This is my first post. Background: Haven't completed my pool chart yet but will. Did buy the recommended HTH 6-way test kit last night and will confirm strip test tomorrow. I take care of my pool in the winter and pay the pool guy in the summer here in Mesa, AZ. I just took over.

We are way overdue to drain and refill the pool due to VERY high hardness. We moved in in 2006 and it hasn't been drained while we're here. My other half doesn't want to drain until we find the return to the sewer which we haven't been able to find. The city folks are no help. However, I now have purple coming back on the walls just this week that I took over and very high ph and alkalinity and figure it's not worth spending my time and money on chemicals until we get new water in the pool.

So 1) Drain the pool before I do anything else right? 2) Or is there anything I should do before I drain it besides completing my pool chart and submitting it including readings from my new test kit ?

Thanks.

P.S. Very glad I stumbled on your website Ben