise your pool to SLAM level before you leave… the SWG will help keep it elevated for a while

Just got back from my trip. Water is clear and the level was at the top of the skimmer from rain but not horribly high. I am pumping down to a reasonable level now and running my robot. Quick check shows chlorine is super high, 10 ppm. pH is high, but one drop of acid demand brings the Taylor test into range.

Took the solar cover off and will let the pump run without the SWG today. I will retest everything after a couple hours of pumping, might get a better water sample.

Should I just let the chlorine naturally come down? I've never had it this high. We have a few hot, partly sunny days in the forecast. Thanks!

 

[Texas Splash]

Should I just let the chlorine naturally come down?

Yes. With the cover off it shouldn't take long.

 

[Pauls234]

With an SWCG the CYA recommendation is more like 60-90 so you may want to bump that up.

As a 10 year jug lugger and TFPer I was deathly afraid CYA above 40. I experimented in August last year by increasing CYA to 60 and it significantly reduced my loss to UV, maybe by as much as 20%, which means less run time and a 20% increase in life expectancy, or thereabouts