Results for "pressure cleaner"

Equipment Medium 30 minutes 213 👍 0

Do I Need a Robotic Pool Cleaner? Complete Decision Guide

During pool opening season every year, that same pushy sales guy tries convincing me I absolutely need his $1,200 robotic cleaner. They keep insisting I need it, but I'm already spending a fortune on chemicals and maintenance. I've been manually vacuuming and skimming debris myself to save money, but it's eating up my weekends.

My pool is about 25,000 gallons and sits under some oak trees, so I do get a decent amount of leaves and debris. The pool store claims a robotic cleaner will save me time and money in the long run, but I'm skeptical - feels like they're just trying to make their monthly sales quota. Are these things actually necessary or just another way to drain my wallet?…more

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Equipment Easy 30 minutes 190 👍 0

Do I Need an Automatic Pool Cleaner? Complete Guide 2026

Noticed my 18,000-gallon inground pool still looks like a swamp after following every YouTube DIY cleaning tutorial for weeks. Currently managing manual vacuuming twice weekly, but considering automation to improve efficiency and reduce maintenance time commitment.

My pool experiences moderate debris load from surrounding oak trees, particularly during fall months. Weekly chemical balancing is consistent, but manual cleaning consumes approximately 90 minutes per session. Budget allows for mid-range robotic or suction-side units.

What specific factors should determine whether automatic cleaning systems provide sufficient return on investment? Looking for technical analysis of pool size thresholds, debris management capabilities, and operational cost considerations.…more

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Equipment Easy Research and purchase: 2-4 hours 152 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Cleaner? Investment Worth Guide 2026

I got a pool cleaner sitting in my cart right now but can't shake the feeling I'm about to waste money on something I could just do myself. My neighbor swears by his robotic cleaner, but they're pretty expensive. I've got a standard rectangular inground pool with a cartridge filter system. Been maintaining it myself for about two years now, but the manual cleaning is becoming a real chore. Do I really need to buy an automatic cleaner, or am I just being lazy? What's the real difference in water quality?…more

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Editor's Pick

Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Vacuum (2026)

Wall-climbing scrubber brush and Wi-Fi control — ideal for in-ground pools up to 40 ft. View on Amazon →

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Filters Medium 1-3 hours 468 👍 0

Can Pool Filter Pressure Be Too Low? Diagnosis & Solutions

Found out from my wife that our pool filter pressure gauge has been stuck at a weirdly low 6-7 PSI all week and now I can't stop obsessing over it. My 20,000 gallon inground pool has been running fine otherwise, but I'm wondering if this low pressure is something I should be concerned about.

I've heard people talk about high filter pressure being bad, but nobody ever mentions if pressure can be too low. The pump seems to be running, but I'm not sure if the water flow looks as strong as it used to be. Water chemistry has been balanced - chlorine at 2.5 ppm, pH at 7.4, and alkalinity at 110 ppm. Should I be worried about this low pressure reading, and what could be causing it?…more

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Filters Easy 2–3 hours (including soak time) 11 👍 1

How to Deep Clean a Pool Cartridge Filter

Nobody tells you how fast sunscreen and body oils can clog up a cartridge filter. My pressure gauge has been creeping up steadily, and when I finally pulled the cartridges out, the pleats looked genuinely gunky — not just dusty, but greasy and discolored even after I sprayed them down with the garden hose. A neighbor suggested soaking them in Simple Green since it's a degreaser, but I'm nervous about it foaming up my pool water if I don't rinse it out completely.

My current routine is basically just a garden hose spray-down every few weeks, but clearly that's not cutting through the oils and sunscreen buildup. I want to know the full proper process — the right way to hose them down, whether Simple Green or a dedicated pool filter cleaner is the smarter choice, how to handle mineral scale versus greasy residue differently, and how often a real deep clean should actually happen.

Also, someone in my neighborhood group mentioned using a pressure washer to blast the pleats clean, and now I'm second-guessing everything. What should I absolutely avoid doing, and what's the correct method from start to finish?…more

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Filters Easy 30 minutes 253 👍 0

How to Clean Pool Filters: Complete DIY Cleaning Guide

Replaced my pool filter cartridge but now I'm standing in the pool supply store aisle staring at all these cleaning products with no clue which ones I actually need. I've got a cartridge filter system and I'm honestly not sure how often I should be cleaning them or what the actual process looks like.

I keep seeing conflicting info online - some people say weekly, others say monthly. And I have no clue if I'm supposed to just spray them off or if there's more involved. Would love some straightforward guidance on timing and the actual steps so I don't mess anything up!…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes 395 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Vacuum Plate? Complete Setup Guide

Noticed my 20,000-gallon inground pool vacuum's been running without a vacuum plate and now I'm worried it's dangerous with kids swimming daily. My skimmer doesn't seem to have a separate vacuum port - just the main opening where the basket sits. I've been manually vacuuming by removing the basket and connecting my vacuum hose directly to the suction line, but I lose all skimming action during the process.

