Results for "outdoor storage"

Filters Medium 45 minutes 250 👍 0

Can I Leave Pool Filter Outside for Winter? Storage Guide

This Hayward sand filter is sitting in my backyard and the pool store warned me the housing will crack if I leave it outside this winter. They're saying I absolutely MUST bring my filter inside and store it properly or it'll crack from freezing water. Is this just another upsell, or will my filter actually get damaged if I leave it outside during winter?

I'm in a climate that gets below freezing, and I'm trying to handle as much of the winterization myself as possible. The pool store quoted me $200 just for filter removal and storage! Can I really not just drain it well and leave it in place, or am I risking expensive damage? Looking for honest advice from people who've actually dealt with this.…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2-4 hours setup 495 👍 1

Can You Store Pool Chemicals in an Outdoor Shed? Safety Guide

Around summer my backyard shed gets scorching hot, has terrible ventilation, AND I'm panicking about whether my pool chemicals are safe out there. Is this safe or asking for trouble?

Mainly have chlorine tablets, shock, pH adjusters, and algaecide. Shed gets pretty hot in summer and doesn't have great ventilation. What are the main things I need to worry about for safe storage?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2-3 hours for setup 568 👍 2

Can I Store Pool Chemicals Outside? Safe Storage Guide

Halfway through my morning coffee, I spotted my pool chemicals sitting in direct sunlight by my detached shed that definitely weren't there yesterday. Shed gets hot/cold with seasons and sometimes damp. Garage stays more consistent but still gets chilly in winter.

Which is better for storing chlorine, muriatic acid, and shock? Or do I need to bring everything indoors? Just want to avoid any safety issues or chemicals going bad.…more

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Winterizing Medium 45 minutes 223 👍 0

Can Pool Covers Shrink? Prevention & Solutions Guide

Around three seasons ago I had the same shrinking problem with my old vinyl cover and stretching it worked fine — but this new one seems way tighter than last season. The edges don't reach as far as they used to, and I'm having to really stretch it to get it secured properly.

Is this actually a thing that happens? Can pool covers legitimately shrink over time? Mine's been through a pretty brutal summer with tons of sun, and I'll admit I probably didn't store it perfectly last winter. Just want to know if I need to accept that I'm gonna need a new cover or if there's something I could've done differently to prevent this!…more

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Maintenance Easy 45 minutes 360 👍 0

Can You Store Pool Chemicals in Garage? Safety Guide

Opened my garage door this morning and spotted my pool chemicals stacked right against my car bumper — pretty sure they weren't positioned there yesterday. New pool owner here and I'm trying to figure out where to store all these chemicals I just bought. My garage seems like the obvious choice since I have some shelving space, but I'm worried about temperature swings and whether it's actually safe. We get pretty hot summers here and the garage can get up to maybe 90-100°F on really hot days. Is this going to cause problems with chlorine tablets, shock, pH adjusters, and algaecide? Also wondering about keeping them away from other garage stuff like gas cans and lawn mower. Any advice would be really appreciated - still learning all this pool stuff!…more

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Pump Problems Medium 2-3 hours 303 👍 0

Can I Leave Pool Pump Outside in Winter? Storage Guide

During freezing weather my pool pump starts making this bizarre clicking sound that I've never heard before, and I'm genuinely confused about what's causing it. We have young kids who love to explore everything in the backyard, and I want to make sure our pool pump will be safe sitting outside through the cold months.

I've heard horror stories about pumps getting damaged from freezing, which could lead to expensive repairs or worse - safety issues when we open the pool next spring for the kids. Should I be taking it inside somewhere, or is there a way to properly protect it outdoors? We live in an area that definitely gets below freezing, so I'm particularly concerned about freeze damage.…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 15 minutes 360 👍 0

Can You Use Pool Chlorine to Clean Your House? Safety Guide

About to tackle some serious deep cleaning this Saturday — is it safe to just grab my leftover pool chlorine instead of buying a bunch of specialty household cleaners? The pool store keeps trying to upsell me on expensive specialty cleaners, but I've got plenty of pool chlorine sitting around. I'm wondering if I can just use some of that chlorine to clean my bathroom, kitchen counters, or other surfaces around the house instead of buying separate products.

