Need SOOOO much help!

[lorettasweet]

OK, So this is the 3rd year we've had out pool. 27" above ground. We were told by some local folks (live in KY) last fall that they leave all their equipment out for the Winter. So for the sake of being lazy, we did the same. We've tried to start opening out pool this week. First the pump cover was messed up and had to get a new one. We filled the pool up today and when I went to first backwash I noticed the Pressure gadge wasn't working so I guess the Winter killed it too.

So first question, are they replaceable? How do I go about finding one? It's a hayward pump and sand filter. (I think).

Next question, after I backwashed a few minutes, I turned to rinse for 30 seconds or so, then to filter just to make sure everything was working ok. It seemed to be for a few minutes, but then I noticed the little BULB on the side of the filter would lose the water when it was on filter. It starts out full, then slowely runs out. Does this mean my filter isn't full of water?

Anyway, once I figure out if everything is running ok, then I have 200 questions on how to get the green nasty soup cleaned up inside the pool! haha. Thanks for the help, I wanted to start early this year to give me time to get everything cleared up. Thanks in advance for the help.

[Poconos]

That little bulb, a.k.a. sight glass, looks at what is going out the waste or discharge port. At least on my Hayward multi-port valve. It's used to determine when the water is clear in backwash mode. When you're on FILTER then the sight glass should be a non-event and out of the flow circuit. Quite likely it will drain out. On the pressure gauge, if they freeze they will become innacurate. Cheap replacement, probably for $10 or so...not sure as I never had to buy one.
Al

[CarlD]

So...All the work you saved yourself by not closing down has come back as 3x as much work. Unless you live in Florida or Hawaii and never close your pool, turning off your filter and forgetting it will be very expensive come spring--especially if you've had some freezes. Pools and ice are a bad combo if you haven't prepared the pool for it.

Ice breaks stuff when it can't expand.

[lorettasweet]

I kinda figured out the Bulb thingie after I posted. (sight glass). I was thinking that when it's on filter it didn't matter. I guess just the gauge not working had me puzzled about that too. But hey, the somewhat good news.

I mean this pool was SOOOOOO green! Pondscum green. I loaded it with 10 bags of shock today and ran the filter, backwashing every hour or so. It's already starting to clear up some. Earlier I couldn't see the 2nd step going into the pool, now I can faintly make out the 3rd.

I've gotta go read some on the killing algae part of the forum to figure out exactly what I need to do to get it good and clear. Any tips? What do you guys do at the first of the year when it's really rreally bad?

[waterbear]

Basically you are on the right track. Bring your FC up to shock levels (this depends on the CYA levels in your pool) and keep it there until the algae is gone and vacumn to waste to get rid of the dead algae that will settle out. (make sure your pH is in proper range since chlorine is more effective at lower pH).
If you post the numbers for your water people can give more exact advice.

[lorettasweet]

What's FC?

I have a crappy test kit for PH and CL. Just shows the colors and you match them up to the levels on the sides of the beekers or whatever. I tested and both were off the charts. Should I add PH balancer now? Or wait until the shock kills out some of the algea?