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oilinpool
Anon
2009-Mar-30 9:24 am
Motor oil in swimming poolThe topic says it all, I have some "pranksters" who like to make work for other people. I live in Sourthern Florida and was preparing my pool for the spring/summer, removed the cover and refilled with water. Well some obnoxious pranksters decided to chuck two milk jugs full of used motor oil in it with the tops off. Oil is EVERYWHERE!!! I'm guessing this is HAZMAT? What can I do to clean up this mess? |
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cowboyro
Premium Member
2009-Mar-30 10:02 am
It should collect near the skimmers. Oil and water don't quite mix well. Collect it with a shallow pan. When you're done just backwash the filter. You may need to repeat the process for 1 day or 2. |
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jack bGone Fishing MVM join:2000-09-08 Cape Cod |
to oilinpool
"Houston, we have a problem...."
Used motor oil can contain toxic substances such as benzene, lead, zinc, and cadmium.
If any oil got into the filter, it too is contaminated. |
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PacratOld and Cranky MVM join:2001-03-10 Cortland, OH
2 recommendations |
to oilinpool
I'm not sure this is a DIY project. You may want to contact your homeowner's insurance carrier and file a claim for vandalism. You don't want that oil in your filter! My guess is that it will take some kind of detergent to cleanse the oil from the pool. Something lke this... probably best left to pros. |
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cacrollEventually, Prozac becomes normal Premium Member join:2002-07-25 Martinez, CA
1 recommendation |
cacroll
Premium Member
2009-Mar-30 10:42 am
said by Pacrat:I'm not sure this is a DIY project. You may want to contact your homeowner's insurance carrier and file a claim for vandalism. You don't want that oil in your filter! My guess is that it will take some kind of detergent to cleanse the oil from the pool. Something lke this... probably best left to pros. x 2. Plus, a matter for police. It's possible that the wankers doing your pool are doing other pools too. The police might benefit by tracking this, and the public might benefit too. |
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mityfowl Premium Member join:2000-11-06 Dallas, TX 2 edits |
to oilinpool
I'm a pool owner.
I would turn the pumps off for now.
Skim the oil off the smooth surface. Even on a calm day it will be pushed by the wind one way or the other. You also might test some of the "kitty litter" oil absorbant material in a small dose to start.
Repeat. Repeat.
Clean filter as usual. You didn't say what type of filter you have.
Big dose of chlorine.
Start pumps normally. It will clean up after a couple tries. |
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MrFixitCTpay it forward
join:2000-12-01 Port Charlotte, FL |
to oilinpool
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oilinpool to oilinpool
Anon
2009-Mar-30 11:15 am
to oilinpool
thanks all for the replies. The idiots who did this did it late at night after I spent all weekend preparing the pool. The oil isn't just one slick, it's thousands of tiny little ones and the filter looks like something from the Valdez spill. not to mention when they chunked them over the fence it looks like one jug hit the concrete and spilled oil all over it before it rolled into the pool. Someone mentioned calling a professional, who would I call for something like this? dont want to file an insurance claim just yet because I have a very high deductible. |
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to oilinpool
First, make sure pumps are all off, now. You should be able to pick up some pads to soak up the oil. You just drop them all over the surface water in the pool, they float. Pads like these... Something like this... toolsource.comAround here many oil field supply stores have them, but we are in an area that produces oil so it is easy to find. After the pads soak up all the oil, an orange based cleanser, like dish soap, can clean up any areas the oil touched, maybe even the filter. Then, go out to Walmart and pick up a motion sensor camera. They are in the sports section for hunting supplies or in the electronics supply. They use a flash card to save the pictures and work in dark situations. Then catch them if they do it again. They will have to pay restitution, among other things. |
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stevek1949We're not in Kansas anymore Premium Member join:2002-11-13 Virginia Beach, VA |
Sounds like a police/insurance issue. The insurance will pay someone like Pro Clean or ServePro to clean it up professionally, including the concrete. Shut off the pumps, and get the phone. |
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sailor Premium Member join:2003-10-21 Long Island |
to oilinpool
These people are out my way but I suggest you send them an email and explain the situation and ask them for some advice via email. They have an excellent reputation where I am. » www.millerenv.com |
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ctggzg Premium Member join:2005-02-11 USA 1 edit |
to jack b
said by jack b:If any oil got into the filter, it too is contaminated. Filters get "contaminated" when they filter stuff. That's what filters do. And here in South Florida it's pool season year-round. No need to shut it down during the fall and "winter". |
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PacratOld and Cranky MVM join:2001-03-10 Cortland, OH |
Pacrat
MVM
2009-Mar-30 12:42 pm
Filters are for solid particulates. Not chemical spills. Once the tank of the filter becomes contaminated, you may as well throw it away and start over. |
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mityfowl Premium Member join:2000-11-06 Dallas, TX 1 edit |
mityfowl
Premium Member
2009-Mar-30 12:44 pm
You don't know what you're talking about!
