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Old 05-09-2014, 01:37 PM
 
53 posts, read 124,452 times
Reputation: 33

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Hi!
How hard is it to service your own pool? Is it very technical or pretty simple? What equipment does one require? Any good resources I can look up?
I'd really appreciate some info.
Thanks!
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Old 05-09-2014, 01:51 PM
 
1 posts, read 1,619 times
Reputation: 12
Try Pool School - TFP Home Page, it helps me avoiding visiting pool store. As long as you understand the concept, the pool should be easy to maintain.
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Old 05-09-2014, 01:54 PM
 
53 posts, read 124,452 times
Reputation: 33
Thanks. I will check it out.
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Old 05-09-2014, 01:57 PM
 
129 posts, read 234,668 times
Reputation: 202
I'll second TroubleFreePool. Great site. Don't let pool supply stores rip you off.

Bleach, borax, and baking soda are all those fancy pool chemicals really are.
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Old 05-09-2014, 02:30 PM
 
34,619 posts, read 21,627,209 times
Reputation: 22232
I have "pool school" tomorrow. I really need to go to TFP and do some reading tonight.

I have a bad feeling I'll get 2 1/2 hours in on Hobbit Desolation Of Smaug, and no TFP time.
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Old 05-09-2014, 05:15 PM
 
536 posts, read 1,063,290 times
Reputation: 326
Quote:
Originally Posted by PedroMartinez View Post
I have "pool school" tomorrow. I really need to go to TFP and do some reading tonight.

I have a bad feeling I'll get 2 1/2 hours in on Hobbit Desolation Of Smaug, and no TFP time.
Lol!

I too use TFP as a reference and service my own pool (mines saltwater).

Probably takes me an hour a week on average to test, add chemicals and brush etc.
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Old 05-09-2014, 06:42 PM
 
670 posts, read 1,442,491 times
Reputation: 977
After my algae started coming back earlier than usual this year, I've run about 2 jugs of Phosfree in the past few months and haven't seen any algae in 2 weeks. They sent a phosphate test kit and mine were somewhere between 500 and 1000, way too high, as they should be 100. Remove the algae food (the phosphates) and control it from the front end.

$24 on Ebay, shipped in 2 days. Probably around $40 at Leslies, overpriced crooks. I've bought a couple for my neighbors too and just had them pay me.

Natural Chemistry Phosfree Swimming Pool Phosphate Remover 3 Liters | eBay
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Old 05-09-2014, 06:50 PM
 
Location: Energy Corridor
196 posts, read 419,976 times
Reputation: 123
I learned to maintain a hot tub very well by reading online forums, I'm sure the same applies to a pool. Most pool store people are worthless (for hot tubs), seems like they do not have experience of owning one.

Its all about a high quality water test kit to avoid the trips to the store. Taylor, ColorQ etc.
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Old 05-09-2014, 08:35 PM
 
Location: Texas
104 posts, read 177,057 times
Reputation: 209
When I put my pool in I did the pool school which made it seem complicated so I hired the company for a first month start up to make sure everything was balanced correctly. I took really good notes and studied the owners manual and started doing the water testing. I have been taking care of it since then and it is not too difficult. But, this will be my first summer with the pool so I am still in the learning curve.
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Old 05-12-2014, 07:53 AM
 
34,619 posts, read 21,627,209 times
Reputation: 22232
During my "pool school" on Saturday, we pulled the filter canisters and rinsed all the dirt and crap out. About an hour later, I see my next door neighbor with his filters out. They are filthy and coated with dirt.

I ask him something like, "I thought you used a pool service?"

His reply, "Yeah, so did I. Guess who's getting fired."

After he saw me rinsing mine, he decided to just take a quick look at his. When he popped open the filtration unit, he saw that they obviously weren't doing their job.
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