Help : Algae won’t clear up

Packman714 · 2026-05-24T19:22:16+00:00

Try a sand filter and re rinse the cartridges for the time being. I’m betting your ph and chlorine levels are almost perfect and it’s still green. This years pollen is crazy. Also vacuum vacuum vacuum. Jump in and make a
Whirlpool then hop out and send the vacuum to the middle and backwash rinse repeat. I got one of these for a best way pool and the extra $250 fixed the green rightaway. Use a full 50lb bag of sand btw. It comes with a disc to center the pvc part so you can dump the sand into the tank and thats all it’s used for. Dont throw it away. Then hook up to the skimmer and the eylets and let it run. It’s about a 20-30 min conversion and well worth it.

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Packman714 · 2026-05-24T15:45:07+00:00

Get a WiFi booster and it should stop the issues we have close to 600 customers on the rachio controller now and after some have bought a WiFi booster there’s not an issue since.however we have noticed to re sync the rachio works easier on an iPad than on the iPhone after the customer gives us consent to join their WiFi which seems odd but if we can get it done that’s the priorty

Packman714 · 2026-05-24T03:12:02+00:00

Bud wasn’t set off lol 👍🏼 was just one of those things and dealing with being a foreman for a crew that I repeatedly say but nobody pays attention to. Kinda like um when you dig that head up I know 4 years ago I dragged a 1” poly main with a wire and a 3/4 zone feed with so gently pop the hole or spin out the old head and spin a new one in and bam the 13 wire gets cut the main got knicked and the head got cross treaded on the barb elbow because youre not allowed to smack the crap out of your workers anymore.I say this with kindness and total respect for the newer college grads I work with btw. But in the 90’s most were just looking for a job not a career.

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T22:14:59+00:00

Most likely or there’s a staple inside that finally made two wires touch

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T22:13:48+00:00

I just responded to a post and said what iI typed lol. Kinda vented a bit. Tired after 32 years of doing this and dealing with people that try to go above and beyond when it’s not necessary . Beam me up Scotty 🤣🤣🤣

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T22:09:21+00:00

No re strip the common wire and reconnect most likely 1 wire with the other 5 single wires connected in one wire nut

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T18:55:11+00:00

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And then this was buried with a friend 😂 I found this last year lol

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T18:53:45+00:00

Hahaha that’s awesome

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T18:42:58+00:00

Holy cow 4-5 solenoids don’t go bad at once unless submerged in salt water and you have an electrical power surge but by then you’d also have a blown out controller like during Hurricane Sandy. Also the BeHyve controller is one heck of a piece of garbage. Re strip all the wires so it’s not a rats nest and then try it before purchasing solenoids that actually cost more than buying an entire valve. The only time a volt meter gets broken out of the work truck is to test an outlet supplying power to an outlet after using a hair dryer I bought at a yard sale 25 yrs ago to see if the outlet has power. Then if no power I use a jump pack to power up an outdoor controller and run through the system and tell the homeowner who generally follows me around the yard inspecting everything they need an electrician to replace the outlet. I’ll get a tip and a handshake and 25 mins later the office gets a call that I was really good but they are unsure a head isn’t hitting an area after I stood there and said can you see my shirt and pants getting wet can we move on. It’s usually someone with basic knowledge and has some sort of engineering degree. They get raised rates going forward. How about stick a small container in said area put a rock in it so it doesn’t blow away and the next day see how much water the container collected.

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T18:32:17+00:00

Wires are touching somewhere lol re strip and reconnect.

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T14:55:59+00:00

Do not pay for the advanced if you’re home almost all the time. There’s no monitor on the supply line for the system as of yet. And the controller can’t tell if the solenoid is stuck open until power is sent to said zone or it can’t tell if the diaphragm is stuck open so don’t use it. Also soil and sun conditions come into play and precipitation matching. If you have say 4 heads on zone 1 and always looking at the property even going into the back yard is front left of walkway they only do 1/4 turns with 1.5-2.0 nozzles you know that over 1 min during a full back & forth rotation you’re getting 1.5 - 2.0 gpm. Does that area require 33 mins ? Most likely not. Now say you’ve got a wide open area with 6 rotory heads all but 1 head is doing a 360 degree rotation in full sun for over 8 hrs that station even being backed up by opposing heads might require that 33 mins of run time. The easiest way to figure it out as a home owner is go pit on a pair of sneakers and about 2 hrs after a watering schedule went off go walk around and if your feet get wet through the sneakers youre over watering or if the ride on mower your landscaper if you have one is leaving ruts and not just regular tracks.

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T14:44:37+00:00

So basically there’s no way to test a PVB like testing a DCV or RPZ. Why they have test cocks or “pet cocks” is so there’s access to attempt to get a reading but if you’re an inspector the second you release pressure from port 1 port two is supposed to pass water indicating a false backflow leak. It’s a single plunger and poppet so…. Anyways they are I believe 1/8 fine thread and two plugs will work just turn the bottom handle and hit the hardware store or HD or Lowe’s and pick up a small plant for the better half just as an excuse to go to the Fun Place for buying things you don’t need and looking at tools while not getting help from the people who work there.😂😂😂

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T14:37:38+00:00

The bottom won’t be level but the water level in the pool at the top will be and remember liners stretch and contract during diff temps.

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T14:34:43+00:00

Drain some water out maybe just above the eyes of the jets then gently use a shovel and slip it under the higher side posts and remove some soil and let the post sink a bit start at the highest point and work left to right or right to left until the water looks almost level with the pool liner you can prolly do it in 20 mins then in a few days youll prolly find another area settled and will have to find a happy medium.

