Swimming pools 101

GotWood

GotWood

Sayer of Fact
Joined
Jan 12, 2007
Location
Maiden, NC
Well the new shack came with a pool, so this is my first time doing this. Finally got it chemically right and clean now just waiting for warmer weather!

Being a newbie to this, how often are you running your pumps to filter? Mine is traditional chlorine pool, 18x36 oval with approx 22000 gal of water.
IMG_20160305_145538370.jpg
IMG_20160305_171011830.jpg
IMG_20160402_145948650.jpg
IMG_20160402_155722120_HDR.jpg
IMG_20160402_164201435.jpg
IMG_20160417_172543262.jpg
 
I really have nothing of value to add.

However I am wondering when the pool party is.:D
 
I used to take care of pools about 20 years ago. I also grew up with one. The pump pretty much ran 24/7 while the pool was uncovered and in use. Check the chemicals once daily. They'll get out of hand quick if you don't stay on it. Anything from a hard rain to a lot of people in and out will make them fluctuate. End of the season we would clean it, throw a couple of chlorine balls in it, cover it up, and shut off the pump. Repeat next season. About once a week we would backwash it and vacuum/scrub the sides when needed. Check the skimmer often but be careful. It's a guessing game as to what you will find when you open it. Everything from rats to snakes and frogs. There's a lot I'm forgetting but most of all enjoy it. Your family will have a great summer.
 
We always ran the pump 24/7 , also isn't a bad idea to take a sample to a pool place. They can test it and let you know how much of what needs to be added until you get the hang of it.
 
Wes said:
I used to take care of pools about 20 years ago. I also grew up with one. The pump pretty much ran 24/7 while the pool was uncovered and in use. Check the chemicals once daily. They'll get out of hand quick if you don't stay on it. Anything from a hard rain to a lot of people in and out will make them fluctuate. End of the season we would clean it, throw a couple of chlorine balls in it, cover it up, and shut off the pump. Repeat next season. About once a week we would backwash it and vacuum/scrub the sides when needed. Check the skimmer often but be careful. It's a guessing game as to what you will find when you open it. Everything from rats to snakes and frogs. There's a lot I'm forgetting but most of all enjoy it. Your family will have a great summer.
Click to expand...

From growing up with a pool and spending a lot of time caring for it... X2.

In the last 5 yrs though, my parents decided to leave their pool open vs dumping tons of money every year into chemicals in the spring. Seems like it was always nasty no matter what cover they used in the winter. Now they leave it open all winter, treat/check the water and run the pump about once a week during the colder months. Shut down and drain the lines if it is going to get much below freezing.
 
Definitely understand the money part. I maintained about 8 pools and had an account at the pool store. The money I spent on chemicals for all those pools monthly was insane, and this was 20 years ago. Granted these were large pools with a lot of traffic to and from the beach, but you definitely gotta pay to play. I'm ok if I never vacuum another pool the rest of my life.
 
I have a concrete 20' X 40' salt water pool in my backyard built last year. I was told once all levels are correct I only need to run it about 10 hrs a day. That is what I have followed and no issues (and I didn't close it over the winter due to having a cover and heater). Not sure how much the cover helps this but it works for me.

IMG_2923.JPG
IMG_2924.JPG
 
Had a pool growing up, ran filter 24/7 in season, cover is a waste of time and $$. Dirty trailer park trash kids from a few blocks away would come swim and it would turn green the next day. Keep chlorine handy. Didn't bother with all the other crap chemicals they try selling you on.
 
NC_IslandRunner said:
Had a pool growing up, ran filter 24/7 in season, cover is a waste of time and $$. Dirty trailer park trash kids from a few blocks away would come swim and it would turn green the next day. Keep chlorine handy. Didn't bother with all the other crap chemicals they try selling you on.
Click to expand...
Haha! Yeah, I forgot about those dirty trailer park kids. They'll mess shit up every time.
 
fortunately my cover is automated (rolls under the diving board) and once closed it takes a PIN for it to open so no "extras" at my house unless invited.
 
my pool builder talked me out of the tanker route due to cost. we used a hose pipe. took 3 days LOL. believe it or not that water bill wasn't as bad as we thought.
 
AdamH said:
I have a concrete 20' X 40' salt water pool in my backyard built last year. I was told once all levels are correct I only need to run it about 10 hrs a day. That is what I have followed and no issues (and I didn't close it over the winter due to having a cover and heater). Not sure how much the cover helps this but it works for me.

View attachment 215624 View attachment 215625
Click to expand...

That's a beautiful backyard. Very nice!
 
Trouble Free Pool <--great reading on pool maintenance.
I have a 18x36 inground pool with salt water chlorinator.
The only "chemical" I use is stabilizer (cyanuric acid) in bulk from amazon. I've added borax to raise the pH a few times. If I didn't have the salt water chloriniator (which is the shiznit), I'd have a few cases of bleach in the shed for chlorine. Instead, I toss one or two 40lb bags of water salt from Lowes every couple months, $6 a bag.
To monitor the chlorine and stabilizer levels, I have a TF-100 Test Kit ™.
I have 4 cartridge filters in my system. I'll clean those 3-4 times per year.
As far as pump run time, I think mine is programmed 4-6 hrs on high, then 4-6 on low. Its always thru the filters, no option to bypass or whatever. Wintertime I set the times for when its coldest; I have a freeze protection feature where it will autorun below 35deg or so. In the summer, I shift the high runtime to daytime, when kids are in the pool. The pump also supplies the slide, so its likely to be turned on manually anyways.
 
BRUISER said:
anyone ever used one of those pre made drop in fiberglass pools?
Click to expand...

Actually my neighbor across the street put in one a month after ours was completed. When it was all said and done what they ended up paying was very close to what a concrete one the same shape/size would have cost. However it did go in MUCH quicker than a concrete one would have. The coolest sight was the crane they brought in to lift it up and over the house.
 
AdamH said:
my pool builder talked me out of the tanker route due to cost. we used a hose pipe. took 3 days LOL. believe it or not that water bill wasn't as bad as we thought.
Click to expand...
I'm a fireman in town. I did pump training class that day!
 
Back
Top