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Pool Maintenance
Posted on 4/21/22 at 12:28 pm
Posted on 4/21/22 at 12:28 pm
I want to drop my weekly pool service.
Can anyone tell me what all goes into DIY?
FYI, I’m a widow, but can do basic stuff like skimming and filling the floating thing.
Can anyone tell me what all goes into DIY?
FYI, I’m a widow, but can do basic stuff like skimming and filling the floating thing.
11
Posted on 4/21/22 at 12:37 pm to hnds2th
I'm almost a year into owning my own pool. (gunite salt water)
I use a little test kit and check my PH and chlorine weekly. Once a month or so I do the whole litany of tests in the kit. This takes me 10 minutes.
There's a few things I've had to add like baking soda from a big bag, big salt bags and liquid CYA. Otherwise it's a third - half bottle of acid weekly.
Chlorine might take a bit more attention. Cleaning the filters (mine are cartridge style) might be the most physically demanding part. That I do a few times a year.
Overall not that difficult, just a few minutes each week.
Oh, and when in use I drop a bag of shock in it every Sunday night.
I use a little test kit and check my PH and chlorine weekly. Once a month or so I do the whole litany of tests in the kit. This takes me 10 minutes.
There's a few things I've had to add like baking soda from a big bag, big salt bags and liquid CYA. Otherwise it's a third - half bottle of acid weekly.
Chlorine might take a bit more attention. Cleaning the filters (mine are cartridge style) might be the most physically demanding part. That I do a few times a year.
Overall not that difficult, just a few minutes each week.
Oh, and when in use I drop a bag of shock in it every Sunday night.
This post was edited on 4/21/22 at 12:38 pm
Posted on 4/21/22 at 12:57 pm to hnds2th
What kinda pool do you have? Fiberglass/gunite/vinyl?
Do you do liquid chlorine? Is it salt?
DIY, start by buying this testing kit: TF Pro
It comes with instructions on how and when to do the tests.
Take time to go through this website and learn about chemicals you're testing and use it as a resource: TroubleFreePool School
There's a mobile app (Pool Math) you can install on your phone (iOS and Android) where you plug how many gallons of water your pool has, and the results of your test. And it will tell you exactly how much chlorine/acid/baking soda/etc. to add to your pool.
Do you do liquid chlorine? Is it salt?
DIY, start by buying this testing kit: TF Pro
It comes with instructions on how and when to do the tests.
Take time to go through this website and learn about chemicals you're testing and use it as a resource: TroubleFreePool School
There's a mobile app (Pool Math) you can install on your phone (iOS and Android) where you plug how many gallons of water your pool has, and the results of your test. And it will tell you exactly how much chlorine/acid/baking soda/etc. to add to your pool.
This post was edited on 4/21/22 at 12:58 pm
Posted on 4/21/22 at 1:19 pm to hnds2th
Join the troublefreepool message board and read all the get started posts. Lots of very knowledgeable folks on there that can walk you through DIY pool maintenance.
Posted on 4/21/22 at 1:28 pm to RaginCajunz
So, am I understanding you correctly, Rajin , you have a salt water pool and still add lots of chemicals?
This post was edited on 4/21/22 at 1:29 pm
Posted on 4/21/22 at 1:34 pm to Baers Foot
It’s a play pool, no salt, pebble tech. I think it’s tablets and no idea what kind of filter.
Lots of minerals in the water. I took a sample to Leslie’s and they told me it needs to be drained, which I knew already.
I also need to get the mineral deposits off the tile.
Current pool service is minimal, non responsive and keeps going up, so once it’s drained and cleaned I need to decide on either dyi or new service.
Lots of minerals in the water. I took a sample to Leslie’s and they told me it needs to be drained, which I knew already.
I also need to get the mineral deposits off the tile.
Current pool service is minimal, non responsive and keeps going up, so once it’s drained and cleaned I need to decide on either dyi or new service.
Posted on 4/21/22 at 1:34 pm to hnds2th
quote:
So, am I understanding you correctly, Rajin , you have a salt water pool and still add lots of chemicals?
I wouldn't say "lots." The PH is on a constant climb, so I add acid weekly.
I've added a few bags of salt over the past 10 months. I shock it weekly when it is getting used daily. I've had to add a big bag of baking soda once and CYA once.
Posted on 4/21/22 at 1:43 pm to RaginCajunz
quote:
I shock it weekly when it is getting used daily.
Why? I’m a new pool owner but my understanding is that shocking is not really necessary if the levels are fine and your chlorine (or salt + SWG) is maintained.
Posted on 4/21/22 at 2:05 pm to LSUtigerME
quote:
Why? I’m a new pool owner but my understanding is that shocking is not really necessary if the levels are fine and your chlorine (or salt + SWG) is maintained.
That is probably the case. I'm following the advice of my friend who has a salt water pool (done by the same builder not that it matters) and that is his schedule that has worked for 10 years. It was also part of their instructions when they did the initial setup for me and left me with my set of chemicals.
