Pool time again!

[bigdee]

With spring time it is once again that time to get our swimming pools ready for the season. How much time and money do you expect to spend? I dread taking a water sample to the pool supplier and leaving there 2 or 3 hundred dollars lighter and the possibly going back for more to get my chemistry in balance.
Last season I converted to a salt pool so I am hoping for less trouble when I uncover the pool tomorrow.

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Pool time again!

I'll let you know in 2 1/2 months!

Even if they guaranteed it would stay above 70 from this day forward, I would not open mine until the oak trees had finished shedding their seed pods or whatever those are.

I usually buy 2 gallons of liquid shock, ph up, filter media and a jug of chlorine smart sticks. The local hardware store sells supplies at 1/2 the price of the pool store. Might total up to $100 or so for a 15,000 gallon set up. Seems like if you stay on top of it, it doesn't cost so much but let it get out of balance and it's really tough to wrestle it back into shape. Takes 1/2 day to open including getting the heater/pump etc hooked back up and water level back up. Ready to swim 2 days later. Last year it was 68ish degrees on opening the week before memorial day. Two days later (14 hour days) the heat pump had it up to 86. Looking forward to hearing how your new set up works out this year.

Looking at a new deck this year. Chaaaching!

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Pool time again!

Few years ago the neighbor had the bright idea of pumping out the yucky pool and refilling it. Small pool, about the size of three fair hot tubs.

Only lowered it a few feet that first day, planned on pumping out more the next day.

When he came out in the morning he found broken concrete around the pool apron as floated UP 4 inches on the ground water during the night.

It never did resettle, ended up taking it out, it's a flower bed now.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Pool time again!

I'll let you know in 2 1/2 months!

Even if they guaranteed it would stay above 70 from this day forward, I would not open mine until the oak trees had finished shedding their seed pods or whatever those are.

I usually buy 2 gallons of liquid shock, ph up, filter media and a jug of chlorine smart sticks. The local hardware store sells supplies at 1/2 the price of the pool store. Might total up to $100 or so for a 15,000 gallon set up. Seems like if you stay on top of it, it doesn't cost so much but let it get out of balance and it's really tough to wrestle it back into shape. Takes 1/2 day to open including getting the heater/pump etc hooked back up and water level back up. Ready to swim 2 days later. Last year it was 68ish degrees on opening the week before memorial day. Two days later (14 hour days) the heat pump had it up to 86. Looking forward to hearing how your new set up works out this year.

Looking at a new deck this year. Chaaaching!

We have yellow pine pollen everywhere,it is like a yellow dust storm and everything is covered in a heavy coat of yellow.
I decided to wait until the pollen is gone before uncovering the pool. However, I did get the pump running and turned on the salt generator. After running the pump,filter and salt chlorinator for a day I peeled open the cover to take a look and get a water sample.....Surprise,surprise, the water is as clear as a crystal and the water is in PERFECT balance!! This is the first time ever in the 25 years of owning an inground pool has this ever happened. Normally I would be taking a sample to the pool supplier and walking out with 2-3 hundred dollars of chemicals. It will probably be May before the grandkids get in but this pool can be seen from my living room and it is an eyesore with the cover on, especially after collecting all kinds of debris over the winter. Last summer I stocked up on liquid chlorine and muriatic acid because I thought that I would need them but except for putting in 20 oz of the muriatic acid I have not added any chemicals. After losing water from back washing and splashing I may have to add more salt ($6/40lbs) and stabilizer. I went from $500 a year to less than $40!!!
I wish I had known about these SWGs years ago.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Pool time again!

Few years ago the neighbor had the bright idea of pumping out the yucky pool and refilling it. Small pool, about the size of three fair hot tubs.

Only lowered it a few feet that first day, planned on pumping out more the next day.

When he came out in the morning he found broken concrete around the pool apron as floated UP 4 inches on the ground water during the night.

It never did resettle, ended up taking it out, it's a flower bed now.

I was self employed and made a good living off of repairing this type of damage. I had a crew of 6-10 and we did major renovations on pools, private, hotels, resorts and such, we would fix 5 or 6 pools each spring that had been drained while the water table was still too high.

 

[oops!]

Re: Pool time again!

hi.....


you really need to pay attention to the above post.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Pool time again!

I grew up in Yakima, WA, what water table?

Here in Mid-MO we have crawfish in our yard, the ground water stay 3/4 of the year.

I would have made the same mistake by draining a pool.

I've learned a LOT since!

 

[bigdee]

Re: Pool time again!

Few years ago the neighbor had the bright idea of pumping out the yucky pool and refilling it. Small pool, about the size of three fair hot tubs.

Only lowered it a few feet that first day, planned on pumping out more the next day.

When he came out in the morning he found broken concrete around the pool apron as floated UP 4 inches on the ground water during the night.

It never did resettle, ended up taking it out, it's a flower bed now.

Yeah,I have seen empty septic tanks and a pool come completely out of the ground. There was a new house in my town under construction and before they had a chance to backfill the basement we had a torrential downpour and the house rose above ground 3 feet before the walls collapsed!

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Pool time again!

hi.....


you really need to pay attention to the above post.

I'm really so glad I no longer have a pool