Toddro61

You can get a Drain King (you connect it to a hose and a bladder swells forming a plug and then it shoots water out) Place it at the pump end of the skimmer line and try to blow the clog out from that end. If you have more than one skimmer or side suction line, I would plug all but one so that you get more pressure. Block the open line with a tennis ball to try to build up pressure, then release it. Repeat this. Sometimes this works, but not always.

If you are not adverse to a rectangular pool, I would get one and have them install an automatic cover with the tracks running underneath the edge of the side. This is by far the most maintenance-free pool. You can get an automatic cover on other shapes, but the tracks will have to run on the deck and it is not as attractive. The cover will keep everything out of the pool, it will reduce your evaporative water loss, and it will help heat the pool. I've had a pool with one and one without, and I can tell you, automatic covers are worth every penny. The other thing I would make sure to get is a salt water chlorinator. They are awesome.

CYA is cyuranic acid, also called stabilizer. Stabilizer binds up chlorine and protects it from breakdown by the sun. It also inactivates the chlorine and makes it undetectable on a test. If you have a lot of stabilizer in the pool, all the chlorine is bound up and not showing up when you test the water. There is a test kit you can buy at most pool stores that will tell you your stabilizer level. If it is too high, the only way to lower it is to drain water and add new water, it does not evaporate. Also, be aware that a lot of shock products have stabilizer in them. It is better to shock with straight chlorine.

I live in Austin and I can say that my salt water chlorinator cut my pool maintenance by 90%. Chlorine is very expensive and with the Texas sun you will be spending tons of money on it if you try to chlorinate the traditional way (not to mention all the time you will spend trying to maintain the chlorine level). A salt water chlorinator pays for itself in about 2-3 years. I have the GoldLine AquaRite and in 4 years, it has never had a problem. Another tip - if you do get one, I would not put stabilizer in your pool - regardless of what people or the chlorinator instructions tell you. It binds up the chlorine and makes it inactive and algae will grow.

I have a salt water chlorinator and I used to have a lot of stabilizer (50-80ppm) in the pool which is what the instructions with the chlorinator recommended. When it was at this level, I always got algae despite the fact the chlorinator was putting out a lot of chlorine. The stabilizer binds up the chlorine and makes it inactive. I let the level of stabilizer drop to zero, and now I never have any problems with chlorine or algae. If you don't have a problem, I would not add stabilizer. I live in Central Texas too where the sun is a beast.

your impeller has probably broken off. You just need to put a new impeller in the pump. Not a big deal.

I had a Kreepy Krauly and didn't like it. It typically got stuck in one corner and stayed there. It also sucks leaves and debris directly to your filter which can clog your lines - you don't want that, believe me. The sucking mechanism that makes it move will also wear your pump out faster. My neighbor has a Polaris 360 and he is not a big fan of it. Breaks often, parts are expensive, gets stuck in one corner. I have a Dolphin robotic cleaner now and it is terrible. Clogs very easily, only cleans a small part of the pool - complete waste of money. I've read a lot of reviews of pool cleaners online, and from what I can tell, none of them work great and they are all expensive.

The valve is plumbed without union fittings. I assume I should probably cut the pipes and install union fittings. Does that sound right? Thanks.

I have a Pentair Tagelus sand filter. The valve is top mounted with an O-ring. I need to change the sand. I assume I just loosen the O-ring and pull the valve straight off the top. Is this correct? Thanks.