Pool Maintenance, what am I paying for?

[dosrobles]

It is likely the heat, but your pool guy could easily be a pos. I share office space with a pool company. Cleaning pools for a living definitely attracts the stoner lifestyle guys.

chlorine doesn’t really want to be dissolved in water anyway. It gases off easily and temperature increases the rate at which that happens. 27 days >100 degrees F. He may be a **** but it’s also probably not something he can control 1 time a week with the current weather. You can automate your pool chemistry pretty easily. Put a controller with an ORP and pH control and then all you’d have to do is get the trash out and calibrate your automation

[bigdawg]

[QUOTE=dosrobles;n26548313]It is likely the heat, but your pool guy could easily be a pos. I share office space with a pool company. Cleaning pools for a living definitely attracts the stoner lifestyle guys.

When I first bought my house I got a pool guy to help out because I was so busy. One day he says I needed new DE grids so I paid him to change them. A week later he sends another guy to clean my pool because he was on vacation and the guy says I need new DE grids. I had him open the filter housing and sure enough I needed new grids. I called the first guy and told him I wanted my grids changed out immediately and he tried to lie saying that the 2nd guy didn't know what he was talking about. He tried to ghost me until I sent him pics of his truck and his girlfriends cars license plate and all the pertinent info of who they were registered to. He changed them out that night with all kinds of excuses. When he was done he was asked politely to never step foot on my property again. I do my own pool work now.

[270Sendero]

I clean pools for a living. This heat is hard on a pool. A clean filter is your best friend. I maintain 62 a week. I put a Pool RX in almost all of my pools. It’s magic. Check your Cyanuric acid. Not enough and your chlorine will get eaten up by the sun. That’s an easy fix…add more. If it’s too high your chlorine won’t work. Hard fix…you have to drain the pool.

[rvd]

I clean pools for a living. This heat is hard on a pool. A clean filter is your best friend. I maintain 62 a week. I put a Pool RX in almost all of my pools. It’s magic. Check your Cyanuric acid. Not enough and your chlorine will get eaten up by the sun. That’s an easy fix…add more. If it’s too high your chlorine won’t work. Hard fix…you have to drain the pool.

OP I think you need an algaeacide as others have said.

270 Have you experienced any staining with the pool rx?

Any experience with “No Mor Problems”? I haven’t used it but know people that swear by it.

[270Sendero]

OP I think you need an algaeacide as others have said.

270 Have you experienced any staining with the pool rx?

Any experience with “No Mor Problems”? I haven’t used it but know people that swear by it.

I haven’t had any issues with staining. I started using Pool RX 3 years ago. So far so good.
I don’t have any experience with No More Problems

[TxBowHntr]

I switched pool guys because the previous one would complain about cost of products to service my pool and I ended up with algae/growth about 3 days after he came. My new guy is great, never an issue with cost of chemicals, no algae, nothing. And he is $5 a week cheaper. If it were me, I would not let that stand. You pay for a clean pool, and it should remain clean ALL the time. It is possible to do, it just may take more than the normal chlorine pucks and weekly brushing.

[CaptainDave]

At least from my expereince using a reputable pool service for a few years, allowing that amount of visisble algae to be present would not be considered an acceptable level of service. A reputable service will send a pool guy out once per week, typically on the same day each week. Skimmers emptied, DE filter backwashed as necessary (typically once per month or so depending on season, etc.), pool vacummed, tiles and sides of pool brushed, etc. Water is also tested and chemicals and chorline are added as necessary. The overall idea is the homeowner almost has to do nothing barring unusual circumstances. Perahps because we live in Houston and pool cleaning services are pretty competitive, but that level of service would get you fired if not corrected. After our guy is finished, they send an email detailing the work performed, chemicials added and pictures of the pool, etc. With that said, we are using a reputable company and the service isn't cheap. I'm sure there are cheaper alternatives; although, you probalby end up getting what you pay for.

[tx_basser]

Probably cutting back on chlorine and shock due to cost. Do you have a chlorinator on your pool or using floaters?

I take care of my own pool and it is pretty easy, granted some summers are easier that others. Two summers ago it was a battle every couple of weeks, with brushing, managing chlorine levels, ph, etc. If you have a chlorinator make sure it stays full and use good tabs (Leslies). I put in bag of shock (Leslies Power Powder Free) every 2-3 weeks during the heat of the summer, keep water levels pretty stable, and run the cleaner every day. I also change out filters twice a year and keep my 4 umbrellas up all the time and it shades a lot of pool and helps keep water temp down a few degrees.

[Buff]

Easier to just do it yourself. Thats what I learned, because anybody you hire is going to do a bad job.

I disagree..... the best fix I have found is to fill it with dirt and plant a tree in it.

[dbaio1]

I would expect the pool service I am paying for to be responsible for this and extremely knowledgeable. Check with them and then evaluate if you need to spend your money with another service that is more on top of things. Good luck.

[glen]

Boats are poor investments. Only thing worse is a pool. Had one and after the newness was gone I hated it and spent a small fortune

[rvd]

Boats are poor investments. Only thing worse is a pool. Had one and after the newness was gone I hated it and spent a small fortune

Completely agree.

[jer_james]

We had an issue about 3 weeks ago. They got it squared away the next day. Haven't had any issues prior to this one over 3 years, but also use the company that built our pool to clean it. Communication has always been great.

[Bassdeer]

Yea I do my own, sun has been eating up the chlorine this year. never heard of Pool RX, just ordered one. I have it dialed in right now and I own a boat and love them both.

[Maddox]

PoolRX will help you - WalMart Carrie’s it.

like others have said, once a week chemicals in this heat is not enough. I add 1/2 a gallon of liquid chlorine to my 8k pool spread out over the week. Always add it after the sun goes down, otherwise it will bake off quickly.

watch your ph as well. I add about 3 cups of acid every week as well spread out over the week.