Installing a SWG. What to look out for?
I am installing an AutoPilot Dig-60 in my 20x40 (36,000 gal) in ground vinyl lined pool. I will have to use well water to fill it. I live in south Louisiana and don't really know anything about the water. All I know is it is safe to drink. Are there any special steps or precautions I should use in regards to the well water? Any specific tests of the water I need to obtain? I am a complete pool novice. All I have done in the past is add chlorine when needed and clean the pool. Never had any other issue but algae once which shocking cured.
The pool has special bathing loads. The pool is in our back yard but my wifes business (Daycare/Early learning center, summer camp) is next door and we use it for swim lessons in the summer (June-Early August). Probably 150 kids a day during swim lessons and free swim. The rest of the year the load is light with just our family. Any tips for how I should handle this?
I plan on using the unit to control my pump. Currently it runs 24/7, 365 but want to save some energy cost. It is currently not on a timer and hooked through a switch to turn pump on and off. Will I be able to use the switch to shut the pump off or will I use the control unit to kill the pump such as when I want to back flush the sand filter? If I use the switch to kill the power, will the control box loose all settings? Remember, I am a complete novice here.
Finally, at filling and start up, what chemicals do I need to have on hand? The local pool store that is installing my liner is no help as the do not sell SWG units. I am guessing it would cut into their sales of chemicals. I have read where I need salt, stabilizer and acid? Is there anything else I will need? I really appreciate the help and if there are any tutorials or post known specific to what I need, feel free to post the link. Or is there any specific keywords I can use here to search for what I am looking for?
Thanks again from a pool novice.
Smurfe
Re: Installing a SWG. What to look out for?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Smurfe
I am installing an AutoPilot Dig-60 in my 20x40 (36,000 gal) in ground vinyl lined pool. I will have to use well water to fill it. I live in south Louisiana and don't really know anything about the water. All I know is it is safe to drink. Are there any special steps or precautions I should use in regards to the well water? Any specific tests of the water I need to obtain? I am a complete pool novice. All I have done in the past is add chlorine when needed and clean the pool. Never had any other issue but algae once which shocking cured.
I can't help you here.
The pool has special bathing loads. The pool is in our back yard but my wifes business (Daycare/Early learning center, summer camp) is next door and we use it for swim lessons in the summer (June-Early August). Probably 150 kids a day during swim lessons and free swim. The rest of the year the load is light with just our family. Any tips for how I should handle this?
Not here either.
I plan on using the unit to control my pump. Currently it runs 24/7, 365 but want to save some energy cost. It is currently not on a timer and hooked through a switch to turn pump on and off. Will I be able to use the switch to shut the pump off or will I use the control unit to kill the pump such as when I want to back flush the sand filter? If I use the switch to kill the power, will the control box loose all settings? Remember, I am a complete novice here.
Mine was on a switch and ran 24/7 also. I kept the switch in tact but won't use it except in an emergency. The Pool Pilot has a button for the pump that turns the pump on and off. If you turn the pump off with the switch it will make the Pool Pilot think there is low flow and give you a warning message, so sticking with the button on the PP would be best. Setting up the timer (I did mine today) was pretty easy. The PP comes set up from the factory for the unit to be set up for an external timer so you'll have to go into the "Installer" menu to set it to have the PP to operate the pump. If you keep the switch that you used to use for the pump, just be sure it stays in the ON position all the time.
Finally, at filling and start up, what chemicals do I need to have on hand? The local pool store that is installing my liner is no help as the do not sell SWG units. I am guessing it would cut into their sales of chemicals. I have read where I need salt, stabilizer and acid? Is there anything else I will need? I really appreciate the help and if there are any tutorials or post known specific to what I need, feel free to post the link. Or is there any specific keywords I can use here to search for what I am looking for?
You'll need to know about how many gallons your pool is so you'll know how many pounds of salt to buy. My pool is about 21,000 gallons so I bought twelve 40 pound bags (500 lbs) of "Solar" Salt from Lowes (in the blue bag). Buying it from Lowes is quite a bit cheaper than buying "SWG" salt from the pool store.
Add your salt to the pool a couple of bags at a time and brush it around with your brush (or get in and kick it around) until it disolve. Just dumping it in and letting it sit may bleach your liner so make sure it all disolves. Once it's all in, you'll want to turn on your pump and let it circulate before you turn on your PP.
Also, when back washing, turn your "percentage" on your PP to ZERO as stated in the manual. It's stuck at the bottom of a page so this info is hard to find. I actually read the manual several times and missed it.
According to the PP manual, you'll want your "stabilizer" at around 60 to 80 PPM. You should put in less than you think you need (just like the salt) since you can't easily get this number down once it's too high without draining some of the water from your pool. This stuff takes a long time to disolve so you may want to wait a week before adding more to make sure all you put in has disolved. Also, don't back wash your filter for a week after adding the CYA since it'll be backwashed out of the filter. Many people here will put the CYA in a pair of panty hose and put it in the pool so it can disolve over time and not sit in the filter.
You may want to pick up some Muratic Acid at Lowes when your getting your salt. My PH tends to rise anyway so I keep some around. Just be careful and open the stuff out doors and don't get your nose too close or you'll feel a burning in your nose :-)
Just be sure your water is balanced before turning on the PP and you'll be fine. Your PP manual gives you all the levels you should have for a balanced pool. These numbers can also be found inside the cover on the front of the PP (PP=Pool Pilot).
CYA= is Stabilizer (also called conditioner) and should be 60-80 for your PP
CL=Chlorine should be 1-3ppm
PH=7.2-7.6
Alk=80-100ppm is advisable to keep your PH from drifting up too much.
Cal= Usually isn't too important for a vinyl liner but I'd check it since you are filling with well water.
Salt= Should be 2500-3500 with 3000ppm being just right.
BBB (baking soda, borax, bleach, muriatic acid) about all your need. Read up on using them here at the forum.
Thanks again from a pool novice.
Smurfe
I hope this helps.
Russsell
Re: Installing a SWG. What to look out for?
Chlorine level should be 3 ppm FC minimum, especially with the CYA level in the 60-80 ppm range. Otherwise you may get algae in the pool (there have been several users on several pool forums who had an SWG and 1 ppm and got algae in their pools). Some users have found that even higher FC levels are required especially if you are in an area prone to getting yellow/mustard algae, but most SWG users go with 3 ppm FC with no problems.
Richard
