About to empty and refill my pool... (Las Vegas)

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We have relatively hard water where I live. Adding a connection to the house softened water has been a win for me. Added an outdoor shower for my wife at the same time and got a lot of points to burn.
 
Tpelt said:
What is a fair estimate for labor/installation if I choose something like a CircuPool RJ-20 PLUS Salt Chlorine Generator? I’ve seen diy installation videos on Discount Salt Pool, and they seem pretty straightforward, but I wouldn't attempt it myself, mostly because of the electronics. I'm unsure whether the generator would be connected to my pool timer (which currently serves as a general on/off switch since my Superflo has a built-in timer) or if it should be hooked up somewhere else.

One guy gave me an estimate of 2900$ total for Pentair IC40, 2180$ parts + 720$ to install the cell and the power outage.
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Anyone can help with a fair estimate on my previous post?
 
I'm in the Las Vegas area and did a drain & fill a couple weeks ago. The water was at least 5 years old. I did it primarily to lower CH but also so I could pressure wash a couple areas. Be sure to pump the water into the sewer system. The easiest way is likely to find a clean-out somewhere near your house. Don't worry about a water softener for the initial fill. Keep in mind you do need some calcium in your pool. After filling my pool the CH ended up around 250 (no water softener or anything...this water came straight from the spigot). Have some CYA granules on hand so you can start getting your CYA to an appropriate level immediately after filling the pool.

Keep in mind if you go with a salt system that the cell needs to be cleaned periodically. I have zero regrets switching to salt but don't do it believing it'll make your pool maintenance free by any means. You still need to check Cl periodically to be certain the cell is performing and you'll still need to add muriatic acid regularly (and you'll be adding a bit more since you're not using tablets with a low pH). I can't speak to the quote for installation as I do all my work myself. It's not particularly challenging work but the way your pump is wired looks less than ideal for adding more electrical components. By no means am I saying it can't be done, of course.

You can easily add some tablets to the pool while you're away. Sure, it'll cause your CYA to increase a bit. Your CYA is going to slowly degrade over time anyway since you aren't normally using stabilized chlorine. When I need to raise CYA I'll often add a tablet or two and lower my chlorine generation to compensate. There's nothing wrong with using tablets as long as you understand the ultimate outcome. It's the folks who blindly add several a week that end up with sky high CYA.
 
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Thank you for all you helpful replies.

Is it also a good idea to use a solar bubble pool cover for reducing chemical loss during the day? I used it years ago but I remember the extreme Vegas heat during July/August destroyed it, so I wonder if it's worth getting a new one.
 
Tpelt said:
Thank you for all you helpful replies.

Is it also a good idea to use a solar bubble pool cover for reducing chemical loss during the day? I used it years ago but I remember the extreme Vegas heat during July/August destroyed it, so I wonder if it's worth getting a new one.
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I thought those were only good for heat retention (if used religiously).
 
I use a solar cover from mid March to late May and again from early September to November. It retains heat and lowers evaporation during those times. The cover last two years.

During mid summer, I need the evaporation to cool the water.
 
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Hello again,

Once I refill my pool and assuming the CYA is 0, can I use some leftover chlorine pucks, that I don't intend to use later, just to raise the CYA up to 45? Or should I go for the dry stabilizer with the sock method you mostly recommend here?

I just ordered the TF-100 test kit too;)
 

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Let’s say the pucks are 8 oz each. Using effects of adding in Pool Math, for 9k gal pool it would take 8 pucks to equal 30 ppm CYA. How long would 8 pucks take to dissolve? Days?

Dry stabilizer added via the sock method will add 30 ppm within hours.
 
Keep the pucks for the summer. You will need to add some CYA each month, and if you are not installing a SWCG, you will need to use pucks if you leave the pool for more than one day.
 
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