GJMIV
08-01-2006, 03:10 PM
We are relatively new to pools and bought a new home about a month ago that had a pool. We have taken care of the pool ourselves thus far with direction from the previous owner and some careful research but are clearly not yet comfortable enough to claim any level of expertise. We use test strips from KMart and pool-store-bought products at this point, but I've researched and understand that there are other better alternatives and I plan on learning about these in more detail over the winter to start next year as a much better-informed owner that can diagnose and solve problems on my own.
Pool facts:
I think our vinyl-lined pool holds about 20k gallons - 4' to 6' deep, figure-8 shaped.
Filter is cartridge, 4 top skimmers, one bottom skimmer.
Natural Gas heater.
Up until a few days ago the pool was crystal clear. We changed the cartridge in the filter about once per week, shocked about once per week (or after rains, usage, etc) and the test strips always came up clean or only needing slight adjustment.
Cut to last Thursday - flash floods moved through the area. We discovered a drainage issue (that I'm working on as a side project now to prevent issues like this in the future) that combined with the flooding to basically totally flood our pool. Think of a river of water rolling over a leave/mulch bed and into the pool. At first the mulch collected in the pool - later the rains were so hard that the floating mulch ended up in the neighbor's yard and I'd probably say that maybe half of the poolwater is gone and replaced with rain/groundwater. Needless to say, it was basically brown. We could see to the first step (maybe 5"?) after the rain stopped.
Not knowing what to do, I drained the pool to skimmer level and left it for the evening.
I've called a few pool places. First guy out is a very poor communicator but seems knowledgeable. His plan: Shock it, Floc it, let it settle for a few days, vaccuum to waste if we can find the bottom and then start filtering. He's concerned that the cartridge won't be able to clear it, but we can try. Otherwise he says $1100 for a drain/refill, and risk to damage to the liner. But faster to back to swimming.
OK, go ahead and floc. He managed the PH daily, added floc two or three times and it is definately more clear. We can see the bottom step, but not the bottom surface yet (maybe today when I get home?)
In the meantime I called another guy. He was much better at communicating, but didn't give me as much intellectual confidence. He suggested to just get that filter going. But he didn't really even know what floc was. :confused:
Algae growth seems non-existent thus far even though we have 95 degrees and sun for the last few days.
It has been 4 days now and the pool isn't brown, it is gray/cloudy. We have a party on August 12th that I'd love to have the pool ready to swim for.
A) should I consider vaccuuming tomorrow afternoon regardless of the condition and then filter the crap out of it?
B) for $500 I can have a DE filter installed, will this do a better job of filtering? Is it worth it as a longer-term investment and in case this happens again?
C) is the drain/refill option really that risky to the liner?
D) CAN I GET THIS POOL BACK TO SHAPE IN 10 DAYS??
:cool:
Thoughts? Ideas? Advice?
I like this place and plan on spending lots of time here. I'll post pictures of the pool soon - it is (ok, it WAS) freaking awesome before this ridiculous flood.
The flood, btw, flooded 100's of basements in the area. I'm happy to have gotten away with only a trashed pool.
Pool facts:
I think our vinyl-lined pool holds about 20k gallons - 4' to 6' deep, figure-8 shaped.
Filter is cartridge, 4 top skimmers, one bottom skimmer.
Natural Gas heater.
Up until a few days ago the pool was crystal clear. We changed the cartridge in the filter about once per week, shocked about once per week (or after rains, usage, etc) and the test strips always came up clean or only needing slight adjustment.
Cut to last Thursday - flash floods moved through the area. We discovered a drainage issue (that I'm working on as a side project now to prevent issues like this in the future) that combined with the flooding to basically totally flood our pool. Think of a river of water rolling over a leave/mulch bed and into the pool. At first the mulch collected in the pool - later the rains were so hard that the floating mulch ended up in the neighbor's yard and I'd probably say that maybe half of the poolwater is gone and replaced with rain/groundwater. Needless to say, it was basically brown. We could see to the first step (maybe 5"?) after the rain stopped.
Not knowing what to do, I drained the pool to skimmer level and left it for the evening.
I've called a few pool places. First guy out is a very poor communicator but seems knowledgeable. His plan: Shock it, Floc it, let it settle for a few days, vaccuum to waste if we can find the bottom and then start filtering. He's concerned that the cartridge won't be able to clear it, but we can try. Otherwise he says $1100 for a drain/refill, and risk to damage to the liner. But faster to back to swimming.
OK, go ahead and floc. He managed the PH daily, added floc two or three times and it is definately more clear. We can see the bottom step, but not the bottom surface yet (maybe today when I get home?)
In the meantime I called another guy. He was much better at communicating, but didn't give me as much intellectual confidence. He suggested to just get that filter going. But he didn't really even know what floc was. :confused:
Algae growth seems non-existent thus far even though we have 95 degrees and sun for the last few days.
It has been 4 days now and the pool isn't brown, it is gray/cloudy. We have a party on August 12th that I'd love to have the pool ready to swim for.
A) should I consider vaccuuming tomorrow afternoon regardless of the condition and then filter the crap out of it?
B) for $500 I can have a DE filter installed, will this do a better job of filtering? Is it worth it as a longer-term investment and in case this happens again?
C) is the drain/refill option really that risky to the liner?
D) CAN I GET THIS POOL BACK TO SHAPE IN 10 DAYS??
:cool:
Thoughts? Ideas? Advice?
I like this place and plan on spending lots of time here. I'll post pictures of the pool soon - it is (ok, it WAS) freaking awesome before this ridiculous flood.
The flood, btw, flooded 100's of basements in the area. I'm happy to have gotten away with only a trashed pool.