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

[Tpelt]

Hello everyone,


This is the first time I am posting to this forum, though I have been reading it for a while now, and it's been eye-opening. I live in Las Vegas, and I am getting ready for the new pool season. I'll be draining my pool (water has been 3 years old) and refilling it. I’ve been using chlorine tablets all these years, which has led to a significant increase in CYA levels. Last summer, it was very difficult to keep my pool clean, and I assume the high CYA levels were the reason, as they required more and more chlorine to prevent algae (?)


From my understanding, after reading posts on this forum, I should switch to liquid chlorine. With the appropriate test kit, I plan to test the chlorine frequently and adjust the levels by only adding liquid chlorine. If I do this, is there still any reason to empty and refill my pool every three years? Or is this something pool companies/service recommend because they use chlorine tablets, and they know that CYA levels get out of control after three years, thus requiring a water replacement to start over?


Lastly, if I need to leave for some time during the summer, would it be okay to hire someone to add tablets just for that period? Or could this still be detrimental to my CYA levels? Asking that, becasue it’s difficult to find someone who can come every two days to check the chlorine and add liquid chlorine as frequently.


Thank you all for your help!


Regards,

Tasos

 

[PoolGate]

You need a proper test kit to do your own testing. You can get one here. TF-Pro

Where you are, I believe your CH also tends to rise with pool age due to refill water being high in CH. The above test kit also tests for that.

Have you considered getting a saltwater chlorine generator?

Welcome aboard!

 

[Bperry]

Hello everyone,


This is the first time I am posting to this forum, though I have been reading it for a while now, and it's been eye-opening. I live in Las Vegas, and I am getting ready for the new pool season. I'll be draining my pool (water has been 3 years old) and refilling it. I’ve been using chlorine tablets all these years, which has led to a significant increase in CYA levels. Last summer, it was very difficult to keep my pool clean, and I assume the high CYA levels were the reason, as they required more and more chlorine to prevent algae (?)


From my understanding, after reading posts on this forum, I should switch to liquid chlorine. With the appropriate test kit, I plan to test the chlorine frequently and adjust the levels by only adding liquid chlorine. If I do this, is there still any reason to empty and refill my pool every three years? Or is this something pool companies/service recommend because they use chlorine tablets, and they know that CYA levels get out of control after three years, thus requiring a water replacement to start over?


Lastly, if I need to leave for some time during the summer, would it be okay to hire someone to add tablets just for that period? Or could this still be detrimental to my CYA levels? Asking that, becasue it’s difficult to find someone who can come every two days to check the chlorine and add liquid chlorine as frequently.


Thank you all for your help!


Regards,

Tasos

Don’t empty it until you get the test kit and get actual numbers. Don’t do anything based on guessing. There’s no reason to replace the water every three years if the test results are ok.

 

[pjt]

I'll be draining my pool (water has been 3 years old) and refilling it

If you do perform a drain and refill, make sure you note the start and end readings of the water meter. Subtract estimated household usage, and you'll have an accurate pool volume.

I should switch to liquid chlorine.

You should switch to a SWCG, especially since you live in Las Vegas. It's by far the cheapest, easiest, and most convenient way to chlorinate. Shopping, hauling, storing, and dosing LC gets old fast.

If I do this, is there still any reason to empty and refill my pool every three years?

Don't arbitrarily drain and refill. Either excessive CH or CYA would lead to the need to refill. Do you have the ability to top up your pool with soft water? If not, you'll want to install a water softener and fill line.

if I need to leave for some time during the summer, would it be okay to hire someone to add tablets just for that period? Or could this still be detrimental to my CYA levels? Asking that, becasue it’s difficult to find someone who can come every two days to check the chlorine and add liquid chlorine as frequently.

SWCG is perfect for vacations. Judicial use of tabs if fine if you understand their effects.

 

[Tpelt]

Thank you for your answers.

I will get the proper test kit. I am pretty sure that my CYA level is excessive, even using the Aquachek 7 at the moment I can see the reading is over 300. I will also look into installing SWCG system. Knowing that Nevada water is among (if not) the hardest in US, would I also have to install a water softener at the same time? Or is it something I can do later?

 

[pjt]

I will get the proper test kit.

Best money you'll spend on your pool.

I will also look into installing SWCG system.

Great decision.

would I also have to install a water softener at the same time? Or is it something I can do later?