I figure it is cheap insurance to have that fast temporary shock of chlorine.
This post was edited on 4/21/22 at 2:06 pm
Posted on 4/21/22 at 2:31 pm to RaginCajunz
The shock might be the reason your ph is high. I have salt and if I need additional chlorine I use bleach or liquid chlorine (stronger bleach)
Posted on 4/21/22 at 2:42 pm to LSUSports247
quote:
The shock might be the reason your ph is high. I have salt and if I need additional chlorine I use bleach or liquid chlorine (stronger bleach)
No, even through the winter I'd check and my PH slides up. I've read it has to do with the mineral content of fresh diamondbrite. It stays within range, but it is a constant slide upward.
Posted on 4/21/22 at 3:06 pm to RaginCajunz
quote:
I've read it has to do with the mineral content of fresh diamondbrite. It stays within range, but it is a constant slide upward.
That’s my understanding too and I’ve seen the same.
Do you test for CYA levels? I think that’s what’s impacted most by repeated use of shock, if it has Trichlor or Dichlor in it. If what you’re using is just a concentrated chlorine, then it shouldn’t have an effect.
Posted on 4/21/22 at 3:20 pm to hnds2th
quote:
Can anyone tell me what all goes into DIY?
troublefreepools is your friend.
i have a liner pool and my ENTIRE chemical plan for each year consists of:
- chlorine (liquid if i can find it or tabs in a pinch)
- arm & hammer baking soda to adjust the pH & alkalinity
- in the spring i add vitamin C (yes, that is correct) to kill all the stains and discolorations
that's it. i do nothing else and dont add any other shite to my water. i like to keep it all natural with simple bleach for sanitizing purposes.
keep an eye on your chemical levels and CYA (there's a little strip at amazon that does a fantastic job in a pinch of giving you all your levels including CYA) and keep the organic crap out of the water.
not hard at all once you get the hang of it.
I wouldnt dream of adding copper or algaecides or any of those 400 other chemicals pool stores hawk to my water.
This post was edited on 4/21/22 at 3:23 pm
Posted on 4/21/22 at 3:23 pm to LSUtigerME
I have a ton of trees around my pool. I find during the spring when the oak trees are shedding pollen for 3 weeks, I have to shock even with maintained chlorine/pH levels to prevent algae blooms from happening. Once I notice everything stops getting coated in yellow from pollen, I just go back to my normal balancing.
Posted on 4/21/22 at 3:24 pm to LSUtigerME
quote:
That’s my understanding too and I’ve seen the same.
Do you test for CYA levels? I think that’s what’s impacted most by repeated use of shock, if it has Trichlor or Dichlor in it. If what you’re using is just a concentrated chlorine, then it shouldn’t have an effect.
I've used a few different shocks, honestly whatever was in stock or on sale. I've seen differing schools of thought on shock. Most claim it has no impact other than the brief spike in chlorine. I am probably going to move to the Pinch A Penny gold liquid.
As far as CYA I check it every few months. Monthly through the summer. I've only had to add once last year. (we didn't get plaster until July 4th)
I suspect the rising PH is just a function of our water, water table, rain PH etc. On a side note, the twin bottles of acid I was buying from Home Depot went up from like $13 to $18. Ahh inflation.
Posted on 4/21/22 at 3:30 pm to RaginCajunz
quote:
As far as CYA I check it every few months. Monthly through the summer. I've only had to add once last year. (we didn't get plaster until July 4th)
Get this:
LINK
Super cheap and very accurate. I used my Taylor and special CYA kit initially and pulled a strip and after a couple of months of identical results I now go with this..soooooooooo much easier to use. Dip in water, wait 15 seconds, read the colors.
Great way to keep an eye on CYA
quote:
7-IN-1 TEST STRIPS: Tests the most critical parameters: pH, Total Chlorine, Free Chlorine, Bromine, Alkalinity, Total Hardness, & Cyanuric Acid
AQUACHEK ACCURACY: Using medical industry technology, our test strips offer comparable accuracy to liquid tests; No measuring & counting drops of reagent, leaving less room for error
This post was edited on 4/21/22 at 3:34 pm
Posted on 4/21/22 at 3:49 pm to CAD703X
Thanks! I'll add it into my cart. I use my Taylor kit. I had to buy a big bottle of the CYA test chemical since those little bottles didn't last long with the way you use them.
Posted on 4/21/22 at 4:34 pm to RaginCajunz
Just checked mine with the strips and my acid level is kind of low.
Posted on 4/21/22 at 4:51 pm to RaginCajunz
quote:
Thanks! I'll add it into my cart. I use my Taylor kit
i still use my taylor kit as well..hard to get away from feeling like you're 'doing something' by mixing the chemicals & stuff
the strips are great..just replace them like once a year.
Posted on 4/21/22 at 4:52 pm to CAD703X
Me and my test kit
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