Results for "pool-filtration"

Heaters Medium 15 minutes 253 👍 1

How Do Pool Heaters Work? Complete Guide to Pool Heating

Found myself staring at a pile of pool heating equipment with my tools spread out, ready to tackle this installation but totally lost on which system actually makes sense. Gas, electric, heat pump - they all claim to do the same thing but work differently somehow.

What's the actual difference between these heater types? How does each one actually heat the water? Want to understand the mechanics before dropping cash on one.…more

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Winterizing Easy 2-3 hours for complete opening process 207 👍 1

Do I Need a Pool Opening Kit? Spring Pool Startup Guide

Called out to open my 20x40 inground pool after winter and I'm staring at nasty green water wondering if I need an opening kit. Store pushing their $80 opening kit with shock, algaecide, clarifier, etc. Makes it easy but seems pricey. Should I just buy liquid chlorine and acid separately? What's actually worth getting?…more

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Winterizing Easy 30 minutes 859 👍 0

Can You Shock Pool With Solar Cover On? Chemical Safety Guide

Last week my pool service guy told me I absolutely must remove the solar cover before shocking, but that sounds like he's just creating extra work for himself. My pool has been green for over a week now and I've already dumped what feels like half a chemistry store into it. I've been shocking it every other day but honestly I'm not sure if I'm doing it right.

I've been leaving my solar cover on when I add the shock because I figured it would help keep the chemicals from evaporating in the sun. But now I'm wondering if that's actually making things worse? Should I be taking the cover off first? And if so, how long should I wait before putting it back on? I'm willing to try anything at this point because this green monster is driving me crazy!…more

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Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Vacuum (2026)

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Water Chemistry Easy 5 minutes 334 👍 0

Does Pool Chlorine Make You Darker? Skin Effects Explained

During my latest pool investigation, I've got my detective gear ready to figure out why my kids keep coming home darker after swim days — is chlorine actually changing their skin color? They're in the pool for hours during summer camp, and I want to make sure the chemicals aren't harming their skin or causing any unwanted changes.

Is chlorine known to darken skin, or could there be another explanation? I'm also concerned about whether the pool chemicals might be making their skin more vulnerable to other effects from being outdoors so much.…more

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Above Ground Easy 30 minutes 378 👍 1

Can You Clean Above Ground Pool with Bleach? Complete Guide

Halfway through pool season my 24-foot round above ground pool has disgusting algae buildup, murky water, AND I'm hemorrhaging money on expensive chemicals. I noticed that regular household bleach contains sodium hypochlorite just like pool chlorine, and it's often cheaper at the grocery store.

I've been using liquid pool chlorine from the pool store, but with how much I go through during peak season, the costs really add up. My pool stays pretty balanced - typically around 7.2-7.4 pH and 1.5-3.0 ppm chlorine when I test weekly. Can I substitute regular unscented household bleach for pool chlorine to clean and sanitize my above ground pool? If so, are there any differences in dosing or effectiveness I should know about?…more

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Maintenance Easy 45 minutes 268 👍 1

Do I Need a Pool Pillow for Winter? Complete Guide

Despite being on a tight budget for winter pool closing, I'm wondering if a pool pillow is actually necessary or just another expense I can skip? I've been researching proper closing procedures and keep seeing conflicting information about pool pillows (air pillows). Some sources say they're absolutely critical, while others suggest they're optional accessories.

Specifically, I need to understand whether pool pillows actually provide meaningful protection against freeze damage to pool walls and equipment. My pool is located in an area where temperatures regularly drop below freezing for extended periods during winter months. What's the technical reasoning behind using these pillows, and what risks am I facing if I skip this component of winterization?…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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Water Chemistry Medium 30 minutes 436 👍 1

Can You Filter Pool Water to Drink? Safe Methods & Risks

Replaced my emergency water storage with a pool filtration system idea since shortages are coming — but am I about to waste money on something unsafe? My pool is about 20,000 gallons and I maintain it with standard chlorine tablets, algaecide, and pH balancers. The chlorine levels are usually around 2-3 ppm, and I add shock treatment weekly.

