opening pool

Alright, I was hoping not to have to make this post… as I have tried to follow all of the recommendations closely, but here’s the story. I built a deck around my pool this spring and during the process the pump was unplugged to be moved and hard piped (for about 3.5 weeks). During that span I...

Hi everyone, I read many threads in here on antifreeze and pools, but cant find any regarding swim spas. I have a 13' long Barefoot swim spa. I cleaned all the surfaces but am unsure how to remove the antifreeze from the swim spa. I know how to do it with a pool, but are there differences here...

Hello all! I opened the pool back on Memorial Day weekend, and while there's been slight light at the end of the tunnel, Im at a loss. Last year, the pool was sparkling, and a thunderstorm wiped it out in minutes. I watched water runoff from the yard, and tree debris go into the pool and it...

Hi all, I opened my pool a few weeks ago and just want to confirm my next steps. When I opened, Total Alkalinity and PH were low, so following a local pool stores advice (they test using Taylor kit), I added in soda ash to reached desired numbers, we overshot Total Alkalinity, so followed their...

Hi! I've read a number of threads on CYA in TFP-- so helpful. This website is amazing. I think I am doing things right, but just want confirmation, as last year I messed up (I'm a newbie). I made the mistake of using (probably poor quality) test strips last year, added too much CYA and then...

Hi everyone! Hoping for some help getting our pool clear. First some background: we have a 18x33 above ground pool - 4ft deep. This is our 3rd year with our pool… and every year we feel like it gets harder. Year 1 we were battling algae and an old filter, Year 2 we tried the Sustain system...

Hi! After tons of money and different pool guys (turning my pool GREEN when paying $140 per month!), I’ve decided to manage my own pool and spa. We bought the home two years ago and I’ve been managing it for about a year. I’ve referenced this site many times, so I’m appreciative of you all. I...

Let me start by giving my equipment info - 2 of Hayward super pump xe sp2610x15xe - 1 of Hayward sp2610x15xe - 1 of Hayward turbo cell tcell3 - 1 of Hayward Filter c3030 - 1 Hayward gas powered heater, not sure of the model number - 1 of Pentair safety isolation transformer I've never had a...

Hello! Tis the season to start thinking about opening my pool. I live in Illinois and I have a 15 x 40 inground swimming pool with a deep end and mesh cover. I had a very similar pool growing up, and I remember opening it to clear water. (We had a solid cover). Last year when I opened this pool...

Hello all! I have had this pool for 10 years now. This is the first time I have opened the pool w/ the new pump and cartridge filter. I am running the pump at a constant 3150 RPM. The flow rate says ~80 GPM Depending on how many leaves have fallen into the pool/skimmer basket. The PSI on the...

Hi all, I've gotten some great advice from this forum for the last few years. Thanks to all the excellent contributors. I just pulled the cover off my pool. Can I power wash above the water line to clean the staining? I don't want to drain the pool completely. If yes, I also wonder if there is...

We just opened our ag pool up and it was sparkling clean! From what I can tell, our numbers seem to be alright but the CYA is low. What are some recommendations for raising it to about 50? Our pool is in direct sunlight so the chlorine takes a beating. Should we put the solar cover on it until...

I'm getting ready to open my pool for the first time, and was hoping to run my plan by the forum to make sure I have the right ideas. The situation is like this: at the end of the year, there was a lot of stuff installed well after pool closing time, and as a result the water had zero chlorine...

Hi there - this is my 3rd season to open our pool and I have a question about the order of steps before officially opening. Over the winter, our water level dropped more than normal (currently testing for a leak), so we've had to refill quite a bit. We are on a well and I'm very aware that our...

HI! I'm opening my pool right now. Water is clear after removing my winter cover! Yay! Okay. Last year, it was a liquid chlorine pool. This year, I'm currently installing an SWG. Do I need to shock the pool first before adding my salt and turning on the SWG? Or, could I add the salt, set my...

Location: Chattanooga Tennessee 20,000 gallon inground fiberglass pool Hayward s-244T sand filter – new sand within the month. Laterals checked and one replaced. Filter augmented with 2 cups of diatomaceous earth after backwashing My Pump is the ¾ HP Hayward STX 2600 super pump Ph 7.0 Fc 16...

Hi all! Uncovered my pool I. May and it was almost clear but lots of leaves at the bottom. Winter cover had a rip in it. Filled to skimmer level and began to filter. Life got in the way and a week without attending to pool equals a greenish brown mess. There are so many little seeds, tree...

Hello, Been trying a SLAM on this new to me pool. Back story. House had a fire and water was drained from the pool to under the skimmer, sand filter drained but was not covered. Unknown amount of debris remains as ive been using garden hose poweted leaf bagger. As ive tried to SLAM, the...

Hi! I was just poking around the site and I stumbled on This Now I’m going to have nightmares I ruined my brand new liner. 😬 I hired a local pool company to open the pool because it’s my first season with the pool actually up and running. The saga of my pool’s rehabilitation can be found if...

We are shocking using the slam method for mustard algae and we are not making progress after about 32 hours. Chlorine just dropped in the few hours we were at a baseball game after holding for most the day. I’m even using a bit higher amount of chlorine to try to beat it. Our alkalinity will...

Hello TFP. It's been a tough year, but I hope you all are well. Well, it's opening day here in New England. I've got all my equipment set up, almost. Here's my issue. When I turn on my pool pump water is pulled in and primed successfully. The returns in the pool are cranking during this...

I want to pass along what I think is a handy tip for pool owners with cartridge filters. I live in the northeast and I always seem to have a LOT of debris in my pool to contend with each spring. So it's no surprise that my pool filter gets a lot of debris in it from day one. What I learned is...

Hello all! New the forum here. Purchased a house last year that came with a 24,000 gal above ground pool with a Perma Salt system. I read before opening this year that those are frowned upon, so when we opened the pool, we decided to switch to a straight chlorine! I don't think we have added...

Hi all, first time posting and newish to pool ownership. I have a 28000 gallon AG vinyl pool with sand filter, 1.5hp pump. My pool water temp is about 60. It’s time to get my chemicals going to stop the algae bloom I had last year. I leave pool uncovered all winter and run the pump at night...

Hey TFPers, I have a 20k gallon fiberglass with salt water generator. Late last year the salt cell broke and read low salt so we kept adding salt (even though the pool did not need salt). We eventually figured out the problem after buying an electronic salt reader. We got everything back to...

Hello, guys, I am trying to open the pool myself this summer, I have been having this leak since last year as well I just never found a solution, just a small leak at the pump ring and no matter how i try to move the pump or ring around it doesn't stop the leak

I have a new-to-me Hayward “H series” H-200 natural gas heater (millivolt). I opened this weekend and can’t get the unit working properly. I was having trouble with the pilot light and eventually got it lit with the help of a friend. When it’s lit it is very faint. Can hardly even see the flame...

Greetings all! With the recent events, and having the fam stuck here at the house nearly ALL THE TIME, we decided we'd add a gas heater the pool so we can open a bit earlier and enjoy more swim time this season (and hopefully many to come). There was a heater previously installed, but this was...