Home swimming pools when away

[Curryhouse]

What do people do about running or not running a home swimming pool when they are away for a few weeks? I'm torn between dosing the pool up with some extra chlorine and turning the pump off or dosing the pool up and reducing the pump running time. Any thoughts appreciated

 

[Capt. Gadget]

Do you have a salt water chlorinator ? Mine does and it runs on a timer so we just leave it as it is and go away.

 

[Matty4]

Same as @Capt. Gadget above.
Mine is salt water chlorinated so it really is a set and forget system.

During winter it doesn't get looked at or treated for months other than running the pump for a couple of hours a day and an algicide thrown in for good measure.

 

[achjimmy]

*Try posting a bit more so your post isn't boring* do buggerall.

Although earlier in the year I decided to back wash it the day we left, and ofcourse in my hurry I didn't turn the valve back!!! So when I got home I had a pump to rebuild ;-(

 

[Smirke]

We turn ours off altogether and then 'fix it' when we get back. As during one of our trips to monkey mia one January we left it running,only for a few hours each day. on our return the evaporation had been a lot and the pump was sucking air. Result..... We can't plug our keeps krawly in or the vacuum anymore. Thought we'd found where pipe needed replacing but haven't. Basically need to rip up whole back yard and re do pipe work.
So I go with, turn it off and then deal with it on your return, just to be safe.

 

[macca]

But why would that make one of your pipes faulty?

 

[Smirke]

But why would that make one of your pipes faulty?

Had to replace the pump as it was sounding very unhealthy, when done, one outlet was working fine, one blowing bubbles and one doing nothing. Friend who has pool building business does all our stuff, and says it is sucking air from somewhere ( bubbles in chlorinator). Fixed pipe from return to pump but it's still pulling air somewhere. Unfortunately hubbly wanted garden surrounding pool, so it means ripping it up to get to pipes. Not something I really want to attempt. Is still useable, but had to by one of those plug in cleaners, which I don't recommend. ( is like the dyson wannabe vacuums, clogs up at every chance it gets!)

 

[steve67]

If someone can check the water level, I run mine for a couple of hrs a day. If no one can check it, I shut it down.

 

[Bmhdg76]

Depending on how long you are going for... If only a couple don't worry about it. If going for a month or more what about your local pool shop? They usually have a service where they come and test and adjust your pool for a fee. Might be worth it depending on how long you are gone for. Especially if you have to spend shed loads getting the balance and water right on your return.

Bj.

 

[Bellbirdweb]

We fill it to the brim and let the automatic chlorinatior look after it.

If we are away more than 3 weeks then we just turn it off and sort it out when we get back, particularly in summer.

 

[straydingo]

ours is an 8000 litre swim spa so easy enough to drain it and refill (as recommended once a year) Got back yesterday from Central Oz so currently filling. Come Summer, I'll probably turn off the heater but leave the filter running and fix chems on return.

 

[twscoot]

Put the 'bubble wrap' cover on it and leave it to run as normal. The cover stops the evaporation. Turn off the solar pump. Leave everything in auto mode.
If away for more than a couple of weeks have a friend drop in on it just to make sure the safety switch hasn't been tripped by a storm and things are operating normally.

 

[b1900c]

We use one of the chlorine tablet things. Load it up with about 5 tablets and it will do the job. Nothing worse than going away for extended periods worried about power or burst pipe. We used this while away for 3 months and blue pool on return. Cost about 30 bucks.

 

[Holden_man]

We don't do anything like some others have said, the only minor thing I do is make sure the water level is as full as I can get it (we don't have a cover). That way with evaporation it doesn't get to low and annoy the neighbours with the screeching as the vac line connection pulls air.