The pool stays pretty clean most of the time with my regular chemical balance (chlorine at 2.0 ppm, pH 7.4, alkalinity 120 ppm), but I do need to vacuum weekly to pick up the fine debris that settles on the bottom. Would a vacuum plate help me maintain skimming while vacuuming, or is there another setup I should be considering for my skimmer configuration?…more

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Filters Easy 5 minutes 328 👍 0

How Long to Backwash Pool Sand Filter: Complete Guide

Since it's 11 PM and my sand filter pressure just spiked to dangerous levels — need to backwash this thing before my pump burns out overnight. Right now I'm dealing with my sand filter - the pressure has gone up quite a bit from when I first cleaned it, and I know it's time to backwash.

But here's my question: how long should I actually run the backwash cycle? I don't want to waste a ton of water (my utility bills are already high enough), but I also want to make sure I'm doing it properly. Is there a specific time I should aim for, or some other way to tell when it's done? I'd rather figure this out myself than pay someone else to do basic maintenance.…more

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Filters Medium 45 minutes 555 👍 0

Do DE Pool Filters Need Backwash? Complete Guide + When

Around six months ago I moved into a rental with a DE pool filter that I've never dealt with before and I'm completely lost on whether it needs backwashing. My DE pool filter's pressure gauge has shot up from the normal 12 PSI to about 22 PSI over the past month, and I'm wondering if this means I need to backwash the thing. I've been putting off maintenance because honestly, I'm not even sure how often these DE filters are supposed to be backwashed.

The water clarity has been decent but the high pressure is making me nervous that I'm about to have a bigger problem on my hands. How often should I actually be backwashing this filter, and is there anything special I need to do after backwashing a DE system? I really don't want to mess this up and create an even bigger headache.…more

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Filters Easy 15 minutes 264 👍 1

How to Know If Your Pool Filter Is Dirty: Clear Warning Signs

Around the pool supply store staring at rows of filters with absolutely no idea how to tell if mine actually needs replacing. What should I be looking for to know when my filter is getting too dirty and needs attention?

I've heard something about pressure readings, but honestly I'm not sure what numbers I should be watching for or what other warning signs might tell me it's time to clean or replace the filter media.…more

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Filters Easy 30-45 minutes 577 👍 1

Do I Need to Backwash a Cartridge Filter? Complete Guide

Around $150 is what my pool store quoted to service my cartridge filter and I'm wondering if I can just backwash it myself like other filters. Is this possible or do I need to clean it differently?…more

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Best Salt Chlorine Generators

4.3 (6,200 reviews)

Filters Easy 30 minutes 287 👍 1

How to Use a Pool Sand Filter: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

The pool sand filter that worked fine for years started giving me cloudy water last month but now it's completely dead and those expensive pool store fixes aren't working.

Can someone just give me the straight facts on how to actually operate my sand filter? I want to know the basic daily routine, when I should backwash, and how to tell if it's working properly. I'm looking for simple, practical steps I can handle myself without breaking the bank on unnecessary add-ons.…more

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Equipment Medium 45 minutes 331 👍 0

How to Vacuum Pool Without a Skimmer - 4 Easy Methods

Before the pool season even starts, my skimmer cracks from freeze damage every single year, leaving me staring at a swampy disaster. I've been dumping shock and algaecide for weeks but I know I need to vacuum out all this debris and dead algae to actually win this battle.

The problem is my skimmer is completely shot and won't be replaced for another week. Is there any way to vacuum without using the skimmer? I'm willing to try anything at this point - manual methods, different equipment, whatever it takes. I just need to get this gunk out of my pool before it gets any worse!…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes 352 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Cleaners Last? Lifespan by Type

Called three pool stores and they're all closed — my robotic cleaner just died at 11 PM mid-cycle and I need to know how long these things should last before buying another overpriced replacement tomorrow.

I want to make a smart investment and buy something that'll actually last, but I need real numbers. What's the typical lifespan I can expect from robotic cleaners versus pressure cleaners versus suction cleaners? I'm willing to do proper maintenance myself to extend the life - just tired of throwing money away on equipment that craps out after a year.…more

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Equipment Easy varies by cleaner type 387 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Cleaners Take? Complete Timing Guide

Nobody warns you that every spring when you're getting the pool ready for summer, figuring out how long cleaning actually takes becomes this recurring nightmare. I want to make sure the water is properly cleaned before they jump in, but I'm not sure how long each type of cleaner needs to run to do its job effectively.

I'm considering getting either a robotic cleaner, suction cleaner, or pressure cleaner, but I need to know how much time each one requires per cleaning cycle. I want to plan the cleaning times around when the kids aren't swimming, so knowing the exact duration would really help me create a safe routine that keeps the water clean without interfering with their swim time.…more

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