Pool experts - Advice please
 

Hi there, just wondered if anyone could shed a little light on my ongoing pool problem.

When I vacuum the pool it goes a bit cloudy afterwards, this takes a couple of days to clear. Also the pressure meter on my filter has dropped from 1 bar to .7 bar, still in the green but at the bottom end.

I've opened up the filter to see if there was any clumping of the sand but it seems OK.

PH and alkalinity are fine and I try to keep the chlorine at a reasonable level (OK on the test strips). I put in flocculant tabs every week too.

I have been advised by a pool shop to put loads more chlorine in as we seem to have August weather in June and the chlorine is burning off too fast, however I don't want to put too much chlorine in as I'm aware that it's a nasty chemical and my 3 year old loves a swim.

I've had a feel around the worm wheel part of the pump and it doesn't feel to have any blockages, maybe I need to strip the pump down?

I was also wondering if perhaps the sand in the filter needed changing?

Anyone with any experience of these symptoms?

Cheers muchly,

Ste.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Do you backwash and rinse before and after vacuuming ?

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

It's ultimately the filter if the dust comes back into the pool while cleaning.

We had the same problem when the road outside was a track and the dust was just too fine to be trapped by the filter. This was when the pool was new so I couldn't blame the filter.

Floc didn't help a lot so I just cleaned to waste - I still do now even though the fine dust is no longer there (they made up the road!).

One product that does work is called "Miraclear". It is a small blue block of gooey stuff which you put in the pump filter basket. It slowly dissolves and coats the sand in the filter making it more effective with fine particles. It costs about €5 and really does work. It lasts about 4 weeks. The water really does have that sparkle after using it.

More info on the Internet but have a look here

http://www.lo-chlor.com/pool_chemicals/gelcap.php

On the other hand it could be that the sand needs replacing but try this stuff first. You should be able to get it at a decent pool shop.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

But the same thing happens if you do not backwash and rinse, that is why I asked.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

But that would cause the pressure to increase as the filter gets blocked - his has gone down very slightly.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

I watched a proffesional pool company not backwash and within five minutes all that had been vacuumed up was back in the pool.
If he does backwash then it could be a broken or loose pipe in the filter and the sand and gunk washing through into the pool, less restriction so less pressure, dirty water returning could point to this.
Then he would need to strip out the sand filter and have a look.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Hi

Try all the easy things first; then if it still doesn't work feel free to do things like removing the sand from the filter!

Flocculent only really works if you leave the pool over night and clean to waste - most filters do not take out the flocculent just mix it up

Davexf

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Thanks for the input. I'll definately try a backwash and rinse before my next clean, probably tomorrow. I think I'll also try increasing the filtration hours up from 6 to 8.

I'll try the miraclear too, mainly to see if it increases the pressure, if not then I think I need to investigate closer the pump and filter.
I did have problems a while ago with the pump filter basket developing a crack and some vegetation getting stuck in the motor, I think I prbably need to strip down and clean the pump next.

It's quite a big pool so I think I need all the muscle I can get to move the water over the 11m length.

Thanks chaps,

Ste.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Filtration you need to work out the volume HERE then see how much your pump moves per hour, then multiply that by hours you need to completely filter your pool.
In this heat you do need more chems and longer filtration times than normal.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Stupid question but have you cleaned the basket in the pump as well?

My only input would be;

1) Backwash regularly and until the water in the filter AND the water in the sight on the matrix go clean (from yellow).

2) Add more chlorine. At this time of year and in this heat, the chlorine level needs to be almost off the scale - about 3.0 At this level, it's still OK for children.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

but will it turn blonde hair green?

what's the highest level that this won't happen - and is that still enough?








I - know - it's probably the same as asking how long a piece of string is - but thought I'd ask anyway!

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

do all the above & add a block of copper sulphate (an ice cube block in case of ambiguity).

Your water will be so clear you can see the imperfections in the grout.

Don't exceed the dose but you can lower the cloro level as the 2 work together.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Chlorine doesn't turn blonde hair green, it's copper that does that.

Oh and too much flocc can be a cause of cloudiness

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

I always thought it was the chlorine!!


so the pool guy is putting copper in the pool?


edit - seems it's the chlorine causing the copper to oxidise therefore turning my kids' hair green

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_can_yo...ming_in_a_pool

so does this mean there's too much chlorine in the pool or not?:confused:

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

It`s very hard to put too much in, get a test kit and keep a check on it.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

communal pool................

