Leaving for 16 day vacation - what to do with pool

[vim]

vim,
First, you need to be sure your algae is completely gone. That means, by the tenets of the Book of BBB, you use a FAS-DPD test to find out if your current chlorine levels are fighting anything. And it follows that you also need to know your current CYA level because that controls how much chlorine you need to do anything. Just adding algaecide will do nothing. And anything less than this will almost assure a healthy crop on your return when you'll then have to do this anyway.

Consequently, if you're adding chlorine, you're going to have to circulate. ...
...
Definitely leave the solar cover on and make sure it's tucked down around the edges so the wind doesn't get under it.

...
But first you've got to take care of your algae problem, otherwise you might as well just shut the pump off and leave.

HTH
C.

Thanks for reply. My algae problem is taken care of now. So this will not be an issue.
My problem is - I do not have anyone to come by and check pool every few days. Even without timer, I could run pump and filter (sand) non stop, but what if water level goes way down or something else happens? Main drain will help, but what if I'll develop hole in linear (last year I did!). I just kind of affraid to leave pump running for whole 16 days.
So I am trying to figure out what to do so impact on pool after 16 days is least possible.
I was also told that if water will be non moving, I should not leave solar cover - because of algae problem. I believe I noticed myself that if solar cover is on for a few days in a row, it is much more likely that algae will start to grow. I see that you have experience differently, but you do run pump for a few hours...

So far my options are
Option 1:
Shock pool, add algecide, then REMOVE solar cover, circulate water for a few hours then SHUT everything down. Add few floaters with clorine tablets and leave.

Option 2:
Shock pool, add algecide, then DO NOT REMOVE solar cover, circulate water for a few hours then SHUT everything down. Add few floaters with clorine tablets and leave.

Option 3:
Shock pool, add algecide, then REMOVE solar cover, LEAVE PUMP ON. Add few floaters with clorine tablets and leave.

Option 4:
Shock pool, add algecide, then DO NOT REMOVE solar cover, LEAVE PUMP ON. Add few floaters with clorine tablets and leave.

Option 1&2: Pool will be green on return, but If I could (?) fix it in a few days or a week, that is good enough for me.

Option 3&4: Pool will be reasonable on return, but if something very unlikely will happens, then my pump and/or filter could be damaged.


What option would look most reasonably?
Or should I just hire pool company to come in every few days? That would be way expensive (50$ visit at least I believe).


I read other posts on this forum, but not too many people shared their experience on what really happened when they did one way or another.

[ChuckD]

I like the way you distill the options and possible outcomes down. Very efficient.

My gut tells me that as long as you've dosed with algaecide and shocked (in that order with a couple hours between; my understanding from reading here is that chlorine can diminish the algaecide, but I have no evidence for it) and absolutely can't run the pump at least an hour a day, you ought to be ok. I'd do the chemicals and let it circulate AT LEAST a couple hours, cover it and shut the pump off. No floaters though. Since there'll be no circulation I wouldn't want the build up of chemical concentrations in hot spots.

C.

[hulla]

I recently came back from a two week vacation and found my pool level 1.5 feet below normal with water greener than Shrek. I usually turn off my skimmers before leaving but this time I forgot.

The pump ran dry. The booster pump for my polaris went bye bye but the main pump seems ok. I don't know how it survived. It was set for 5 hours a day. Must have quickly got too hot and shut itself off.

I set my sprinkler system to dump water in the pool every other night expecting a lot of evaporation in the Texas heat but I guess it wasn't enough.

In my opinion, the most important thing to do (if you leave the pumps set to turn on) is to turn off your skimmers.

[frankcav]

Why not use one of those automatic water levelers that hookup to a hose they run about $80...

[vim]

Why not use one of those automatic water levelers that hookup to a hose they run about $80...

I am just affraid to put in something new and then what if it fails when I am away. What if watter keeps filling up? I am just kind of paranoid on these things :-(.

About closing skimmer. What do you mean by that? I have skimmer that has 2 holes at the bottom. One goes to pump, another to main drain. So if water level is below skimmer line, that water starts to come in from main drain. Do I have to close anything in this case?

[ChuckD]

I am just affraid to put in something new and then what if it fails when I am away. What if watter keeps filling up? I am just kind of paranoid on these things :-(.

About closing skimmer. What do you mean by that? I have skimmer that has 2 holes at the bottom. One goes to pump, another to main drain. So if water level is below skimmer line, that water starts to come in from main drain. Do I have to close anything in this case?

Skimmer: Only a concern if you decide to put your pump on a timer (I'm not recommending leaving it running 24/7). I'm talking about closing the valve to the skimmer to disable it.