The sooner it's installed and working, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits it provides.

 

[mknauss]

Do you have a water softener for your home?

 

[Tpelt]

Do you have a water softener for your home?

No I don't. As I mentioned in my previous post above " Knowing that Nevada water is among (if not) the hardest in US, would I also have to install a water softener at the same time with? Or is it something I can do later?"

I am trying to calculate the overall cost if I proceed with installing the saltwater generator + water softener, etc.. Also taking into account that I would have to replace the SWCG every couple of years, would it still be the cheapest option compared to maintaining the liquid chorine levels with a good test kit?

 

[mknauss]

I have an RV water softener for our pool. I have to manually regenerate it every two weeks from May to October. If you have a spot you can get a drain then you can use an automated softener.
I would not have a pool without a SWCG. Adding chlorine every day from April to November would be a hassle. You could use trichlor (tablets) if you like but then would have to drain half the pool volume every 30+ days.
My original SWCG cell lasted 8 years. It was acting odd so I replaced it before if completely failed.
You do not show what equipment, pool type, volume, etc for your pool so we can provide better guidance. Please fill out your Signature.

 

[Bperry]

I would have to replace the SWCG every couple of years,

Something is wrong if you don’t get at least 5 years out of the cell. Replacement cells also tend to be cheaper than the original, but with inflation lately that may not be true anymore.

 

[Tpelt]

I have an RV water softener for our pool. I have to manually regenerate it every two weeks from May to October. If you have a spot you can get a drain then you can use an automated softener.
I would not have a pool without a SWCG. Adding chlorine every day from April to November would be a hassle. You could use trichlor (tablets) if you like but then would have to drain half the pool volume every 30+ days.
My original SWCG cell lasted 8 years. It was acting odd so I replaced it before if completely failed.
You do not show what equipment, pool type, volume, etc for your pool so we can provide better guidance. Please fill out your Signature.

Thank you, I just filled out my Signature. Could you recommend some SWGC models?

 

[PoolStored]

Do you have automation?
If you do, you should match the brand to your automation.
If you do not have automation, many of us here have handwave and recommend Circupool RJ+ series.
You want a cell that is at least 2x the size of the pool. For you that means at least a 20K cell.

CircuPool RJ-20 PLUS Saltwater Chlorinator | Discount Salt Pool

www.discountsaltpool.com

 

[Tpelt]

I have an RV water softener for our pool. I have to manually regenerate it every two weeks from May to October. If you have a spot you can get a drain then you can use an automated softener.
I would not have a pool without a SWCG. Adding chlorine every day from April to November would be a hassle. You could use trichlor (tablets) if you like but then would have to drain half the pool volume every 30+ days.
My original SWCG cell lasted 8 years. It was acting odd so I replaced it before if completely failed.
You do not show what equipment, pool type, volume, etc for your pool so we can provide better guidance. Please fill out your Signature.

Could you recommend some RV water softeners? I don't have a spot that I could get a drain and use an automated softener.

 

[an1vrsy]

Living here in Las Vegas myself, our house was plumbed for a whole house water softener by the builder. So we installed one and then had the pool fill line connected to it. If your house is also plumbed but never had a whole house water softener installed it is a sound investment. Adding the pool fill line would be simple enough.

With our Las Vegas hard water, it is a key value to test for calcium hardness in our pools. So get one of the recommended test kits before you drain and refill. Don’t delay, it is starting to warm up and you don’t want the plaster exposed for very long after draining.

After you get the test kit, post your result here and the mods and expert poster can help you decipher the results. Good luck, we got you.

 

[mknauss]

I use an On the Go softener. Double standard. It will process about 800 gallons before needing regeneration.

 

[PoolGate]

I use an On the Go softener. Double standard. It will process about 800 gallons before needing regeneration.

Wow so roughly every hour it would need to be regenerated?

 

[PoolGate]

Wow so roughly every hour it would need to be regenerated?

To clarify, when I was filling my pool my water was running at @1000 gallons per hour. I assume when he fills his will be something on this level. So if he's looking to soften the fill water, every hour he'd need to regenerate right?

 

[mknauss]

You do not fill the pool with softened water. You use the softened water for make up water due to evaporation. Depending on surface area, the pool will evaporate 50-100 gallons per day from May to October.

 

[PoolGate]

Ah ok I thought we were talking about his drain and refill water.

 

[Tpelt]

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.