HELP !!! Just moved into a house that has a swimming pool

[Eamonn]

Hello

I hope you can help me.

I have just moved into a new house that has a swimming pool that appears to have been very badly neglected by its previous owners.

I would like to have a go at trying to make it look a bit more presentable even if it cannot be used.

There also appears to be a jacuzzi type thing at one end that I would love to be able to use at some point although I have no idea how it works or even what it does really.

I have attached some pictures in the hope you could recommend where I should make a start and what I need to buy from you....I was also wondering if there was a book I could buy or pay you for some written advice as to what exactly I have to do with it all.

Thanks very much


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[Glan]

Hi Eamonn,
Wow you have definitely got your hands full.
Ok First things first, you have from your photos the following:
Standard rolldeck slatted cover fitted to a 30thou liner pool with Jacuzzi/step unit. Your pool seems to have only 1 skimmer(remove the round lid & check the strainer basket is empty, and the body is clear of any debris and the bottom pipe outlet is unobstructed as we will start your pool running of this line first), which is the rectangular mouth at the deep end. There also seems to be an auto-top up unit at the left of the steps as you walk into the pool. This device is very important for correct operation of your rolldeck cover. If the water level is to low, it will destroy your cover as you try to retract/cover the pool. And obviously if the water is too high, the same will occur!
If the rolldeck is working, the first thing You should do is brush all the debris off the top of the rolldeck, and retract the cover, (just be careful nothing fowls this up, as these motorised units don't like to get jammed.!!!!!
Next you will need to try and net as much debris out of the pool as possible, see if you can find out who built the pool and when, because emptying the pool is the most risky part of the process, and the SPATA guidelines state that you should seek advice from the pool builder before emptying your pool!!!!!
Your pool plant equipment needs a good sort out, but you look like you have a 1 or 1 1/2 hp Certikin Aquatron pump, and a 24" dia sand filter. There does seem to be an instruction list on the back wall of your shed? This could be very helpful. You will see the black handled valves on the pipe work going into the pump(at the front/horizontal to the pump) these control the water coming from your pool.
With the massive amount of debris that seems to be in your pool, and the fact that we are not sure if it is safe (ground water table/construction strength of pool etc) to empty your pool, we will have to try and reclaim this pool chemically.
As you don't know the condition of the filter sand, and how long it has been idle, I would recommend a simple backwash to try and get the filter working. This is achieved by (ensuring the pump is turned off at all times when operating this handle) turning the black multiport handle that is fixed to the top of your yellow sand filter from the filter position (6 o clock as you stand in front of your filter) to the backwash position at 12 o clock. Check that you do not have a valve on the waste line, which is the left white, then grey pipe so that your dirty filter sand water can be dumped to a soak away or drain.
The next thing to do is try and Prime the filter pump so that it can expel any air in the system, and pull the water from the pool. If you close (turn the black handles on the pipes so that they cross the pipe, that join together at the front of your pump) all the valves, remove the pump lid, and empty the strainer basket, replace the basket & fill the pump up with water, so that the basket is full of water & the pipes to the valves are full, refit the lid, and in quick succession turn your skimmer black handle valve to open the line & turn your pump on. The pump will try and suck all the water you have put in it, and it may be enough to start to pull the water from the pools skimmer. Leave the pump trying for around 30 seconds, but if you cannot see it sucking more & more water in, quickly close the skimmer valve & turn the Pump off, as you do not want to let the pump run dry as this will damage the shaft seal which separates the water end from the motor end of the pump. Redo the process again, in exactly the same way; this can sometime take 20 - 30 attempts!
Once the pump is running, you will be backwashing the filter, the filter has a sight glass next to the waste line, and you can check the water colour to see how much debris is being removed, a normal backwash takes around 2 - 3 mins. Don't forget your pool water may be green, so don't necessarily expect crystal clear water.
So we have achieved a back wash, next turn the pump off and turn the multiport handle to rinse, turn the pump back on and run for 30 seconds.
Turn the pump off, and turn the multiport handle to filter, you will need to check that there are no valves on the pool return lines which may be closed, they will run from your filter to the CERTIKIN oil boiler you have, then underground.
If you have checked all is OK, then turn the pump back on, and you will at this point be filtering your pool.
Next, you know need to clean your pool. Check your chemical stock, it looks like you have Fi-clor chemicals. All your chemicals should have user instructions on them, ad if you have any blank containers which you are unsure of their contents, then take them to your local pool dealer to try and identify. You should never throw away chemicals in domestic waste.
If you do have any shock chlorine granules, then dose them into the pool as per the instructions. I would probably prefer to use liquid chlorine, as it has a better kill rate, and won't cloud the water to the same extent.
This you will have to get locally as it is a very nasty chemical. Watch you cloths, if you splash it on them or you, it will bleach or burn.
Then it will be the hard & long process of cleaning out all the debris.
I would give all this lot a go first, but if this was my pool, and I was a Pool novice, I would get in your local SPATA approved swimming pool company.

