Results for "cartridge-filters"

Water Chemistry Medium 2-3 days 271 👍 0

How to Fix Pool Stabilizer Level: Complete CYA Guide

Nobody warned me I'd walk out this morning to find my pool showing a 28 ppm CYA reading that has me completely baffled about what to do next.

For low stabilizer situations, what's the exact amount of cyanuric acid needed per gallon of pool water to achieve specific ppm increases? Additionally, I've read that high CYA levels present different challenges - what are the recommended approaches when levels exceed acceptable thresholds? I need reliable technical guidance for both scenarios to maintain proper water chemistry balance.…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 15 minutes 133 👍 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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Best Above Ground Pools

4.3 (22,100 reviews)

Above Ground Easy 30 minutes 124 👍 0

Do Intex Pools Need Chemicals? Complete Chemical Guide

Last summer when I finally set up my first Intex Easy Set (12 feet, about 2,400 gallons), I've been completely lost on what chemicals I actually need. The manual mentions using chemicals but doesn't give much detail about what's actually required.

I've been running the filter pump for a few days now, but I'm starting to see some cloudy water and what might be the beginning of algae growth on the walls. Do Intex pools really need the same chemical treatment as regular in-ground pools? What's the minimum I need to keep the water safe for my kids to swim in? I want to make sure I'm doing this right from the start.…more

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Algae Green Pool Hard 3-7 days for proper treatment, 1 day for emergency closing 121 👍 0

Can You Close a Green Pool? Complete Winter Closing Guide

Our backyard pool is completely covered in thick green algae right now, but with winter coming and two young kids who love swimming, I'm not sure what to do.

I've heard that leaving algae over winter can make things worse, but I'm also concerned about using harsh chemicals with the kids playing nearby. What's the safest approach for families? Should I treat the algae before closing, or are there other winterizing options that won't create bigger problems come spring when the kids want to swim again?…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes to understand 121 👍 0

How Pool Skimmers Work: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Walked out to check my pool skimmer this morning and I'm staring at all these mysterious parts with zero clue how they work together. They keep pitching fancy skimmer upgrades and I don't even know how my current skimmer is supposed to work in the first place.

I see leaves and bugs floating on the surface and sometimes they get sucked into that rectangular opening, but other times debris just sits there. Is there something I should be doing differently, or is this normal? I'd rather understand the basics before these salespeople convince me I need to spend hundreds on upgrades.

Basically, what's the step-by-step process of how water and debris move through a skimmer system? I want to know if mine is working properly or if there's a DIY fix I can try first.…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 30 minutes 120 👍 0

Do Fiberglass Pools Need Calcium? Complete Guide 2024

Since I'm dropping serious money on a fiberglass pool installation, I keep getting conflicting advice about calcium — do I actually need it or are pool stores just pushing expensive chemicals? I keep reading conflicting information - some sources say fiberglass pools need the same calcium as concrete pools, others say they're completely different.

My test strips show my calcium hardness is around 120 ppm right now, and I'm worried I'm either going to damage my equipment or mess up my water chemistry even more. Do fiberglass pools actually need calcium, and if so, what's the proper range I should be targeting? I just want to get this right once and for all!…more

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Pump Problems Easy 30 minutes 112 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Pump? Essential Pool Circulation Guide

Halfway through budgeting for this pool pump setup — would something like this actually be covered under my homeowner's policy or am I paying full price? The pump seems expensive and I'm wondering if I can skip it or use something cheaper.

Can a pool function without a pump? What exactly does it do that I can't do manually?…more

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Filters Easy 5 minutes 108 👍 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 Easy 15 minutes 106 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Filter Cartridges Last? Complete Guide

Woke up to cloudy pool water again and realized I'm already on my third set of cartridge filters since moving into this rental two months ago! I've been replacing mine every month because that's what the pool store told me, but honestly I have no idea if that's actually necessary or if they're just trying to sell me more stuff.

My pool gets used pretty regularly by the family, and I try to keep up with cleaning the cartridges when they look dirty. But I'm never sure if I should keep cleaning them or just bite the bullet and buy new ones. How do I know when they're actually done for? There has to be some way to tell when cleaning isn't cutting it anymore, right?…more

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Algae Green Pool Medium 3-7 days 49 👍 1

Is Pool Algae Dangerous? Health Risks of Swimming in Algae

Found green algae covering my pool after being away for two weeks. Shocked it twice, brushed the walls, ran the filter non-stop for 48 hours — water's still green as swamp water. My kids are begging to swim and asking if a little algae will hurt them. Replaced the cartridge filter yesterday and added more chlorine but I'm wondering about health risks while I'm fighting this mess.…more

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