Results for "plaster-leak"

Water Chemistry Medium 45 minutes 178 👍 0

Does My Pool Need Calcium Hardness? Essential Guide

Called the pool store about my new place and they're saying my calcium hardness levels from March's water test are completely out of whack. For the past three years, I've been diligent about testing chlorine, pH, and alkalinity weekly using test strips, but I've never paid attention to calcium hardness levels. My pool store mentioned it during my last water analysis visit in March, but I honestly wasn't sure if it was just an upsell.

Recently, I've noticed some minor scaling around the waterline tiles and my pool cleaner seems to be working harder than usual. The pool is located in Phoenix, Arizona, so we deal with hard water from the tap and intense evaporation during summer months. I top off the water about twice a week during peak season. Should calcium hardness be something I'm actively managing, or is it less critical for fiberglass pools compared to plaster finishes?…more

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Algae Green Pool Easy 15 minutes 41 👍 1

Pool Algaecide Types: Quat vs Poly-Quat vs Copper

Nobody warned me the algaecide aisle would feel like a chemistry exam. My pool store's manual just says 'add algaecide weekly,' but when I actually went to buy some, there were four completely different product types all using that same word — a cheap 'quat' bottle for $14, a poly-quat one for $50, a blue copper-based formula, and something mentioning sodium bromide. The manual acts like they're interchangeable, which clearly they're not given the price gap.

I've got a 20,000-gallon plaster pool that stays open May through October here in Georgia. Right now I'm in maintenance mode — no visible algae — but last summer I had a bad mustard algae breakout that took weeks to clear. I want to actually understand what I'm buying this time. Which of these types is doing what, which ones foam, which ones can stain my plaster, and which one makes the most sense for weekly prevention versus nuking an active bloom?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 45 minutes 741 👍 0

Do Pools Need Calcium? Complete Hardness Level Guide

Noticed my 15,000 gallon inground pool is still etching the plaster walls even though pH and chlorine levels are perfectly balanced. Have a plaster pool and not sure what levels to target. Also curious if vinyl and fiberglass pools need different ranges.

What happens if calcium gets too low? Will it damage my equipment or pool surface?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 30 minutes 218 👍 0

Does My Pool Need Calcium? Complete Hardness Guide

Water test came back saying my calcium hardness is at 120 ppm and the pool store guy looked at me like my plaster was about to dissolve. But the pool looks perfectly fine to me — no etching, no rough spots. Does calcium hardness actually matter that much or is this just a way to sell me more chemicals?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2-4 hours 1,775 👍 0

Do Vinyl Pools Need Calcium? Complete CH Guide 2026

Before our big pool party this Saturday, I'm getting completely contradictory advice about whether my vinyl pool even needs calcium added! I keep reading conflicting info online - some sources say vinyl pools don't need calcium at all, others say they do but at different levels than concrete pools. My test strips show I'm sitting around 100 ppm right now and I'm not sure if that's too low or if I even need to worry about it.

I've been dealing with some metal staining on my vinyl liner and wondering if low calcium could be making it worse by causing corrosion. But I'm also terrified of adding too much and ending up with scaling or that dreaded cloudy water that takes forever to clear up. What's the sweet spot for calcium hardness in vinyl pools, and is it really different from other pool types?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 45 minutes 880 👍 0

Do Fiberglass Pools Need Calcium Hardness? Complete Guide

Pool builder says my new fiberglass shell doesn't need calcium hardness adjustments like a plaster pool does. But the water test shows 150 ppm and the internet says that's too low for any pool. Who's right here — does fiberglass actually need calcium or not?…more

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Salt Water Medium 45 minutes 297 👍 0

Do Saltwater Pools Need Calcium? Complete Guide to CH Levels

Tried everything I can think of, but why does my saltwater pool keep destroying my salt cell and corroding my heater elements while making the surface look rough? I've been obsessing over chlorine and pH levels, but maybe I'm missing something obvious?

A friend mentioned calcium hardness might be the culprit, but I honestly have no idea what levels saltwater pools need. I know regular pools need calcium, but does the salt system change things? And if my calcium is off, could that really be why my expensive equipment keeps failing? I'm hoping there's a simple fix here because I'm tired of replacing parts every few months.…more

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Salt Water Medium 30 minutes 298 👍 0

Do Salt Water Pools Need Chemicals? Complete Guide

Our saltwater pool area reeks of that sharp chlorine smell every morning, which seems impossible since we were told these systems are basically chemical-free.

