Results for "calcium buildup"

Salt Water Medium 45 minutes 689 👍 0

How Salt Water Pool Systems Work: Complete Guide 2024

Despite my pool guy insisting I need to understand salt water electrolysis to maintain my system, his overly technical explanation makes me think he's overcomplicating things.
Specifically, what happens at the cellular level when salt water passes through the system? How does dissolved sodium chloride get converted into an effective sanitizing agent, and what role does electrolysis play in this conversion process? I want to grasp the complete operational mechanism before investing in this technology.…more

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Salt Water Medium 8-24 hours 499 👍 0

Should I Turn Off Salt Cell When Shocking Pool? Expert Guide

Staring at my salt cell wondering if I need to turn it off before shocking my pool — can't afford a $200 service call right now.

Should the salt chlorine generator be turned off while administering shock treatment, or can it continue running?

I want to ensure I'm following correct procedures to avoid any potential equipment damage or interference with the shock's effectiveness. What's the standard protocol for salt cell operation during chemical shock applications?…more

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Heaters Easy 30 minutes 422 👍 0

Do You Need Pool Heating in Orlando in April? Temperature Guide

Woke up this morning realizing our pool party is this weekend and I have no idea if April water temps in Orlando will freeze our guests out without heating. What are typical pool temperatures in April without a heater? Is it warm enough to swim comfortably or should I budget for heating equipment?…more

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Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Robotic Pool Cleaners

4.6 (28,500 reviews)

Salt Water Medium 45 minutes 358 👍 0

How to Know If Your Pool Salt Cell Is Bad - 7 Warning Signs

Opened up my new place's pool equipment for the first time and this salt cell has crusty white buildup everywhere while chlorine levels keep tanking.

What are the telltale signs that a salt cell is actually failing? I don't want to replace it unnecessarily, but I also don't want to keep throwing money at chemicals if the real problem is a dead cell. Are there specific things I should check or test to know for sure?…more

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Salt Water Medium 10 minutes 326 👍 0

How Pool Salt Cells Work: Electrolysis Process Explained

I tried figuring out how my neighbor's salt cell creates perfect chlorinated water while mine struggles, but I'm completely lost on how salt actually becomes chlorine.
Like, I get that I add salt to the pool and somehow it becomes chlorine, but what's the actual process happening in there?

Is it some kind of chemical reaction or what? And why does my pH always seem to creep up when the salt cell is running - is that related to whatever's going on inside the cell too?…more

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Filters Medium 45 minutes 324 👍 0

Can I Clean Pool Filter With Bleach? Safe Methods Explained

Somewhere in my garage looking at this disgusting pool filter with brown sludge and nasty buildup caked all over the pleats, wondering if bleach is safe. Is this actually safe to do?

I have what I think is a cartridge filter (it's the white pleated kind), and I'm worried about damaging it or my pool equipment if I use the wrong cleaning method. The pool store told me about expensive filter cleaners, but I'm wondering if regular bleach from the grocery store would work just as well. Should I dilute it somehow, and are there any types of filters I should avoid using bleach on?…more

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Salt Water Medium 5-10 days with mail-in service 296 👍 0

Can Pool Salt Cells Be Rebuilt? Complete Repair Guide

Woke up to a dead salt cell again — thing works flawlessly when it's under 85 degrees but won't generate a drop of chlorine once we hit the 90s. A local pool tech mentioned that these cells can sometimes be rebuilt by replacing the internal titanium plates, which would cost significantly less than buying a brand new unit.

I'm worried about whether a rebuilt cell would be as reliable and safe for my kids as a new one. The housing on our current cell looks fine, no cracks or damage that I can see. Has anyone had experience with rebuilding salt cells? I want to make sure we're not compromising water quality or safety just to save money. What should I consider before deciding between rebuilding versus replacing entirely?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2-3 hours for water correction 258 👍 0

Can Pool Chemicals Cause a Rash? Complete Guide & Solutions

Last week my kids broke out in red, itchy rashes after swimming, and I'm worried the pool chemicals might be dangerous - should I keep them out? Red, itchy patches on my arms and chest after getting out. Is this from the chlorine or other chemicals? Water looks clear but maybe something's off with the balance. What should I test for and how do I fix this?…more

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Leaks Medium 45 minutes 256 👍 0

Can Pool Jets Leak? Diagnosis & Repair Guide

I turned to a second opinion after my pool contractor quoted $3,000 to replumb my entire return system when I suspect these leaking jets might just need a simple repair. I keep losing water and can't pinpoint where it's going. The jets seem like the obvious suspect since they're these openings in the wall, but I honestly have no clue how they're put together or what could go wrong with them.