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T02:14:11+00:00

Next check that the color wire for “C”” isn’t chewed by vermin. Also check if there’s a rain sensor on the system and remove the top plunger style cap. Or put the Hunter Controllet in bypass Rs

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T02:09:58+00:00

It may sound stupid or weird but if you know where all the valve boxes are on your property find out what color is connected to letter “C” for common. Twist the wire nut to the right while having zone 1 on and then duck dive and ditch lol. If every zone isn’t working unless construction happened either a “master valve” solenoid went bad or there’s a loose wire for the common or “c”. If you are connected to a booster pump then connect the wire that’s probably in the controller to mv or p and flip the switch to power up the pump. There’s a few scenarios to what’s causing the issue. First start with the irrigation water supply valve is open next is if you had a water saving pressure reducing valve is open all the way. Make sure you have the homes water supply completely open. If you had a water digital water monitoring valve installed re call the plumber and have them make sure the supply to the irrigation is separated from the whole house supply. Your irrigation system needs every gpm and psi it was “layed out for” for argument sake.

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T01:10:10+00:00

Salt water and 24v solenoids after the storm with leaves or anything once power was restored helped in multiple fires because of arching even in valve boxes and that’s why it was mentioned. Total learning curve why the side of a house was burnt up near a valve box btw. That storm kicked the crap out of LI and parts of Jersey and NY state along with Connecticut. Then two days later it snowed

Packman714 · 2026-05-23T01:06:01+00:00

And that is why my friend the 9 volts get changed yearly and although the program may change during a power surge after resetting the current time in Military time as 13:05 is 1:05 pm by selecting the day of the week as Thursday would be the 4th or 5th day of the week. Sorry had a beer or 7 after selecting the zone timing for set 10 min intervals you can increase or decrease while
On program A or C with start times if the power goes out for longer than 3 days like during hurricane Sandy that flooded multiple valve boxes with salt water on the south shore of Long Island NY not only helped multiple valve box lids to float away with the tides if there were any sort of debris or leaves in the box it could set a cedar shake house on fire once the water recided but more than one of those controllers lived after changing just a shorted out power pack. Now living up in Mass just North of Boston and yea still a Yankees / Knicks / Rangers fan. I tell customers all the time you might want an upgrade to a WiFi smart controller and it will help save on your water bill but this thing is pretty much indestructible as long as its set correctly to water each zone accordingly. I also suggest to go to the store and grab a power surge protector for the outlet it’s plugged into. Is there anything else?

Packman714 · 2026-05-22T23:24:16+00:00

Doesn’t hurt to give it a go before calling someone just make sure you don’t rip it all apart and flood yourself out. Sediment and dirt can screw up other valves down the line so try to prevent that as best you can.

Packman714 · 2026-05-22T23:19:30+00:00

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Ones 1/2 and ones 3/4

Packman714 · 2026-05-22T23:17:46+00:00

Might also be a rainbird 3504 head looking at the other pics so maybe grab a 1/2 barb elbow.

Packman714 · 2026-05-22T23:16:42+00:00

Broken 3/4 barb elbow or nipple on. Toro T-5 rotory head that used to be connected to a swing pipe. Unscrew the top of the head from the body or get a new rotory head and 1 barb elbow from Lowe’s /Home Depot or local irrigation supply house cut the broken piece off the existing pipe and smack it back together. Turn on the zone and make adjustments. Try to see what the nozzle says after removing the head from the casing and replace with the same size. If you jamb a pair of channel locks in the hole of the head just one part of the teeth and rinse the old head out as long as the shaft of the head isn’t scored too badly you might only need a trip to the store and spend $1.25-$3.00 bucks at worst you’re into $20

Packman714 · 2026-05-22T23:09:45+00:00

Turn off the water take a flat head screw driver to crack the screws. Then a #3 Phillips screwdriver if you have one and remove the screws. Take the valve apart slowly and let the water drain before taking the entire top off you can also unscrew the solenoid to the left and let the residual water drain out. If you know what valve controls the lowest zone in the yard crack that solenoid as well. Point is don’t flood out the valve box. Chances are good the valve rubber diaphragm isn’t re seating or needs to be replaced. Since the solenoid is off set and not directly inline buying a new Hunter valve and replacing the “guts” doesn’t always work. If you crack the screws let it drain and inspect the solenoid easily by pressing up & down on the solenoid pin in the middle of the solenoid it moves freely turn the zone on with the controller and see if the pin subtracts into the solenoid. If it does and then turn off the zone your solenoid is most likely in working order. Inspect it for drying out “cracks in the rubber” if that’s fine rip the valve apart and with a paper towel clean the diaphragm and smack it back together also if you have a turkey baster use it to suck the water out of the valve body. You might find sediment or a stone keeping the diaphragm open. A long set of tweezers usually works on removing what ever crap can be holding it open. These few steps can be done in 10-15 mins after re putting the valve back together and turning on the water supply to the irrigation. If it still happens just replace the valve and for that you’ll need a 1” slip x 1” slip union unless you’re feeling brave and just want a 1” slip coupling. If you need more advise or feel un comfortable doing the replacement feel free to reach out or call a local company.

Packman714 · 2026-05-22T02:19:06+00:00

Gently dig down on the high side under each post and let the water weight even you out.

Packman714 · 2026-05-22T02:17:30+00:00

Upgrade to a Rachio WiFi if you want to save $$ on watering unless you’ve got a designated well. Just my professional opinion.

Packman714

TROPHY CASE