I've seen some advanced water filtration systems advertised that claim to remove chemicals and contaminants. Would something like reverse osmosis or activated carbon filtration be able to remove all the pool chemicals like chlorine, cyanuric acid, and other sanitizers to make it safe for drinking? I'm concerned about the health risks but need to understand if there are any reliable methods that could work in an emergency situation.…more

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Pump Problems Medium Professional installation required 1,022 👍 18

Can You Run a Pool Pump on Extension Cord? Safety Guide

After planning our pool party for this Saturday, I discovered my pump outlet is nowhere near the pool equipment pad and I'm scrambling for solutions. The pool store wants me to hire an electrician to install a dedicated circuit for my new pump, but they're quoting me over $800 just for the electrical work. That's on top of what I already spent on the pump itself!

Can I just run a heavy-duty extension cord from my garage outlet to save some money? I've got a 12-gauge outdoor cord that should handle the load. I'm trying to avoid another expensive "professional installation" if I can help it - seems like everything pool-related has to be done by a specialist these days.…more

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Maintenance Medium 1-3 days for installation 360 👍 1

Pool Fence Requirements: Do You Need One? Safety Guide 2026

According to my contractor, I'm looking at $3,200 for pool fencing and wondering if it's actually legally required before my installation is complete.

Anyone know the actual requirements? Like how deep does a pool have to be before you need fencing, and are there specific rules about the fence height or gate types? Just want to make sure I'm following all the safety regulations and not getting hit with any surprise violations from the city!…more

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Maintenance Easy 15 minutes 854 👍 0

Do I Need to Dissolve Pool Shock? Complete Dissolution Guide

Looked everywhere online ever since I switched to granular pool shock, but still can't figure out if I need to dissolve it first or just dump it straight in. Package doesn't clearly say if I need to dissolve it first or can just toss it straight into the pool.

What's the right way? Don't want to mess up my pool liner or waste the chemicals.…more

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Best Robotic Pool Cleaners

4.6 (28,500 reviews)

Maintenance Medium 2-4 hours 188 👍 1

Do I Need Pool Shock? When and Why to Shock Your Pool

During last week's heavy storms and downpours, my pool water turned cloudy and now I'm worried it's not safe for my kids to swim. My free chlorine levels seem to be dropping, and we've had some heavy rain lately plus the kids and their friends have been using the pool constantly this summer.

I keep hearing about pool shock but I'm not sure when I actually need to use it or what type is best. I just want to make sure the water is properly sanitized and safe for swimming. What are the signs that tell me I need to shock the pool, and how do I do it correctly?…more

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Heaters Medium 45 minutes 255 👍 1

How Solar Pool Heaters Work: Diagnosis & Troubleshooting

According to what I spotted this morning, my solar heater panels are just sitting there doing absolutely nothing while every "expert" keeps pushing gas systems instead. They keep pushing these pricey gas heaters and telling me solar is "complicated" - probably because there's less markup for them.

I want to understand the actual process of how solar pool heaters function before I make any decisions. Do they really just use the sun's energy somehow? I'm hoping to find a more cost-effective heating solution and maybe even explore some DIY options instead of getting ripped off again.…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2-4 hours (including wait time between doses and retesting) 34 👍 0

Hydrogen Peroxide to Lower Chlorine in Overshocked Pool

Three pounds of shock into a 15,000-gallon pool — I may have gotten a little enthusiastic. My test kit is maxed out and the water looks like it belongs in a science experiment, not a backyard. Nobody's swimming in it anytime soon and I want to fix this fast.

Standing in the pool store aisle right now, staring at hydrogen peroxide products, sodium thiosulfate, and a few other things I don't recognize — and I have no clue which one I actually need. Someone in my neighborhood group chat swore that hydrogen peroxide is the move, but I've also seen warnings that it can tank your pH or strip your sanitizer to zero if you overdo it.

Can hydrogen peroxide actually neutralize a chlorine overload safely? How much would I need, is it safe for my equipment and liner, and are there smarter or more reliable ways to bring the chlorine back down to a swimmable level without creating a new problem?…more

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Leaks Easy 48 hours 312 👍 0

How to Tell If Your Pool Has a Leak - Step-by-Step Detection

Noticed my pool water dropped three inches this week at 11 PM tonight — need to figure out if there's a leak before my pool guy arrives tomorrow morning. I mean, I know some water evaporates naturally, especially with this heat, but it seems like more than usual.

Is there like a reliable way to test whether it's just normal evaporation or if there's actually a leak? I don't want to call a pool guy and pay a fortune if it turns out to be nothing, but I also don't want to ignore a real problem.…more

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