What are the things I need to operate a large swimming pool?

Question

So... I just bought a new house it has a decent size swimming pool at the backyard - the diameter is about 24ft, dept is about 5ft so yeah pretty big.

My question is how do you operate your pool? Do you need filters or possibly chlorine? Am confused, can someone enlighten me here?

PS: It looks like the pool already comes with a FILTER and a Chlorine Generator (i think). Do I need to put anything in there? Anyone can post a swimming pool guide would be much appreciated!!

Good Day All.

Answer 1

If the pool was already there, they should have all the basic equipment you need already hooked up for you (filter, pump, chlorinator).  Your basic task is to take care of the chemicals in the pool and to learn how to operate the filter, if it is a sand filter (you'll need to learn the settings like backwash, waste, etc).  You'll also need to learn how to vacuum the pool (either with a pool, vac hose and vac head that connect into your skimmer basket on the side of your pool and you push around yourself or an auto cleaner that does the work for you).  If it's a sand filter, the sand needs to be changed every 3-5 years.  If it's a cartridge filter, the cartridge needs to be cleaned with a filter cleaner to keep it working properly.

That said, back to the chemicals, your main concern right now.  I assume it's a chlorine pool and not a salt water or bromine pool? In that case, you will need chlorine pucks to put in the chlorinator, chlorine shock (either granular or liquid) to put in once a week, pH increaser and pH decreaser to adjust your pH levels accordingly, and total alkalinity increaser (pH decreaser also works as alkalinity decreaser), and test strips to figure out how much of these chemicals you need to put in!  Those are your basics.  There are also water clarifiers and flocculants to clear up cloudy water, algaecides to kill algae growing in the pool, solar blankets to keep heat in the pool, winter blankets and winterizing accessories to close up your pool at the end of the season if you live in a place that has cold winters.   Your best bet would be to take a sample of the water into your local pool store.  They'll test it for you, usually free of charge, and tell you what chemicals you need to buy right away to get your levels up.

Other than that, here's a good site to answer more of your questions:

http://www.learnaboutpools.com/

Answer 2

Highly suggest you get a pool maintenance company to look over the pool and show you how to use it, as well as performing basic maintance.  For the opening and closing of the pool each season you should have a professional come in and do it for you!!!!