automatic pool cartridge cleaner image
z400wood
We just bought a house in MI with a 16x32 inground pool. I am getting ready to buy chemicals for it. The pool has an automatic chlorinator and I am wondering whether or not to buy 3" or 1" tabs or the sticks or whatever else there is. Also how many pounds of chlorine will I go through in the summer running the pump for 12 hours a day. Any other pool tips or chemical advice would be greatly appreciated.
Answer
You definetly DO have to chlorinate a private residential pool, otherwise you will very quickly have a swamp rather than a swimming pool. Go with the 3" tabs, they dissolve less quickly so you won't have to add tabs but about every one to two weeks ( I have some pools on my route that I only have to add once a month). As far as how much to buy, as with everything, the more you buy the more you save. It does not expire so if you have some left at the end of the season, just store until the next.
As far as other tips, the key to keeping a nice pool if preventative maintenance ( as with any investment).
I recommend taking one day a week (only an hour or so) and perform maintenance:
*clean the water line (with a tile/vinyl cleaner from your local pool store)
*Remove large debris from bottom of pool with a leaf rake (large deep net that attaches to the end of telescopic pole)
*empty skimmer and pump baskets
*vacuum pool
*clean filter according to filter type (backwash sand filter, *clean cartridge elements in cartridge filter, and for DE backwash and recharge with DE)
*Test chemicals -- Test Chlorine and pH weekly, Total Alkalinty biweekly, and Calcium Hardness monthly.
Recommended chemical levels:
Chlorine: 1-5 ppm
pH: 7.2-7.6
Total Alkalinity: 80-120 ppm
Calcium Hardness: 200-300 ppm
In addition to chlorine, you will need to purchase other chemicals for balancing, namely Sodium Bicarbonate (for Total Alkalinity), Soda Ash (for pH), and Calcium Chloride( for calcium). If you would ever need to lower the pH, use Muriatic Acid.
You can buy these chemicals at your local pool store. They will most likely try to sell you BioGuard or some other brand of pool chemicals. The ones that I named are what we call bulk chemicals, they come in 50 lb. bags and are much less expensive. They are the exact same thing, you're just not paying for advertisement. Again they do not go bad, so you can save them for years. Just make sure you store chemicals out of the elements.
I recommend getting yourself a good test kit (the best is made by Taylor). Do not use test strips as they are difficult to read and often wrong.
I see that you are in michigan. If you happen to be near the Saginaw/ Bay City area there is a great company there called Cherokee Pools. They have a retail store and also do service if you would ever need any repair work done.( My husband got his start with them years ago and we now own our own business in Myrtle Beach).
If you have any other questions I would be more than happy to answer them.
You definetly DO have to chlorinate a private residential pool, otherwise you will very quickly have a swamp rather than a swimming pool. Go with the 3" tabs, they dissolve less quickly so you won't have to add tabs but about every one to two weeks ( I have some pools on my route that I only have to add once a month). As far as how much to buy, as with everything, the more you buy the more you save. It does not expire so if you have some left at the end of the season, just store until the next.
As far as other tips, the key to keeping a nice pool if preventative maintenance ( as with any investment).
I recommend taking one day a week (only an hour or so) and perform maintenance:
*clean the water line (with a tile/vinyl cleaner from your local pool store)
*Remove large debris from bottom of pool with a leaf rake (large deep net that attaches to the end of telescopic pole)
*empty skimmer and pump baskets
*vacuum pool
*clean filter according to filter type (backwash sand filter, *clean cartridge elements in cartridge filter, and for DE backwash and recharge with DE)
*Test chemicals -- Test Chlorine and pH weekly, Total Alkalinty biweekly, and Calcium Hardness monthly.
Recommended chemical levels:
Chlorine: 1-5 ppm
pH: 7.2-7.6
Total Alkalinity: 80-120 ppm
Calcium Hardness: 200-300 ppm
In addition to chlorine, you will need to purchase other chemicals for balancing, namely Sodium Bicarbonate (for Total Alkalinity), Soda Ash (for pH), and Calcium Chloride( for calcium). If you would ever need to lower the pH, use Muriatic Acid.
You can buy these chemicals at your local pool store. They will most likely try to sell you BioGuard or some other brand of pool chemicals. The ones that I named are what we call bulk chemicals, they come in 50 lb. bags and are much less expensive. They are the exact same thing, you're just not paying for advertisement. Again they do not go bad, so you can save them for years. Just make sure you store chemicals out of the elements.
I recommend getting yourself a good test kit (the best is made by Taylor). Do not use test strips as they are difficult to read and often wrong.
I see that you are in michigan. If you happen to be near the Saginaw/ Bay City area there is a great company there called Cherokee Pools. They have a retail store and also do service if you would ever need any repair work done.( My husband got his start with them years ago and we now own our own business in Myrtle Beach).
If you have any other questions I would be more than happy to answer them.
How do I rid of the dirt at the bottom of my pool if all the automatic vacuum does is mix it?
coldmv
I am unsure if it's dirt, old DE, or algae. I am attempting to push all of it down the drain, but this also just mixes in with the water making clouds. Any advice?
Answer
First off i would use a regular pool vac and put your filter on waste and just get rid of it once and for all by slowly sucking it up (take your time as clouds happen when you go to fast). If your still using an old DE filter then personally id give it the old heave ho and get a sand filter as they are not that expensive and are much safer and easier to maintain then the DE filters especially since the dust they use to re coat them is considered a carcinogen.
If your making clouds chances are it isnt algae as it usually acts like super glue to the walls of your pool until you super chlorinate it into oblivion. Might be dirt but if it doesnt come up with the manual vacuuming i highly doubt it. If you do have a DE filter it might be junk that made it from the DE filter into the pool and thus always makes it way back in. If its a cartridge filter it could be your filter is clogged up and is thus missing material and just reshooting it out into the pool. Simply hose down a cartridge filter until clean with a pressure washer and reinstall.
Short Form Answer
1.) If you have a DE toss it and get a sand filter, much easier to maintain and safer to use
2.) If your not sure what it is in the bottom check your chlorine levels if they are non existent or low super chlorinate and see what happens to it then (whether it vacs up or not)
3.) Use a manual vac for cleanups and the auto vac for basic weekly maintenance when your not using the pool.
First off i would use a regular pool vac and put your filter on waste and just get rid of it once and for all by slowly sucking it up (take your time as clouds happen when you go to fast). If your still using an old DE filter then personally id give it the old heave ho and get a sand filter as they are not that expensive and are much safer and easier to maintain then the DE filters especially since the dust they use to re coat them is considered a carcinogen.
If your making clouds chances are it isnt algae as it usually acts like super glue to the walls of your pool until you super chlorinate it into oblivion. Might be dirt but if it doesnt come up with the manual vacuuming i highly doubt it. If you do have a DE filter it might be junk that made it from the DE filter into the pool and thus always makes it way back in. If its a cartridge filter it could be your filter is clogged up and is thus missing material and just reshooting it out into the pool. Simply hose down a cartridge filter until clean with a pressure washer and reinstall.
Short Form Answer
1.) If you have a DE toss it and get a sand filter, much easier to maintain and safer to use
2.) If your not sure what it is in the bottom check your chlorine levels if they are non existent or low super chlorinate and see what happens to it then (whether it vacs up or not)
3.) Use a manual vac for cleanups and the auto vac for basic weekly maintenance when your not using the pool.
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