New pool owner and have MANY questions. Need help!

[Txboynjgirl]

Thanks Janet. I have learned more on this site the last couple of days than talking to a pool person or searching other internet sites. Hopefully, my blueish cloudy pool will be ready for this weekend.

[aylad]

Keep that chlorine up and the filter running, and odds are good you'll be ready!

Glad you're finding the forum helpful.

Janet

[Watermom]

By the way --- when buying cya it is sometimes called Conditioner or Stabilizer. Check the label ingredients. If it says cyanuric or isocyanuric acid, that is the right stuff.

[Txboynjgirl]

I left my pool running 24 hours. The deep end is still very blue and it seems alittle bit cloudy. The shallow end is pretty good. I guess I need the pump run 24 until it clears up. It is expect to rain today.

I did add 4.5 gallons of bleach.

BTW is it better to vaccum DIRT to the filter or go to waste. I did it the other day to the filter and it looked like to shoot it back into the pool. I hope I don't have to change my filter sand. I think it is about 4-6 years old. What say you?

[PoolDoc]

If dirt shoots back into the pool when you vacuum, you have a problem.

1) Your pump may be too big for the filter, and is forcing the dirt through the sand.
2) Your pump may be too big for the filter, and has blown sand out during backwashes,
so now you don't have enough in the filter.
3) Your filter may have some other problem.

Fix #1 by putting a valve between the pump and the filter, and closing it partially OR by having a service guy replace the pump's impeller and diffuser with the next size smaller (not possible on all pumps) OR by buying a new smaller pump OR by buying a bigger filter.

Fix #2 by opening the filter and adding filter sand. Then, since your pump is STILL too big, consider your options in #1
above.

Fix #3 by repairing (?? whatever it takes -- I dunno what all it might need.) your filter.

Just to be sure, you can do the "DE filter test" on the filter. (There are a few types of dirt sand filters won't catch -- even when they work properly.) Add a small amount of DE ( 2 cups should be plenty) to your skimmer while the pump is on. Watch your pool returns for 5 minutes. If the DE shoot back out into the pool, you have filter problems.

Oh yeah: DEFINITELY run the pump 24/7 till you are ALL cleaned up.

Ben

[Txboynjgirl]

Oh geez, it's always something... my test cell might (I think it doesn't have much life, about 4-5 years old) be going out and now the pump situation.

When I opened the pool, a pool person helped me for a small fee. He was checking out my setup. I remembered he replaced my impeller...maybe this is the cause? Also, it seems like my pump is louder. It's located next to my bedroom window and you can hear it pretty good. Maybe I need new bearings.

I have Hayward pump HP1 Amps 15.0/7.5 HZ 60 Volts 115/230

My Hayward Sand Filter is MD S244T. I am checking websites and it seems to be the right pump motor.

I installed a pressure gauge and it's reading about 14-15 psi.

[Txboynjgirl]

To touch on the last comment. When I purchased the house in late September. I did see the pool and it looked like it was in great shape. Very clear water...and no dirt. When I moved in, I closed the pool since I have 2 small kids. (I installed a baby guard fence). I'm just puzzled that many things are going wrong.

I would think a 1HP pump would be just right for a 22,000 gallon pool.

[madwil]

The pump that comes with filters is often larger than needed- the Tim Taylor effect!
The dirt that comes back in your pool- is it really fine? Sand filters will sometimes pass really fine stuff, in which case you need to add some DE to the filter to help it out...
Backflush filter
Note the pressure
You can get some DE, add some (maybe 1/2 cup) to the skimmer on your pool and let it suck into the filter
Watch the returns and see if the DE comes back into the pool- if not, your filter is fine (pump may still be oversize, but the filter will work!)
If the DE does not come back into the pool, keep adding DE 1/2 cup til your pressure raises 1 psi
Now the DE will help your sand get that really fine stuff out
Next time you backflush, the DE will come out the waste side... if the fine dirt returns, you'll just have to add more DE!

[Txboynjgirl]

The dirt is really fine.

I will try adding some DE over the weekend.

If the DE does or does NOT come back into the pool, keep adding DE 1/2 cup til your pressure raises 1 psi?

If the DE does come out...I may have to call the pool man but what shall I do? I don't want to get "$ hosed $". What would you asked him to look at or test?

I am hoping the DE will do the trick.

Water is still blue but it is improving...it's been running 48 hours straight. What is the typical time of running your pump for 24 hours to get the pool cleared?

On a scale of 1-10 (10 being sparkling clear) I would give it a 8. (Deep end still has a way to go.)

[aylad]

It can take several days for it to completely clear, depending on how bad it was to begin with.

If the DE blows back into the pool, I would stop adding it, because it's all going to end up back in your pool water or on the pool floor to be vacuumed, and will defeat the purpose of adding it. If it does not come back into the pool, give it about 30 minutes and recheck your pressure, and add more a little at a time until the pressure rises 1 psi. Note: I'm told this doesn't happen immediately, so give it 20-30 minutes in between doses.

If the DE comes out, then we'll tackle that then....

Janet