Results for "air leaks"

Above Ground Medium 2-4 hours 176 👍 0

Above Ground Pool Problems: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Our above ground pool faces the exact same maddening issues every single spring, and we're tired of getting ripped off by overpriced pool store "solutions. Between overpriced chemicals and costly service calls, I'm looking to become more self-sufficient with pool maintenance.

My pool seems to have different issues throughout the season - sometimes the water looks off, other times the pump isn't working right, and occasionally I notice problems with the liner or walls. Rather than guessing or getting upsold every time, I'd love a systematic way to figure out what's actually wrong so I can tackle these problems myself and save some money.…more

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Maintenance Medium varies by task 163 👍 0

Wrong Question? Pool Maintenance Help Not Airline Miles

I found this weird cloudy film floating all over my pool surface that I can't figure out. I'm a brand new pool owner and honestly have no idea what I'm doing. My water looks cloudy and I'm not sure if my chemicals are right.

The pool store gave me a bunch of products but I'm worried I'll mess something up. Could someone point me toward a good guide for basic pool maintenance? I just want to get my water crystal clear and make sure everything is balanced properly. Any comprehensive resources for beginners would be amazing!…more

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Heaters Medium 2-4 hours for protective measures 162 👍 0

Can Pool Heaters Get Wet? Complete Weatherproofing Guide

Somewhere between last week's torrential downpour and watching my kids cannon-ball into the pool nonstop, I started panicking about whether our new heater is actually waterproof. We had it installed last month, but I'm concerned about whether it can handle direct rain, sprinkler overspray, and the humid conditions around our pool area.

Should I be covering it during storms? I want to make sure it stays safe and keeps working properly so the water temperature is always comfortable for the kids. What kind of protection does it actually need from water exposure?…more

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Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Above Ground Pools

4.3 (22,100 reviews)

Pump Problems Medium 30 minutes 155 👍 0

Can You Run Pool Pump Without Skimmer? Safe Solutions

Every pool owner seems to swear by replacement skimmer baskets, but I'm wondering if I'm about to waste money on this cracked assembly replacement? I have a 20,000 gallon inground pool with both a main drain and skimmer line feeding into the pump. The skimmer is currently letting air into the system and causing the pump to lose prime intermittently.

I'm wondering if I can temporarily close off the skimmer line completely and just run the pump using suction from the main drain until I can fix the skimmer properly. Will this provide adequate circulation for my pool size, and are there any risks I should be aware of? I'm concerned about whether the main drain alone can handle all the filtration needs and if this might cause any damage to my pump or affect water quality during this temporary period.…more

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Above Ground Medium 8-12 hours 146 👍 0

Above Ground Pool Installation: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

I opened up my homeowner's insurance policy before starting this above ground pool installation — would any damage to underground utilities actually be covered? What's the actual process? Need to know about site prep, what order to assemble everything, and how long this will realistically take. Don't want to mess this up.…more

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Heaters Medium 15 minutes 143 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Heaters Last? Lifespan by Type & Maintenance

Found out after calling three different pool supply stores that each one gave me a totally different answer about how long my heater should last. I've been looking at gas, electric, and heat pump options, but I'm finding conflicting information about how long each type typically lasts.

My pool gets heavy use from April through October, and I'm pretty good about maintaining proper water chemistry (pH around 7.2-7.6, chlorine 1-3 ppm, alkalinity 80-120 ppm). I'm wondering if the heater type makes a significant difference in longevity, and whether factors like usage patterns and water balance really impact lifespan as much as some dealers claim.

What should I realistically expect for lifespan from gas vs electric vs heat pump heaters? I want to factor replacement costs into my decision since this is a long-term investment for our family.…more

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Winterizing Medium 2-3 hours 141 👍 0

Should I Cover My Pool Heater in Winter? Complete Guide

Our new house came with a Pentair heat pump that the previous owner left completely exposed to the elements with zero winter protection. I have a Pentair heat pump that I've been using throughout the swimming season, and I'm wondering about proper winterization procedures.

I've heard conflicting advice about whether pool heaters need to be covered during the off-season. Some neighbors with gas heaters say they just shut them down and leave them exposed, while others insist that all heaters should be covered regardless of type. My heat pump manufacturer's manual mentions winterization but isn't super clear about covering requirements.