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Don`t matter you can still check it out, the kit is only about 6 €`s.
You fill the phials up to the mark with pool water, put in 5 drops from the little bottles you get with it, each side is marked Chlor or PH and you check the colour on the side of the phials, it`s usual to keep them just above mid.
Or you can get test strips, you just dip them in and swirl about, then check colours on the box.
HERE

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

I know I can buy them - but what could I realistically do about it


maybe I should just have a chat with the pool guy

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Yes, speak to him and tell him you are going to sue him for bottles of tomato sauce needed to sort your daughters hair out.
Or speak to the president about the problem you are having with the hair.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

well this is it!!

it's costing a fortune in ketchup!!!


wonder who the president is?


I still haven't managed to get hold of a copy of the community rules.............

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Cranberry juice works too and less messy than ketchup

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

actually I'm wondering if lemon juice would - it's the acid that works, right?

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

How long does anyone backwash? I've been told recently, having the same issue with fine particles coming out of the jets when vacuuming, that I've probably not backwashed long enough, and should do 3 min plus up to a minute rinse. Unfortunately we then lost a load of water & haven't had mains much recently so I haven't tested the theory, nor been able to vac to waste which I would do when there's a lot of stuff to get rid of (such as after putting Oxygen Activo in, which is brilliant for clearing murk in my pool....)

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

You should do it before vacuuming and after,
You can see the gunge in the phial on the side of the valve or some sand filters have a see through lid, do it till the water clears then rinse for half a min.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

I've been doing that - ours is that little side phial thingy - but he said make sure & do it longer than you might think, hence me asking how long anyone else with filter problems thinks is enough!
I can see our outlet pipe too, and he suggested using the clarity of the water coming out during washing rather than the little phial. So 3 minutes.
Another reason for querying was cos the pool girl of the previous house owner only did it for seconds, something like 30 sec wash, 10 sec rinse; so maybe the sand never got a thorough clean in her day (It's been changed to zeolite since then).
Either way, I've got to wait til we have mains water again before doing it. Won't hold my breath! :rofl:

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

I would do it for at least 3 mins and then rinse for 30-60 seconds.

Realistically though, you need to do it until the water clears!

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Hold on hold on hold on!

Where the HELL have you been?

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

I always had this problem of cloudiness coming back in. Lots of trials with sand etc. lots of backwashing. I finally found out, the only way to get clean pool is to vacume on waste, it uses about 2 inches of water depth, but the water cost is far better than the time of all the repeat backwashings and repeat vacuming!

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

I always do that after a torrential rain instead of pumping it out. ;-))

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Excellent idea - if a bit hazardous in the midst of an electric storm, which was happening the last time I had to drop the level!!! ...so didn't vac at the time...!

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

I must confess to always cleaning to waste just to make sure I don't recirculate the fine dust.

A lot depends on what you pay for your water - for us it works out at €20 for 100000 litres.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

I'm sorry but for some of us it's not that simple. I only wish it were down to cost. I've been waiting for weeks to get the chance to backwash/clean to waste. We haven't had consistent mains water for at least a month. Sure we get some at night, but our depositos have not been totally full in all that time, and with July, August & Sept still to come I can't take the chance.
I know this isn't a problem affecting everyone, but it gets me quite cross to think how easy it would be to fix the cloudy pool if I just had the water to do it!
Rant over. ;)

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

We have the Algae problem with our salt pool that is only 8 weeks old.Unfortunately the pool people did not give us any instructions as to how to run anything or tell us what valves did what.They said they would send someone out to instruct us but did they hell.
I have 'vaccced' and backwashed and rinsed but within a couple of days it is as bad as ever.Also emptied the pump filter but now one of the recirculating jets only works in fits and starts which is a bit concerning.
Any advice?

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

call the company back in

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Thanks Lynnxa, we have done that, they say they will send someone out but could not say when so I thought I would ask advice here in case it was something I could sort myself.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

I thought you probably would have - but sometimes people just don't think of the obvious!

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Hi

You have a salt water pool; therefore run the pump AT LEAST eight hours a day at this time of year to produce enough chlorine from the salt water.

The chlorine is converted usually by a clear tube on top of the distbutor which has three electric leads connected. As the water circulates you will see green water enter the tube, and clear water exit.

Be very careful when descaling this tube. You really should talk to the installers about your problem.

In the short term you can use chlorine shock and tabs to help get the pool clear - it will do no harm, and using tabs which contain stabilisor will actually help stabilise your water.

Davexf

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

But some of them do not have electric leads and just use like a 3 ltr bottle with the converter in it that the pool water runs through.
As dxf says put a tub of chlorine granuals in the pool and run 24 hours till it clears.
And get the firm back asap.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Thanks again gents, have added 3/4 kg of Chlorine granules (all I have ) and left the pool running.Fingers crossed.
Been over here 4 months now and love it despite little problems like this.Everything else has gone very well including Residencia.

Re: Pool experts - Advice please
 

Forgot to mention, the water level was a bit low and barely reaching skimmer level so could that have got some air in to the system?
Anyhow filling it up now.