New pool owner and have MANY questions. Need help!

[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

[Txboynjgirl]

I added some DE powder to my filter. I did not see any returns. My psi did raise from 14 to 15.

Some of the dirt is actual sand. I thought it might of been pollen. I'll try vacuuming the pool after awhile and hopefully the DE and sand filter will get the job done.

[Txboynjgirl]

About 45 minutes later, I noticed my jets acting funny...(very low pressure).

I looked at the pressure gauge and it read 28 psi. I decided to backwash and now it's back to normal at 14 psi. I only added about 1 lb (1/2 pound and 20 minutes later the other 1/2).

[aylad]

That's too much DE. I think when Watermom adds hers, she adds more like a cupful. It takes 20-30 minutes for the complete pressure rise to happen.

Janet