Given our climate with snow, ice, and temperatures that can drop below freezing for extended periods, what's the best practice for protecting different types of pool heaters? Does it matter if it's a heat pump versus a gas heater, and are there specific covers or protection methods that work best for harsh winter conditions?…more

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Equipment Medium 45 minutes 138 👍 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 45 minutes 138 👍 0

How to Vacuum Your Pool: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Called three pool stores asking which vacuum head to buy and got three different answers, now I'm more confused than when I started. Last time I tried, I think I messed up the connection and didn't get good suction.

What's the right order to hook everything up? And is there a technique to actually vacuuming that works better than just randomly pushing it around? I feel like I'm missing some obvious steps here!…more

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Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes 136 👍 0

How to Tell if Your Pool Pump Isn't Working Properly

This 4-year-old pool pump is turning my once-crystal-clear water cloudy and stagnant — is it worth repairing or should I just replace the whole thing? I'm not super technical when it comes to pool equipment, so I'm not sure what warning signs I should be watching for.

What are the telltale signs that indicate my pump isn't doing its job properly? I want to catch any problems before they turn into expensive repairs or leave me with a swamp instead of a swimming pool!…more

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Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes to set up winter schedule 132 👍 0

Should You Run Your Pool Pump in Winter? Complete Guide

Pulled the cover off my pool this winter and realized I have absolutely no clue whether I'm supposed to keep this pump running or not. The pool store told me I still need to run the pump during winter, but they didn't really explain how long or when.

I live in an area where it gets cold but doesn't freeze every day. Do I need to run it the same 8 hours I've been doing all summer? And what happens if we do get a freeze - should I do anything different? I really don't want to mess up the equipment since I'm still learning all this stuff.…more

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Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Robotic Pool Cleaners

4.6 (28,500 reviews)

Filters Easy 45-90 minutes 130 👍 0

Can I Vacuum Pool on Waste? Complete Filter Setting Guide

Halfway through prepping for our pool party this Saturday, I realized I have no clue which filter setting to use when vacuuming all this debris. I've got some pretty heavy debris that's settled on the bottom of my pool after a storm, and I'm worried about clogging up my filter if I vacuum it all up normally.

The guy at the pool store mentioned something about using the "waste" setting when vacuuming, but I didn't really understand what he meant. Does this actually work, and when should I be using waste instead of the regular filter setting? I don't want to mess anything up since I'm still learning all this stuff.…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes 129 👍 0

Do Pool Skimmers Work? Complete Effectiveness Guide

Three weeks ago my husband casually mentioned that our pool skimmers aren't picking up leaves or surface oils, and now I'm obsessing over whether they're broken. My pool consistently accumulates leaves, insects, and surface oils, and I want to understand if the skimmers are operating at optimal capacity or if there are performance factors I should be monitoring.

Specifically, I need to know the percentage of surface debris that properly functioning skimmers should capture, and what maintenance parameters directly impact their removal efficiency. Are there measurable benchmarks for skimmer performance that indicate when the system is working correctly versus when adjustments are needed?…more

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Leaks Medium 30 minutes to 2 hours 127 👍 0

Can Pool Leaks Be Fixed? Complete Repair Guide 2024

Got a pool that keeps losing water with exposed equipment around the edges — is this dangerous with kids constantly playing in the yard? I've tried those DIY leak detection methods I found online but honestly can't tell if it's the liner, the plumbing, or something else entirely.

Before I throw in the towel and call it quits on pool ownership, I need to know - can pool leaks actually be fixed for good? I don't want some temporary band-aid solution that'll fail again next season. Are there reliable repair methods that will solve this nightmare once and for all, or am I just fooling myself thinking this can be permanently resolved?…more

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Heaters Medium 15 minutes reading 127 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Heaters Last? Complete Lifespan Guide

Standing next to my ancient pool heater that's been making weird noises, is it dangerous to keep running it another season with kids constantly using our 20,000-gallon inground pool?

From what I've researched, there seem to be pretty significant differences in how long each type lasts, but I'm getting conflicting information. Some sources say gas heaters burn out faster due to the combustion process, while others claim electric units fail sooner because of the heating elements. I'm also curious about heat pumps since they're more energy efficient, but I wonder if that translates to longer equipment life.

What should I realistically expect in terms of lifespan for each heater type? I'm willing to do proper maintenance and won't be running it constantly - probably just weekends and evenings during swimming season. Are there specific factors that significantly impact how long these units last?…more

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