But now I'm reading conflicting information online. The pool store told me I'd still need to buy some chemicals, but I'm confused about what exactly. I thought the salt system was supposed to handle everything? What chemicals do salt water pools actually need, and why? I want to make sure I'm taking proper care of the pool and keeping the water safe for my family.…more

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Above Ground Medium 15 minutes reading 263 👍 0

Do Pools Need Liners? Complete Guide for All Pool Types

Noticed my pool contractor is pushing a $3,000 liner upgrade during installation — is this actually necessary or just an expensive upsell? Some people say all pools need them, others say only certain types do.

What's the actual rule here? Which pools require liners and which use something else instead?…more

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Maintenance Medium 45 minutes 195 👍 0

Pool Chemistry Points System - Water Balance Made Simple

Somewhere between my pool guy insisting I need a full testing kit and six different chemicals, I'm wondering if there's actually a simpler way to balance my water. My neighbor mentioned something about key "points" in pool chemistry that are most important to focus on, but I didn't catch all the details.

What are the main chemistry points I should be tracking to keep my water balanced? I'd love to know the target ranges so I can stop guessing and actually maintain clear, safe water. Right now I'm just winging it and probably making things more complicated than they need to be!…more

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Salt Water Medium 30 minutes 275 👍 0

Do Saltwater Pools Need Chemicals? Yes - Here's What You Need

Despite having a 15,000 gallon saltwater pool with a functioning salt system, the pool store keeps pushing $200+ worth of chemicals every month. They keep telling me I need all these pH adjusters, alkalinity boosters, and other expensive stuff on top of the salt. I thought the whole point of going saltwater was to avoid dealing with a bunch of chemicals!

I'm looking to handle this myself and cut down on costs, but I want to make sure I'm not missing something important. Does the salt chlorine generator really only make chlorine? What other chemicals do I actually NEED to keep my water balanced, and what can I skip?…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 15 minutes 187 👍 1

Does Calcium Hardness Increaser Expire? Storage Tips

Since I'm standing in my garage staring at this container of calcium chloride powder from last season, I'm wondering if this stuff actually goes bad or if I can still use it to raise my pool's calcium hardness levels. It's been sitting in my garage through the winter in the original container. I'm getting ready to open the pool again and wondering if this stuff goes bad over time? The container doesn't have a clear expiration date on it. Should I be concerned about using year-old calcium hardness increaser, or does it stay good indefinitely? I'd rather not waste money buying new chemicals if the old stuff is still effective.…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 30 minutes 905 👍 0

Can I Swim After Adding Pool Stabilizer? Safe Wait Times

Turned my pool stabilizer into a mystery this morning - added it to my 20,000 gallon inground pool but my cyanuric acid test reads zero when everything says it should show immediately. I used the granular form and dissolved it in a bucket first before pouring it around the perimeter while the pump was running. My kids are asking when they can get back in the water, but I want to make sure it's completely safe.

I've heard different things about wait times - some people say you need to wait hours, others say it depends on the type of stabilizer you use. The granules seemed to dissolve pretty well, and I've had the circulation system running for about an hour now. What's the actual safe waiting period before we can swim again? Does it matter whether you use granular versus liquid stabilizer?…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 2-4 hours 564 👍 0

How Long After Adding Calcium Hardness Can You Swim?

Wondering why my neighbor was swimming hours after adding calcium hardness yesterday while I'm still waiting after adding mine this morning. How long do I need to wait before it's safe to swim? Pool's been circulating for about an hour now. Do I need to test anything else before getting back in?…more

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Above Ground Medium 30 minutes 397 👍 9

Do All Pools Need Liners? Pool Types and Liner Requirements

During my pool consultation, three different contractors gave me completely opposite answers about needing a liner, and now I'm wondering if someone's trying to upsell me.

I'm considering several options including above-ground pools, concrete inground pools, fiberglass shells, and even looked into natural swimming pools. Some contractors are telling me that every pool needs a liner, while others say certain types don't require them at all. I want to make sure I understand the liner requirements before making my final decision, especially since this affects both the initial cost and long-term maintenance.

Can someone break down which specific pool types actually need liners versus which ones can function without traditional vinyl liners? I'd appreciate any insight into how the construction material affects liner requirements.…more

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