Cover failed, leaves everywhere, help needed

Hello everyone,

I have a very serious problem that I can't seem to fix and need help.

I'm handicapped (both hips and knees replaced) and I'm sure this make my issue much more difficult as I cannot spend a huge amount of time doing the labor.

My issue is that two years ago our winter cover pulled loose near one side of the pool. Last year we had a death in my immediate family and were out of town most of the summer and didn't open the pool.

This year I was very eager to swim and couldn't wait until we got the pool opened so I could really enjoy the summer.

Now we are into July and we have not been able to swim yet.

Our problem is many, many leaves got into the pool. I mean many, many leaves.

My wife uses our leaf net and works as much as she can but they still come up full.

Two weeks ago we paid a local company to open the pool. The water was gray.

We do a good job of keeping the water chemicals correct, and we backwash when the return flow is diminished.

No improvement in the water color.

We have used an algae killer.

No improvement in the water color.

We have used water clarifier, and a stronger version of water clarifier that we had to add to the skimmer, run the filter on recirculate for 2 hours, then turn the filter off for 12 hours.

No improvement.

Today we let my brother get in the pool, hook up the vacuum (running to waste, of course) and try to vacuum the bottom. Dirt and leaves would stir up and we removed a lot of it, but there is still a lot I'm sure.

Do we have any other options?

Is it possible to get the water clear enough so we can see the bottom and then vacuum?

I really appreciate any help with this.

Hi, and Welcome to PoolForum.

We probably can suggest actions that will clear your pool but we will need some information first. Meantime, it's doubtful any of those additives will help do more than empty your wallet.

Let's start by finding out what type and size pool you have. We are looking for its gallonage, but if you don't know it, please tell us the size, shape and water depth.

Is it vinyl or fiberglass or concrete/tile/plaster?
Is there a fountain or waterfall?
Do you have a Salt-Water Chlorine Generator?
Are you sanitizing with chlorine, or with Bromine or Bacquacil?
What are your following test numbers (you can bring a water sample to a pool store, but don't buy anything yet):
FC (Free Chlorine)
TC (Total Chlorine)
CC (Combined Chloramines--you need this OR TC).
pH
T/A (Total Alkalinity)
CH (Calcium Hardness)
CYA (Cyanuric Acid, or Stabilizer)

Once we have those we can move to the step.

Thanks for the reply.

Some of these I can answer tonight.

It is a vinyl lined in-ground pool, no fountain or waterfall, no generator. We have a chlorine dispenser near the sand filter and we use chlorine (never bromine or bacquacil).

I can post the numbers tomorrow.

I use the test strips to get the info. Is that a reliable method?

What is the volume of the pool?
What type of pump and filter do you have?

Test strips are generally not reliable but they are better than nothing. You must very carefully "read" the FC and pH levels. CH, T/A are nearly hopeless, and, if your strips have a CYA (stabilizer) level, it's totally hopeless. If all you have are strips, you can take a sample to a pool store and have them do their free test on it.

However, they will attempt to sell you chlorine tabs, calcium increasers, total alkalinity increasers, pH Up!, Low'n'Slo, clarifiers, algaecides and...phosphate reducers. You could get a VERY hard sell--be strong!

The only thing you MAY want to buy for now is liquid chlorine--10-12.5% (double-strength bleach). If your CYA is low or zero (likely given the vegetation), you'll need some of that--the roughly two pound container is all for now.

Depending on the store, they may push hard, they may back off, but I wouldn't buy anything but liquid chlorine and stabilizer (the latter ONLY if CYA is low, 0 to 25).

When you say you don't use chlorine I'm confused. You'll need to start to using chlorine if you want to clean the pool.

You will need lots of chlorine. Best would probably be bleach or liquid chlorine. We need to see test results.

Meantime, there's a better kind of skimmer for your problem called a "leaf rake" that has a VERY deep net and a squeegee edge that's ideal for scraping the bottom and is safe on vinyl. "Leaf Rakes" aren't as good for surface skimming as regular skimmers but are far better for the bottom.

There is also an inexpensive garden hose-driven vacuum that has a bag that is very good for leaves and such. A few brands are out there. There are variations like the "universal leaf gulper" that run about $25 (you said funds are limited) and "Big Sucker Leaf Vacuum w/ Brushes" that's about $20. There's a "Black Magic" vacuum (<$20), a "Blue Magic" for $10, etc.

Just Google "pool vacuum heads"

Carl wasn't too clear but the liquid chlorine, 10% to 12 or so, may be available at pool stores. If available it is sold in bulk and he has a couple of 5 gallon containers that he gets refilled. May be too heavy for you guys to handle though, even if you can find it. There is a cost and convenience advantage in that you don't have to recycle the jugs. For the time being just stick with generic 6% ultra bleach with about the lowest prices at Walmart for the 182 Oz jugs at $2.54 I believe. In a nutshell, as he said, you need to get the solid matter out and whack the heck out of it with bleach and it will clear up.
Al

Thanks for the replies.

I made a typo, we do use chlorine, but not bromine or bacquacil.

The pool is approximately 12,500 gallons and we have a Hayward side mount sand filter.

We have what I call a leaf net, in that it is a larger bag, but I do not believe it has a squeegee edge on it. I'll look for one of those as well as the liquid chlorine and vacuums for leaves.

Also, I will take the water to be analyzed and post the results.