Looking forward to the next lot of photo's

All the best

Glan

[Lee]

Will be great to see finshed picks of pool when done.

[m1970c]

Where are the origanal pics gone ? :confused:

[admin]

The original pictures were hosted by the original poster not us and he has obviously removed them.

Regards

UKPOOLSTORE.

[Eamonn]

Hi Eamonn,
Wow you have definitely got your hands full.
Ok First things first, you have from your photos the following:
Standard rolldeck slatted cover fitted to a 30thou liner pool with Jacuzzi/step unit. Your pool seems to have only 1 skimmer(remove the round lid & check the strainer basket is empty, and the body is clear of any debris and the bottom pipe outlet is unobstructed as we will start your pool running of this line first), which is the rectangular mouth at the deep end. There also seems to be an auto-top up unit at the left of the steps as you walk into the pool. This device is very important for correct operation of your rolldeck cover. If the water level is to low, it will destroy your cover as you try to retract/cover the pool. And obviously if the water is too high, the same will occur!
If the rolldeck is working, the first thing You should do is brush all the debris off the top of the rolldeck, and retract the cover, (just be careful nothing fowls this up, as these motorised units don't like to get jammed.!!!!!
Next you will need to try and net as much debris out of the pool as possible, see if you can find out who built the pool and when, because emptying the pool is the most risky part of the process, and the SPATA guidelines state that you should seek advice from the pool builder before emptying your pool!!!!!
Your pool plant equipment needs a good sort out, but you look like you have a 1 or 1 1/2 hp Certikin Aquatron pump, and a 24" dia sand filter. There does seem to be an instruction list on the back wall of your shed? This could be very helpful. You will see the black handled valves on the pipe work going into the pump(at the front/horizontal to the pump) these control the water coming from your pool.
With the massive amount of debris that seems to be in your pool, and the fact that we are not sure if it is safe (ground water table/construction strength of pool etc) to empty your pool, we will have to try and reclaim this pool chemically.
As you don't know the condition of the filter sand, and how long it has been idle, I would recommend a simple backwash to try and get the filter working. This is achieved by (ensuring the pump is turned off at all times when operating this handle) turning the black multiport handle that is fixed to the top of your yellow sand filter from the filter position (6 o clock as you stand in front of your filter) to the backwash position at 12 o clock. Check that you do not have a valve on the waste line, which is the left white, then grey pipe so that your dirty filter sand water can be dumped to a soak away or drain.
The next thing to do is try and Prime the filter pump so that it can expel any air in the system, and pull the water from the pool. If you close (turn the black handles on the pipes so that they cross the pipe, that join together at the front of your pump) all the valves, remove the pump lid, and empty the strainer basket, replace the basket & fill the pump up with water, so that the basket is full of water & the pipes to the valves are full, refit the lid, and in quick succession turn your skimmer black handle valve to open the line & turn your pump on. The pump will try and suck all the water you have put in it, and it may be enough to start to pull the water from the pools skimmer. Leave the pump trying for around 30 seconds, but if you cannot see it sucking more & more water in, quickly close the skimmer valve & turn the Pump off, as you do not want to let the pump run dry as this will damage the shaft seal which separates the water end from the motor end of the pump. Redo the process again, in exactly the same way; this can sometime take 20 - 30 attempts!
Once the pump is running, you will be backwashing the filter, the filter has a sight glass next to the waste line, and you can check the water colour to see how much debris is being removed, a normal backwash takes around 2 - 3 mins. Don't forget your pool water may be green, so don't necessarily expect crystal clear water.
So we have achieved a back wash, next turn the pump off and turn the multiport handle to rinse, turn the pump back on and run for 30 seconds.
Turn the pump off, and turn the multiport handle to filter, you will need to check that there are no valves on the pool return lines which may be closed, they will run from your filter to the CERTIKIN oil boiler you have, then underground.
If you have checked all is OK, then turn the pump back on, and you will at this point be filtering your pool.
Next, you know need to clean your pool. Check your chemical stock, it looks like you have Fi-clor chemicals. All your chemicals should have user instructions on them, ad if you have any blank containers which you are unsure of their contents, then take them to your local pool dealer to try and identify. You should never throw away chemicals in domestic waste.
If you do have any shock chlorine granules, then dose them into the pool as per the instructions. I would probably prefer to use liquid chlorine, as it has a better kill rate, and won't cloud the water to the same extent.
This you will have to get locally as it is a very nasty chemical. Watch you cloths, if you splash it on them or you, it will bleach or burn.
Then it will be the hard & long process of cleaning out all the debris.
I would give all this lot a go first, but if this was my pool, and I was a Pool novice, I would get in your local SPATA approved swimming pool company.