You don't even know what media the filter is made of. |
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Cheese Premium Member join:2003-10-26 Naples, FL |
to oilinpool
This may be a bit extreme in this situation since this appears to be the first time this happened to you, perhaps setting up a motion activated camera in the pool cage area to try to see if you can maybe catch who did this? Just an idea nothing more |
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PacratOld and Cranky MVM join:2001-03-10 Cortland, OH |
to mityfowl
I've had my pool since 1979. And I am referring to a sand filter. A DE or cartridge filter might be okay since they are easily replaceable. Replacing the sand in a filter tank is a royal pain. But I do know that filters remove only solid, particulate matter from the water. Petroleum-based contaminants are a whole 'nuther ballgame. You might be able to use a coagulant to get the oil to adhere to that to remove it from the water, but, again, I sure would not run oil through a sand filter. And thank you for your expert opinion. It's nice to know someone I can count on for sound advice if I ever need it. |
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Stumbles join:2002-12-17 Port Saint Lucie, FL |
to cowboyro
Bad advice. No way would I let any kind of motor oil near my filters, unless I was willing to spend the bucks to replace them. |
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yockTFTC Premium Member join:2000-11-21 Miamisburg, OH |
to oilinpool
said by oilinpool :
dont want to file an insurance claim just yet because I have a very high deductible. If you're planning on paying for this out of pocket anyway, why are you worried about your deductible? |
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to Stumbles
said by Stumbles:Bad advice. No way would I let any kind of motor oil near my filters, unless I was willing to spend the bucks to replace them. Oil floats on water so it shouldn't be sucked into the filter. However if the pool pump was running that night and the water level was too low and oil was sucked in, then the harm is already done. Even a new filter is way less (~$250-400) than what a professional cleanup will cost (and also less than the deductible if going through insurance). |
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seeksusan
Anon
2009-Mar-30 2:27 pm
Does anyone know if this is something that activists do to boycott the use of muncial water in swimming pools? We have had motor oil and just last night, paint tossed over our fence and aimed toward the pool. Any info you have would be useful. Thanks. |
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cowboyro
Premium Member
2009-Mar-30 2:31 pm
said by seeksusan :
Does anyone know if this is something that activists do to boycott the use of muncial water in swimming pools? If it's something those lunatics do, they cause more harm as more water will be used to cleanup the mess. |
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cowboyro |
to oilinpool
Another option for cleaning the oil fast (but only if you aren't an environmentalist) is to empty the pool by draining water through the skimmers. When the water goes low enough the oil will be sucked, but you may need to do few fill-drain cycles. The filter will be bypassed and the water will wash the lines quickly after there is no more oil left. |
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oilinpool to oilinpool
Anon
2009-Mar-30 2:49 pm
to oilinpool
well i went out to check my mail. guess what? These SOBS!!! put oil in my mailbox! there is a note from USPS that says "unable to deliver", so now I have to go to the post office to pick up my mail. I am going to get some security cameras now i have no idea why i was targeted except perhaps my Obama support sign in the front yard. we are in a conservative area but this just doesnt make sense. my deductible is $3000 so that's why I don't want to file a claim just yet. thanks all for any advice you have, seeksusan do you have any experience from cleaning up with your pranksters? |
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seeksusan
Anon
2009-Mar-30 3:03 pm
luckily there wasn't too much in the pool...we used the same techniques decribed above, with the papertowels, etc. there was alot of breakbreaking effort to get it off the concrete though..and we used kitty litter for that. good luck. this is the fourth time we have been targeted and I never thought we had any enemies... |
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robbin Mod join:2000-09-21 Leander, TX |
to oilinpool
You haven't stated if you have filed a police report yet. If you have not, please do so. Vandalism of a mailbox is a federal crime. In addition, I would get bids from some companies that specialize in the type of cleanup needed for your pool. It could turn out that the damage is severe enough to be a felony. Look under Environmental in the yellow pages. There are companies who specialize in cleanup of spills, etc. |
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PacratOld and Cranky MVM join:2001-03-10 Cortland, OH |
to oilinpool
The election is long over... remove the sign from the yard. It's probably kids... not that that helps any. I used to have a neighbor across that street that woke up one Sunday morning to their mailbox being totally engulfed in flames. Seems their teenage daughter dumped her boyfriend and he took offense to that. I called the fire dept. but by the time they arrived their mailbox was just a gooey puddle of plastic oozing over the curb. Both my neighbor and I spotted the fire at about the same time. The call was more to document the offense than to save the curbside mailbox. We had already extinguished the blaze with a couple of buckets of water. Kids can do some strange things. |
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seeksusan to robbin
Anon
2009-Mar-30 3:08 pm
to robbin
(i filed a police report with the oil spil and intend to for the paint spill that occured last night) |
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your moderator at work
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scooper join:2000-07-11 Kansas City, KS |
to Pacrat
Re: Motor oil in swimming pool+1 - the Election was over in November - lose the sign, especially if you're the contrary one in the neighborhood.... |
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to oilinpool
Pick up some human hair mats to soak it up. » inventorspot.com/article ··· at_16813 |
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