Moderate Living

Hello, I'm Mike – I write every Tuesdays and Fridays

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Swimming Pool Maintenance

One of my other neighbors has a swimming pool in his backyard and, after the machine pump is primed by the pool company, enlists my help to get it cleaned up. It’s a pretty big job and he needs it done in a week or two for when his grandchildren stay during the summer, so he does pay for my efforts.

Opening up a swimming pool for the summer is pretty straightforward.

The tedious part of the process is clearing the water out of any debris. Even if you have a cover, you’ll still have to expect some leaves in the water and by the time people open their pools, the water has already turned green from being untreated in the heat – at least up here in New Jersey.

photo courtesy of the internet

The worst part is that some debris, is not “debris” and it makes it even more critical that they are fished out of the pool right away. I’ve had good luck in the 3 or 4 years that I’ve been helping my neighbor that there was nothing in the murky water. But yesterday, that changed and I wish I could unsee what I dredged out. I’m just hoping that as we finish up in the next week, I don’t find anymore advanced decaying carcasses.

last year’s Summer song we were all dancing to in 2024

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27 responses to “Swimming Pool Maintenance”

  1. CJ Antichow Avatar
    CJ Antichow

    What was it?!!

    Reply
  2. Kate@athousandbitsofpaper Avatar
    Kate@athousandbitsofpaper

    Ahh the pool. The skimmer box. Lifting the lid, what fresh hell awaits to peer at me. During the loud plague it was dozens of little grey bodies but I I had been busy and left it a few days all the fur had been stripped off leaving pale teabags with legs. I’m sorry to share that if we had been away for a week-end – the stench was ..anyway someone could be eating a biscuit or their breakfast so – safe to say- I understand your trauma. I hesitate before I lift the skimmer box lid and the mouse plague is long gone but there have been snakes, frogs, a little gekko – the live ones a great I fish them out – apart from the snake – that needs an adult who is far more adultier than me – my husband.

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      oh goodness, i know exactly what you mean with the mice. sometimes, I just want to scream at an assembly room full of them about the dangers of the swimming pool filter. but in my mind, i know they wouldn’t listen. i have yet to encounter a snake – i bet that is an experience in and of itself!

      Reply
      1. Kate@athousandbitsofpaper Avatar
        Kate@athousandbitsofpaper

        Oh yes very much so – because you don’t know until you lift the lid and then shrieking and jumping 😂

        Reply
        1. Michael Williams Avatar
          Michael Williams

          ‼️‼️😅

          Reply
  3. lyndhurstlaura Avatar
    lyndhurstlaura

    Sounds a bit grim, but sounds like you can cope. Having a pool always sounds so cool, but people forget the maintenance side of things. Well done you. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      yes, especially really large pools – it’s almost like maintaining a second house! hopefully we’ll get this all wrapped up. thanks Laura 🙂

      Reply
  4. lyndhurstlaura Avatar
    lyndhurstlaura

    Best of luck. 😊

    Reply
  5. Ann Coleman Avatar
    Ann Coleman

    Pools are nice to swim in, but a lot of work to maintain. I’m sorry about the carcass…. On a lighter note, I remember looking out the window of a friends house and watching a snapping turtle swim across her pool

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      they really are Ann. you get an appreciation for groupwork when you see how fast a cleanup of that magnitude gets done with 3 or more people.

      that must have been a fun sight seeing that snapping turtle – we get them here too!

      Reply
  6. CJ Antichow Avatar
    CJ Antichow

    Idk what happened to my comment lol but i just wanted to know what the carcass was?!

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      fox 😭😭😭

      Reply
      1. CJ Antichow Avatar
        CJ Antichow

        Ewww

        Reply
  7. Nancy Homlitas Avatar
    Nancy Homlitas

    You’re a good neighbor, Michael. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      🙂 thanks Nancy – i do want to help because one year, they didn’t open the pool and i had a mosquito problem so it kind of serves both of our interests.

      Reply
  8. The Creative Chic Avatar
    The Creative Chic

    Oh goodness 😳 good luck with it all. Luckily, I’ve never had any animals in mine *knock on wood* You really are a good neighbor ❤️

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      🙂 thanks Jennifer! yeah – those skimmers have a way of getting the small critters but for larger ones, it’s a wrap if they get themselves trapped under the pool cover.

      Reply
  9. ibarynt Avatar
    ibarynt

    Oooh was it worse than the slimy stuff?

    Another good number you put up. These songs are so soothing Mike.

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      yes, by far – i wish it was just slimy algea i picked up lol

      thanks Iba! next week, we are going to unveil our song for summer of 2025! 😀

      Reply
      1. ibarynt Avatar
        ibarynt

        Ewww… I hope it didn’t affect your appetite.

        Wait, the Micheal Williams time is on right. Looking forward to the summer song 🥳

        Reply
  10. Zenith Avatar
    Zenith

    Owh. Can I ask why is the water green?

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      sure zenith, the heat and whatever small organics that were in the untreated water react to create algea. it’s very much like the principle of mold on bread – if it’s left long enough the mold just grows on it. this is why chlorine is so important, it’s where bleach comes from and when you put it in algea filled water, it will destroy the “mold”. the clean swimming pools you see are pools that have enough of the chlorine molecules relative to the water molecules so that algea can’t proliferate.

      Reply
      1. Zenith Avatar
        Zenith

        Oh…thanks for the essay-long explanation, Mr Williams. I appreciate it.

        Reply
  11. nancyb422 Avatar
    nancyb422

    Our neighbor has an above ground pool and every year the cover comes off and it’s murky but within an hour, it’s crystal clear. Our above ground was never as clear as his for the entire summer!

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      oh gosh, i wish i could get my neighbor’s pool clear in an hour! we’re on day 3 lol.

      it’s such a process. for pools i’ve helped friends with in the past, we would literally just nuclear bomb the water with chlorine and chlorine tabs after we’ve gotten the debris out. it’s an inexact science almost, but your neighbor is fortunate to be able to clear his with such clarity and in such a short time. i know my neighbor can’t afford the $1600 drain, clean & refill service so I just help him out but it’s also because the years before where i didn’t, i and the previous person that owned the house had mosquito problems all throughout late july and august!

      Reply
  12. misifusa Avatar
    misifusa

    I never had to take care of a pool and not sure now if I’d want to! LOL Thanks for the heads up – by the way, great song!! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      😀 thank you – we have our summer song tradition here as we’re doing bbq and steamed corn. and yes, taking care of a pool is tough. my friends and relatives already have theirs set up but my neighbor opted for a late open which makes the process a little more difficult. fully draining and cleaning a pool is the best way in my opinion but you’ll pay for that service $$$ for sure. have a great day! 🙂

      Reply

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