Is this actually safe to do, or am I asking for trouble? I'd love to find a DIY solution that saves me some money, but I don't want to damage anything or create health hazards. What are the real risks here?…more

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Winterizing Medium 45 minutes 203 👍 0

Can You Cover a Pool Heater? Complete Winterizing Guide

Three different "experts" just gave me three different answers about covering my pool heater for winter — my neighbor says always cover it, the pool store says never, and YouTube is all over the place. My pool heater is a significant investment, and I'm concerned about potential damage from winter weather, debris accumulation, and moisture intrusion during the months it won't be operational.

What's the recommended protocol for covering pool heaters during winter storage? I need to understand the proper materials and methods to prevent condensation issues while still providing adequate weather protection. Are there specific cover types designed for pool heating equipment, or should I avoid covering altogether to prevent moisture-related problems?…more

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Maintenance Easy varies 308 👍 1

Do You Need a License to Clean Pools? Requirements by State

Somewhere in the paperwork mess the previous owner left behind, I discovered they were running an unlicensed pool cleaning business right out of this house. But I'm completely lost on the legal side of things and don't want to get shut down before I even start.

Do I need some kind of special license just to clean pools? What about when I'm adding chemicals or fixing pumps and filters? I've heard different things from different people and I'm getting conflicting information about business permits too. Really hoping someone can break down what's actually required because I'm ready to make this career change happen!…more

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Pump Problems Easy 45 minutes 231 👍 0

Should You Cover Your Pool Pump in Winter? Complete Guide

According to my pool pump manual I should cover it for winter, but that completely contradicts what three different pool technicians have told me.

I've already done the basic winterization steps but I'm worried about leaving expensive equipment exposed to the elements for months. Should I be covering my pump or not? And if so, what kind of cover works best? I don't want to make a costly mistake here.…more

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Above Ground Medium 4-6 hours 207 👍 0

Can You Reuse a Pool Liner? Complete Reuse Guide 2026

Took down the above ground pool last fall and the liner sat folded in the garage all winter. Setting it back up this spring and wondering if I can reuse it or if the creases and folds have already ruined it. Buying a new one seems wasteful if this one's still good.…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 15 minutes 117 👍 0

Do Pools Have Chlorine? Pool Sanitization Methods Explained

Three weeks ago my wife mentioned that she could smell chlorine around our pool area and it got me thinking - do all pools actually contain chlorine? I always assumed they did but now I'm second-guessing myself. We have a basic above-ground pool and I've been adding chemicals but honestly I'm not 100% sure what's in them or if chlorine is definitely one of the ingredients. My wife is concerned about the kids swimming in chlorinated water and wants to know if there are pools that don't use chlorine at all. I feel pretty clueless about what's actually keeping our water clean.…more

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Winterizing Easy 15 minutes 236 👍 0

How Do Solar Pool Covers Work? Complete Guide & Benefits

Halfway through deciding on a solar pool cover, my neighbor insists they're just glorified tarps while the pool store swears they're miracle heaters. I mean, it's just plastic with bubbles, right? How does that translate to warmer water and less evaporation? What's the actual mechanism that makes these things effective?…more

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Winterizing Medium 60-90 minutes 224 👍 0

Do I Need to Winterize My Pool Heater? Complete Guide

Woke up dreading winterizing season because my old gas heater routine was foolproof — but this new heat pump has me completely lost. We definitely get some cold snaps here where temps drop into the 30s and sometimes lower.

I've heard horror stories about equipment getting damaged over winter, but I'm not sure if that's just pool store scare tactics or if there's real risk. What's the worst that could happen if I skip the winterizing process? Just trying to figure out if this is one of those "nice to do" things or absolutely essential.…more

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Winterizing Medium 4-6 hours 221 👍 0

How to Winterize a Pool Without Draining It - Complete Guide

About three YouTube tutorials into winterizing my pool without draining and I've somehow made my equipment situation ten times worse. My neighbor told me I don't actually have to drain my entire pool to winterize it properly, but I'm not sure if that's true or how to do it safely.

I'd love to avoid the hassle and cost of draining and refilling if possible. What's the proper way to winterize without emptying the whole thing? I want to make sure I don't damage my equipment or pool structure by doing it wrong.…more

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