Is it even possible for the actual jets to leak? And if so, where would the leak typically happen - like around the edges where they meet the pool wall, or somewhere else entirely?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 30-60 minutes 247 👍 0

Can You Vacuum Pool After Adding Chemicals? Safety Guide

Despite adding chlorine shock and algaecide yesterday, is it dangerous to vacuum my pool with my kids swimming here regularly? Can I start vacuuming immediately or do I need to wait? Don't want to mess up the chemical distribution or damage my equipment.…more

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Above Ground Hard 2-3 days 240 👍 0

Can You Paint Pool Liner? Expert Guide for Above-Ground Pools

Staring at my faded above-ground pool liner, I'm probably crazy for wondering this, but can you actually paint these things? The liner has some areas that don't look great and I was wondering if I could just paint over them to freshen things up.

Someone at the pool store mentioned that painting liners might not always work, but they weren't sure about the details. I have a vinyl liner - is that something I can paint? Or are there certain types of liners that work better for painting than others? I really don't want to mess anything up or void my warranty since I'm so new to all this pool maintenance stuff.…more

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Product Ranking 5 compared

Best Solar Pool Skimmers

4.4 (8,400 reviews)

Filters Easy 30 minutes 239 👍 0

Can You Pressure Wash Pool Filters? Safe Cleaning Guide

Between my pool party this Saturday and getting completely conflicting advice on pressure washing cartridge versus DE filters, I'm running out of time to figure this out.

My current setup includes cartridge filters, but I'm considering switching to either DE or sand filtration depending on cleaning requirements.

What are the specific limitations and recommended procedures for pressure washing each filter type? I want to ensure I'm using appropriate PSI settings and techniques to avoid damaging the filtration media while achieving optimal cleaning results.…more

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Filters Easy 3-4 hours including soak time 229 👍 0

Can You Clean Pool Filters with Vinegar? Complete Guide

Looked at my pool filter after buying my first house and honestly have zero clue if I need some expensive cleaner or if vinegar works. My cartridge filter has some white buildup on it that looks like calcium deposits, and I've heard people mention using vinegar as a cleaner around the house.

Is it safe to clean pool filters with vinegar? If so, how would I go about doing it? The pool store mentioned something about different types of filters having different cleaning methods, so I want to make sure I don't damage anything. Any guidance would be really appreciated!…more

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Heaters Medium varies by setup 228 👍 0

How Long Pool Heaters Take to Heat Up - Complete Guide

After years of relying on my old gas heater's predictable 24-hour heating schedule, this new heat pump is throwing me completely off track. They keep pushing expensive systems without giving me straight answers about actual heating performance. I need to know the real deal on how long different heater types actually take to warm up a pool.

Specifically, what's the realistic heating rate for gas heaters versus heat pumps? I keep hearing conflicting info and I'm trying to make an informed decision without getting upsold on features I don't need. Just want honest numbers on temperature rise per hour so I can figure out what works for my situation and budget.…more

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Algae Green Pool Medium 3-7 days for full treatment 227 👍 0

Can Pool Algae Cause a Rash? Health Risks & Prevention

Around noon yesterday I finished scrubbing down my pool walls but this morning there's green stuff growing back — could this algae be what's causing the rash on my arms? I've been swimming in it a few times and now I'm wondering if that could be causing the skin irritation I've been experiencing. The pool store told me it's algae and that I need to treat it, but I'm curious about the health risks.

Can pool algae actually cause rashes or other skin problems? I'm worried about my family swimming in it, and I want to understand what I'm dealing with before I start dumping chemicals in. Any guidance on how serious this is and what I should do to fix it would be really appreciated!…more

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