Looking forward to the next lot of photo's

All the best

Glan

Sorry for taking so long to reply but I had to get a couple of other projects out of the way before I made a start on the pool.

Armed with your advice (which was EXCELLENT btw) I have decided to have a go at sorting the pool out myself.

I have since found a winter cover that I am sure would have saved the pool from getting into such a state had the previous owners been bothered to fit it. Anyway the summer rolldeck cover seems to be already ruined having been left on for two winters and is now quite badly stained...also the motor seems to have been removed and appears to be broken...as the roller for the cover seems to be located at the bottom of the pool...I could see no other way to get it off...other than to empty the pool and disconnect it....I know this could damage the liner but I presumed this may require replacing also.

Anyway bringing you up to date as at 26/07/05

I got the pump primed and working (following your instructions) sucking water from the jacuzzi and blowing it back into there...I did a couple of backwashes and the flow rate was suddenly 100 times better !! the water seems to be clear but I have no idea as to the condition of the filter sand yet.

After I got everything emptied I hit the jacuzzi with the pressure washer and it seems to have come up as good as new...I am just making a start on the pool but need to wait a bit longer to get the cover out as I am still waiting for the last of the water to be pumped out.

I am having trouble shifting the brown algee marks at the top of the pool liner do you have anything that I can buy that might help remove the stains...???

Any help help or further adivce is always greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Eamonn.

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[Eamonn]

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[Eamonn]

I got the roldeck cover out...and started the long task of geting rid of all the muck....

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Can anyone tell me where the vaccum hose plugs into...the plumbing map says it has one...and there was a hose there and head...but I cant find anywhere that it would "plug" into ???

[Eamonn]

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[Glan]

Hi Eamonn,
Just took a close look at your photo's with regard to your liner, I can see that when you emptied your pool, you had ground water under your lining, has this stopped the liner from laying flat again on the pool floor?. I think from studying your last picture, that there is a large crease in your lining, If this is the case, you will have to sort this out, or the liner swill split under the pressure of the water on the folds!!! :eek:

[Eamonn]

Hi Eamonn,
Just took a close look at your photo's with regard to your liner, I can see that when you emptied your pool, you had ground water under your lining, has this stopped the liner from laying flat again on the pool floor?. I think from studying your last picture, that there is a large crease in your lining, If this is the case, you will have to sort this out, or the liner swill split under the pressure of the water on the folds!!! :eek:

Hi Glan

I thought it was more air rather than water under the liner...and I was hoping the pressure of the water would eventullay sort it out....however although it seemed to be going flat when I put the water back in... you are correct there are still a few creases remaining...how should I attempt to remove these ??

Also having read your reply regarding the skimmer leak could water have got behind the liner due to this you think ?

Thanks

Eamonn

A few update pictures....Starting to look much better now with the exception of those dam creases....

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