53 Directions

Directions for 53

Greetings and welcome to the house. You will have some important duties here. Most of them have to do with yard maintenance, but you should be aware of all the do's and don'ts as well.

Pool Maintenance

Basic Concepts

The pool must be maintained every day, or possibly every other day, which may end up being more work. The basic idea is to keep the pool clean for esthetics and to prevent algae or other bacterial issues, and to keep the pool water chemistry safe and pleasant.

The pool is kept safe by *free chlorine*, which is dissolved chlorine available to attack bacteria, etc. Chlorine comes from one or more 3 inch tablets inserted into the floating chlorine dispenser. Once per week, or when there is a problem, the pool gets a 4x overdose of chlorine in the form of *pool shock*, which kills everything but is irritating to the skin until the chlorine returns to normal levels.

The pool chemistry is tested using pool test strips once per day. If the chlorine level is too high or low, we adjust a ring on the floating dispenser to expose less or more drain opening. If the strip shows little or no chlorine, the pool should be shocked that evening just at sunset, but after the pool has been used for the day. The pool should not be used until the next morning when the chlorine level has declined to a high-normal value (although if you don't mind bleaching your hair a bit, go ahead).

Free chlorine is consumed by decaying organic material and sunlight. Some may evaporate. Accordingly, chlorine must continuously be replenished. A pool full of leaves and other stuff consumes free chlorine rapidly. That is one reason to keep the pool as clean as possible. The other reason is to prevent the filter from being clogged by organic material.

The pool water is filtered by a 1000 gallons/hour pump. The pool holds 3750 gallons. This pump should run at least 8 hours per day, but we run it all 24 hours because we want the clearest water. This pump has a filter that needs to be replaced and cleaned (to recycle the filter). Do this when you notice that the pool water outlet stream is not breaking the surface of the pool, which means the filter is clogged, or there is air in the system. The pump and filter work correctly only when there is no air in the plumbing. A seemingly small amount of air significantly degrades the pump efficiency.

Air is removed by bleeding it from the pump and the outlet. A clogged filter must be changed with a recycled (or new) filter.

Daily Routine

• Check the pump outlet stream. It should be breaking the surface, with lots of happy bubbles.
  • If not, the filter is clogged or there is air in the system, or the pump is off.
  • Get rid of any air now. You change the filter last.
• Check the pool chemistry. Measure free chlorine, pH, and alkalinity.
  • If the free chlorine is too low or high, adjust the dispenser.
• Check the floating chlorine dispenser. If the chlorine tablet almost gone (not at full diameter), add a new tablet.
• Skim the pool using the skimmer jammed onto the wooden broom handle.
  • All kinds of stuff accumulates under the side rings, dig it out.
• Observe the pool bottom for sunken stuff.
  • This stuff destroys the free chlorine.
  • If there is a significant amount, it should be vacuumed out.
  • A few leaves can be lifted out using the skimmer by scooping down, scraping the bottom, and scooping up. Little stuff tends to disperse with this method.
• If required, vacuum the pool
• If required change the filter.
• Done!

Pump is Off

• Make sure extension cord is plugged into outdoor outlet strip, and into the house by the side door.
• Listen for the radon fan. If not running, the outlet may have tripped.
  • Press the reset button on the side door outlet to reset the GPF circuit. If tripped, it will click.
  • If the fan is running, take the cover off the outdoor outlet strip, and observe the big pump plug. It is so large, it barely fits into the strip. Remove it and push it in again firmly.

Purge the Air

• Unplug the extension cord feeding the various devices (radon fan, Mosquito trap, and pool) to turn the pump off.
  • It is too hard to unplug just the pump
• Unscrew the air vent on top of the pump. It is the flower shaped knob. Air and some water will flow out.
• Shake the pump to get the last of the air in the pump, then tighten the air vent.
• Check the outlet for air bubbles. Unscrew the vent on the outlet and press down to let the air escape. Close the vent.
• Plug the extension cord back in to restore operation. The extension cord is draped over the radon fan to reduce problems from rain.

Tips and Tricks

There are two separate air conditioning systems. One for the first floor and basement, the other for the second floor. The second floor system feeds the garage office as well. The thermostat for the second floor is in the master bedroom. The first floor thermostat is below that on the first floor.