Articles

Worst or Most Challenging Pool Cleanup of the Season

Posted by Wes Burdine on November 28, 2010 at 8:26am
I thought it might be fun, educational and probably stress relieving, to share some of our worst nightmares regarding pool cleanups this year.

My most challenging one was a 48' x 78' x 5' pool. They called me in right around July 1st. Below is a picture of what I saw when I got there.



Unfortunately you can not see the frogs and tadpoles. A few particulars I learned while there on my first visit:
  1. It was a dual pump/filter system with 10Hp pumps. The catch....only one pump and filter were working.
  2. The filter which was working was spitting sand into the pool.
  3. The pool leaked about 6,000 gals per day when running and 14,000 GPD when off. (Found the 14K out after closing it this fall.)
  4. The makeup water came from a nearby creek. Source water has very high Alk. and Phosphates.
  5. It was a painted fiberglass shell over concrete, but the splash out trough was not fiber glassed, thus the leaks.
  6. There was no vacuum system in place. They used a robotic cleaner, actually a residential Blue Diamond, which was not working.
Needless to say, since the water source was a creek, a drain and refill was not an option seeing it was early July and the creek barely kept up with the makeup water.

After lots of brushing, good God was there a lot of brushing, and backwashing we got the pool back in order. Here is a pic of the pool:


All worked out well, and I am glad to say, with a lot of help from the young guns working with me, good chemicals, and the good Lord, the pool stayed clear for the rest of the summer. It was a challenge and a treat (pardon the pun) to see the end result.

I have to admit, when I first saw it, I thought, "Run Forrest, Run!", but I am glad I didn't.

So, what was your biggest pool cleanup challenge?
Tags: pool, chemicals, cleanup, service
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Comments

  • Wes Burdine February 15, 2011 at 9:39pm

    Paul,

    Good luck with he interview. I am sure all will go well.

     

    Oh yeah...I forgot to add the cornbread and onions with milk. What's a good stew without those?

  • Wes Burdine February 15, 2011 at 4:58pm
    Here in TN, we might consider that good stew. Toss a couple pounds of carrots, some herbs, potatoes, turn up the heat and you've got dinner for the family reunion.
  • Randy Mann February 15, 2011 at 9:26am
    nice and ripe falling off the bone i bet.
  • Wes Burdine February 14, 2011 at 3:15pm
    No doubt Randy. I felt a bit in the back of my throat when I read it. That must have been the nastiest smell. I wonder if it came out in one piece or chunks....not to lighten the mood or anything.
  • Randy Mann February 14, 2011 at 8:15am
    gagging my self out just thinking of the smell.......
  • Wes Burdine February 13, 2011 at 4:26pm
    My Lord Paul! That would have been a mess to clean up. Glad it was you and not me.
  • Lance December 9, 2010 at 7:15am
    Good job. Brings back memories of a similar situation years ago. The pool had leeches and other little creatures living in it. Wish I took before and after pictures like you did.
  • Don Parish December 2, 2010 at 9:46am
    like
  • Bruce Wettstein November 30, 2010 at 9:19pm
    Wow, Wes, you should really be proud of that one! No way would I even consider going in the first picture, and the second picture looks like an entirely different pool. Great job!
  • Jeremy Hine November 29, 2010 at 6:41pm
    like

    -Jeremy
    Florida Leisure Pool & Spa
    www.FLLeisure.com
    Florida Leisure Pool, Spa, Hot Tub Repair, Pumps, Filters, Heaters, Salt Chlorinators, Automation
    We repair pools, spas and hot tubs, pumps, motors, heaters, filters, automation equipment in Gainesville and North Central FL
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