Pool Cleaning Tips

by Timothy Shelton
(Anderson, S.C. U.S.A)

We have just moved into a home with an above ground pool it hasn't been used for 2 years and uncovered the whole time. I am trying to get it started now so I don't have to work so hard at it in the summer.

I have filled it up and backwashed it and then rinsed it but I can't run the pump on high, only on low. It makes a funnel and a suction sound as its running. On high it pretty much just sucks all the water down. What is this caused from and what do I do to fix it?

Basically I need to know how to get the whole thing going with out messing something up. I want it to be jump in ready when summer gets here. The water does not have frogs or anything like that but it is green, barely able to see the bottom.

I know to put shock and algaecide and chlorine tabs, but other than that I'm clueless. Shouldn't I be able to operate the pool pump on high all the time? It's like a drain and if I don't have it on filtration it will suck the pool dry it seems. Everything works though I just don't know if I should leave it on low and run it that way and just add a little more water or what. Help please Thanks.....



Hi Tim. Two speed pumps are best when running longer hours on slow speed. In your case probably 24 hours a day for a week or so might clean up the water just fine. The high speed is for vacuuming, backwashing or circulating the water quickly. The reasons high speed is sucking your skimmer dry are either to little water in the pool or the flapper not operating correctly. If the flapper sticks and will not allow enough water to pass the skimmer will empty to quickly. You could try removing it and see if that solves the problem.

Most anyone who has ever used a two speed pump swears by them. The slow speed saves electricity and is a better speed for filtering dirt out of the water. Hi speed runs the water through the filter to fast to do a good job of cleaning and uses twice the electricity.

Your chemicals are correct, plenty of chlorine and vinyl shock treatment. Sometimes it's just easier to drain the pool and start over again with fresh water. With a vinyl pool you should never drain it completely. Leave about a foot of water in the pool and refill immediately. As the pool is draining you could keep the bottom brushed, allowing more of the debris to get sucked out with the water.