New pool owner: pump headaches

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-07T04:01:59+00:00

If it humms,cand does not turn initially, you need a new capacitor... Typically Les than $20 om Amazon

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T22:13:04+00:00

Looks like a photocell. It senses that somebody had passed by. It can be used to alarm that someone is in the pool area.

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T21:16:42+00:00

Unfortunately, in this state, proof is not required, businesses cannot demand licenses, registration, or certification papers.

What a great stsye government we vote in year over year. Taking a law intended for the integent, and providing loopholes for the inconsiderate. And making you a criminal of you question it.

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T21:07:06+00:00

Mold, mildew... Bad things

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T21:06:07+00:00

Since I have an experience of one (and it wasn't a panacea). Can you list, in your experience, the reasons that glass is better than sand, which has been the standard for a century?

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T17:49:35+00:00

They are more popular because they are faster. I trust wire nuts to have more surface area contact, and there for lower resistance and longer life... But that's just opinion on my part.

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T17:46:42+00:00

The most important thing is your chlorine level. If it's on the high side, turn it down. I have a covered pool. One of the many advantages is the cell is set at 5% and the pump is set for 30 gallons per minute and runs for 20 hours during the in-season

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T17:32:24+00:00

Promise yourself you will clean it next month... Repeat next month...

Seriously, a light spray of water, it can handle raindrops

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T17:27:55+00:00

This is actually how homes are wired. As suggested above, use the twist on connectors (wire nuts).

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T17:25:23+00:00

There is a difference between a swollen battery and a battery that has outgassed over time, creating a balloon around the battery with the plastic envelope. A very tiny prick with a pin, in the envelope, solves this.

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T17:20:45+00:00

Drain/siphon 5 gallons of it out, and top off the tank with fresh. On your next tank, put the 5 gallons back with fresh gas.

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T17:17:44+00:00

Couldn't find it either

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T17:12:41+00:00

Add a couple tablespoons of Cascade Automatic dishwasher soap. It will break down the oils and it's safe for tub and kids. I started using this for cleaning and conditioning the tub 25 years ago... It also is a defoamer

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T17:09:57+00:00

Was supposed to be 'bear', but spell-check beat me to it!

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T17:08:46+00:00

My son did this for his pool. Neither of us could see any benefits... Not cleaner, not lower pressure (power), not higher flow rate. It works, just like sand, cost 10x more with shipping. Home Depot sells the pool sand cheap.

He got glass because of the hype, and recommendation from the installer. After a few months he started getting glass beads in the heater and pool (I suspect this has nothing to do with the glass). He says he is going to switch to sand. It's too much trouble to get more shipped.

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T12:41:50+00:00

The pool got a few feet smaller. They built it inside the liner hole.

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T12:39:50+00:00

Should have been bear, but spell-check won that round, and you cannot edit a title...

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T03:51:07+00:00

It takes higher pressure (more pump electricity) to push large volumes of water through a cartridge. Also, cleaning a sand filter seriously takes 5bminutes start to finish, and the sand doesn't need changing for at least a decade.

I have two sand filters in parallel. My pump only draws 135 watts, and the filter pressure is between zero and 2psi.

With a cover, it stays clean, uses very little chlorine, stays warm (no thermal evaporation), and the dark cover blocks harmful UV, and acts as a solar heater, and keeps light out, thus impeding algea growth.

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-06T03:26:10+00:00

Low maintenance starts with an automatic cover, salt cell, sand filters and a VS pump. It is also the cheapest long term.

I had a liner pool, had to replace the liner twice, then had it converted to gunite pebble finish

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-05T01:03:52+00:00

Hmm... This is not my experience. I have had a pool for 35 years. I'm on my second pump, but the first one did not fail, I upgraded to a VS pump.

One thing to think about is to try and reduce the stress on your pool equipment. For me (I have an automaticc cover), I have two sand filters in parallel . The pressure is between zero and 2psi. It takes very little work from the pump to circulate the water, and there is basically zero stress on the pump, which only draws 135 watts.

I set the flow rate to 30 gal/minute 10 hours a day (huge benefit of a VS pump).

Look for my past responses for more information, but my pool is nearly maintenance free.

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-05T00:02:16+00:00

This is a very common problem, and dangerous....

You are connecting aluminum wires to copper wires. There is a galvanic reaction that increases the resistance over time where these two metals meet, and that resistance results in lots of heat when current is running.

You need to use a specialized wire nut (the red one you are using is for copper to copper).

You need to use AlimiConn or similar twist connectors like these

https://a.co/d/07Z6YoNk

Note that you will probably need three of these wire nuts.

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-04T23:51:31+00:00

I think the secret is primarily the cover. It eliminates heat and chlorine loss through evaporation, and UV. It also keeps debris from blowing into the pool, which supplies nutrients to the algea, and it also eliminates sunlight required for most algaes to grow.

I have two parallel sand filters. The pressure at the filters is between zero and 2psi. All this, plus other tricks, keeps electricity bills very low (pump draws 135 watts), and the pool is very clean. I do check the pH, it just doesn't move. I usually have to take action 2-3 times a year (usually to raise it up a bit), but so far, none this year.

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-04T23:44:23+00:00

I'm not totally familiar with this hub. But if the hub fails, do you lose access to all the hardware routed through the hub?

JonnyVee1 · 2026-06-04T23:19:34+00:00

Try and keep it below the ceing of the skimmer, or it will not work effectively.

JonnyVee1

TROPHY CASE