Sunday 29 May 2016

Drama in The Pump House.


Things don't always go to plan.


A few years back, when opening the pool, we found that mice had been nesting in the electrical control box.  They'd chewed all the plastic off the wires, creating a massive short circuit.

This year (last Friday) I decided to change the sand in the filter; this involves removing the round black thing on top of the filter (big grey thing), removing all the dirty sand inside, and replacing it with new. All went well, I replaced the top, and turned on.

Water immediately started forcing its way out from the sides of the top, making a terrible hissing noise, so I stopped everything and tightened the two bolts. The same thing happened again, so I repeated my tightening and tried again.

This time there was a huge EXPLOSION and the top flew off with terrific force and water shot out like 'Old Faithful'. The top missed my face by a gnat's whisker.

When we eventually found all the bits, I reassembled them and tried again (you can imagine the state of my nerves by this time). I made sure that everything was really seated correctly, and tightened the bolts. I turned on again, crossed my fingers, and luckily everything was OK. No more explosions.


And here it is; up and running.

Me? I have a few more grey hairs, and my nerves are shot. Otherwise all is fine.

What larks!



29 comments:

  1. Wow glad it didn't do any harm other than your nerves, it could have been a whole lot worse.

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    1. It was quite frightening; I was inches from having my head blown off!

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  2. I'm glad you're ok. What a gorgeous pool!

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    1. Raining today, so the pool remains unloved.

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  3. Sounds like one of my attempts, I have the unfailing ability to cock-up anything even remotely mechanical,(or electrical). I've even been known to cross-thread a coffee jar.

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    1. This was the pool equivalent of your coffee jar. I hadn't seated the top correctly into its position, and the high pressure blew it off. I shan't be taking it off again in a hurry.

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  4. Next time you do it you'd better wear a crash helmet and goggles.

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  5. The pool looks very inviting Cro.
    Our pool has started to lose water over the last few weeks, not much - just the depth of two mosaic size tiles, but it does mean we need to keep topping it up with all the time so that the water circulates properly when the pump is on. As you know, a leaky pool is a nightmare. The pool has been in situ for 20 years with no problems, so we suppose, alas, that something like this is inevitable.

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    1. I wonder where your water is going? Are you sure it's not just evaporation? I know that ours can lose a lot when it's hot and breezy; putting the cover on at night helps, but the main loss is in daytime. If it's an underground pipe that's shot, you could be in for quite a few €'s.

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    2. Yes, we wonder where it's all going too. We're built into the side of a hill, so our neighbours below us could be getting their garden well a watered. We have a man from a local pool company coming to check it over this week. Unfortunately it's more than just evaporation, started before we put the cover over, and isn't something that's happened in previous years. Not sure if the fact that the level only drops a couple of tiles, then stops, is good or bad.
      Our neighbours across the road are having major excavations on their pool terrace, and it looks as though they have a serious problem as their retaining wall (about 8m high) is starting to bulge outwards and the stone has been cracking for some time. If it all goes, we'll end up with the majority of it in our garden, and the road will be blocked.

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    3. Good lord; sounds like our bloody neighbour. He's never happy unless he's causing havoc with big earth moving equipment. Do let me know what the problem was after your man has been; I'm always curious about such things.

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  6. Next time I'll come over and do it for you. Cool, calm and collected, no problem.

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    1. I was cool, calm, and collected, until the bloody thing exploded; but thanks anyway.

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  7. I suppose that it was the innate seriousness of the incident that made me burst out laughing when I read your comment to Rachel "I was cool, calm, and collected, until the bloody thing exploded; but thanks anyway."

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    1. We all had a good laugh when the blood returned to my face. DIY has its moments.

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  8. Oooooo Cro ...... how tempting your pool looks ...... a wonderful Summer ahead for you. When are the grandchildren coming ? Our grandchildren are coming to stay for a few days on Wednesday ..... no pool here but we will find some fun things to do !! Glad there weren't any injuries caused from the explosion .... the dangers of having a pool !!!! We are sorting the garden out today whilst popping in and out to watch Formula One in Monaco and Andy Murray in Paris ....... very French !!!!!! XXXX

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    1. I should have all 5 grandsons here towards the end of July; four aged between 8 and 10, and one aged 2. I can't wait.

      No gardening here today I fear; it's foul outside.

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  9. Glad you fixed it. I'll be there in an hour.

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  10. I am glad that you survived the curious incident. The picture of the pool looks so tranquil, giving no warning of the drama.
    When I was a child, my mother often made use of a pressure cooker in her cooking. It was a heavy pot, with a lid and a gasket that allowed speedier cooking of certain food. The thing terrified me. I've never owned one myself.
    Best wishes.

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    1. A friend of ours who owned the village château had one that exploded. She then enlisted my help to clean the ceiling of lamb stew. It took me all day!

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  11. My husband has been postponing changing our sand for just these reasons. Glad you survived and the pump is now working.

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    1. I don't think ours even needed changing. The sand I took out looked no different to the sand I put back; other than a slightly dirty crust on top.

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  12. I don't like changing the filter on my water system, because it's always hard to get the filter cartridge container to seal.

    Your place looks pretty nice.

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    1. The seal on the top of my filter looks exactly the same when sealed correctly or incorrectly. I shall not be removing again in a hurry.

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