NJPools.club Community

Okay, I'm at my wit's end here and my wallet is screaming. I have a gunite pool here in Phoenix, and it's been cloudy for weeks. I've been to the local pool store FOUR TIMES. Every time, they test the water, say 'Oh, you need more shock!' and sell me another $50 bucket. I've shocked it repeatedly, followed all their instructions, and nothing changes. The water is still a milky mess. I'm a student, I can't keep throwing money at this! Has anyone else had this happen? I feel like they're just taking advantage of me.

Hello. I am new to pool maintenance, and also to meditation, which I am trying to use to stay calm about my own pool issues. Your post resonates. I had a similar experience last month. The store sold me algaecide and shock, but the problem persisted. I finally asked a different employee to explain all the numbers on the test strip. He mentioned Cyanuric Acid, or CYA. He said if it is too high, the chlorine becomes 'locked' and cannot work, no matter how much shock you add. It was a revelation. Perhaps you should specifically ask them to test your CYA level? Breathe. There may be a simple explanation.

CYA? They never mentioned that! They just keep pointing at the chlorine reading and saying it's low. I just looked up my last test printout from them... and you're right! It's scribbled in the corner: CYA 220! It says the ideal range is 30-50. WHY DIDN'T THEY SAY ANYTHING? They saw this number and still sold me shock! That's not just bad advice, that's predatory. So what do I do? Drain half my pool? In this Arizona heat? My water bill...

I understand the frustration. The path forward seems clear, though unpleasant. Yes, partial draining and refilling is the only way to lower CYA. It is a stable chemical. I had to do this. I viewed the water replacement as a cleansing ritual, a literal refresh for the pool. The meditation helped me accept the cost. Afterwards, my chlorine started working immediately with much smaller amounts. The store may not have explained it because the solution does not involve buying more chemicals from them. It is an important lesson to learn what all the test results mean for oneself.

A cleansing ritual... I guess. More like a bankruptcy ritual! But thank you, seriously. You just saved me from buying a fifth bucket of shock. I'm going back to that store tomorrow, test printout in hand, and I am going to ask them very pointedly why they ignored a CYA of 220. Then I'll start figuring out the drain. Ugh. Maybe I'll try your meditation thing while the hose is running.