Results for "chloramines"

Salt Water Medium 8-24 hours 240 👍 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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Filters Medium 2-3 hours for treatment process 186 👍 0

Can Pool Filter Sand Be Used in Garden? Complete Guide

I got stuck with 200 pounds of nasty used pool filter sand that the previous owner left behind when I moved in. Been in my filter for 3 years. Wondering if I can dump this in my vegetable garden or if the chlorine and other pool chemicals make it unsafe for plants. Anyone know if there's a way to clean it first or should I just toss it?…more

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Filters Medium 2-3 hours over multiple days 177 👍 0

Can You Use Pool Filter Sand in Your Garden? Complete Guide

During this morning's pool filter sand swap, I spotted this massive pile of perfectly good sand that I'm about to dump in the trash. The pool store told me it's just silica sand, but I'm worried about chemicals and chlorine that might still be in it from filtering pool water.

I've heard that sand can help with drainage in heavy clay soil, which I definitely have in my backyard. But I want to make sure I won't harm my plants or vegetables if I use the old filter sand. Do I need to clean it first or test it somehow? Any advice from experienced pool owners would be really helpful!…more

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Best Solar Pool Skimmers

4.4 (8,400 reviews)

Algae Green Pool Easy immediate recognition 162 👍 0

Can Green Pool Water Make You Sick? Health Risks Explained

Nobody believed me when I said our pool looked dangerous until my husband walked outside and said it resembles a literal swamp. I know it looks gross but is green water actually dangerous or just unsightly?

What kind of health problems can you get from swimming in algae water? Should I keep everyone out until it's crystal clear again?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2-3 hours for water correction 158 👍 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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Maintenance Medium 30 minutes 151 👍 0

Do I Need to Shock My Pool Weekly? Complete Frequency Guide

According to my test strips, my pool's chlorine levels are doing something bizarre — dropping to zero right after shocking, then spiking without me adding anything. My pool store guy says I should shock every week no matter what, but that seems like overkill (and expensive!). My neighbor says he only shocks when there's a problem.

I've got a pretty standard setup and we use the pool regularly but not crazy amounts. The water looks fine most of the time. Am I supposed to be shocking weekly or can I get away with less? What actually determines when you need to shock?…more

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Filters Medium 2-4 hours 145 👍 0

How to Clean Pool Filter Sand: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Pool filter pressure keeps climbing back up within days of backwashing and I'm starting to think the sand itself is the problem. It's been in there six years and I've never actually cleaned the sand — just backwashed. Is there a way to deep clean filter sand without replacing it entirely?…more

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Cloudy Water Easy 24-48 hours 143 👍 0

Can I Swim in a Cloudy Pool? Safety Risks & Quick Fixes

Every time I walk down the pool supply store aisle staring at clarifiers and shock treatments, I have no clue which one I actually need for my cloudy 20,000 gallon inground pool that's been murky for days. The water isn't crystal clear like it usually is - you can't see the bottom clearly and visibility is definitely reduced. I've been maintaining what I thought were proper chemical levels, but I'm starting to wonder if there's an imbalance or contamination issue.

I'm particularly concerned about safety risks since we have young kids who love to swim. Could the cloudiness indicate bacteria or other contaminants that might make us sick? What specific dangers should I be worried about with reduced visibility in the water? Should we stay out of the pool until I can get this cleared up, or is it generally okay to swim as long as the chlorine levels seem normal?…more

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Maintenance Easy immediate 141 👍 0

Swimming Pool Safety During Pregnancy: Complete Guide

Three months into my first pregnancy and I'm completely clueless about whether it's actually safe to keep using our backyard pool. My doctor said exercise is good but didn't give specifics about pools. Concerned about chemicals like chlorine and whether the water temperature matters. What safety precautions should I take?…more

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Filters Medium 2-4 hours 139 👍 0

Does Pool Filter Sand Type Matter? Complete Sand Guide

Last week my pool guy swore 20-silica sand is all the same, but my filter's clogging in 2 months instead of the 6-month replacement schedule everyone talks about. The guy there was trying to sell me on some fancy zeolite stuff that costs way more than regular sand.

I mean, sand is sand, right? Or does the type actually affect how well it filters and how often I'll need to backwash? Don't want to cheap out if it means dealing with cloudy water all summer, but also don't want to get upsold on something that's just marketing hype.…more

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Salt Water Easy 30 minutes 132 👍 0

Can Salt Water Pools Cause UTI? Pool Safety & Prevention

During my first summer with a salt water pool, I keep getting UTIs and have absolutely no clue if the pool could be causing them. Family swims daily but I'm paranoid about UTIs. Do salt water pools actually cause urinary tract infections or is that just a myth?

What chlorine levels should I maintain to keep everyone safe? Pool store guy said 2-4 ppm but want to double check before letting the kids swim more.…more

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Best Robotic Pool Cleaners

4.6 (28,500 reviews)

Water Chemistry Medium 45 minutes 129 👍 0

Can Pool Chlorine Make You Sick? Health Effects Explained

Opened my pool this season after adjusting pH levels, switching chlorine brands, and getting professional water testing — but my family still gets red eyes and skin irritation after swimming. We've been experiencing eye irritation and some skin redness after swimming, but I'm also worried about not having enough chlorine to kill bacteria and other nasties.

My latest test results show chlorine at around 5-6 ppm, and my CYA is sitting at about 50 ppm. I've been using liquid chlorine and shocking weekly with calcium hypochlorite. Sometimes the chlorine drops really low between treatments, maybe down to 0.5-1 ppm, especially after heavy use or rain.

What's the sweet spot for chlorine levels to avoid both chemical irritation and harmful bacteria? I want to keep everyone healthy but not sure if I should be targeting higher or lower numbers based on my current CYA level.…more

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Algae Green Pool Medium 30 minutes 124 👍 0

Do Pool Covers Cause Algae? Prevention & Solutions Guide

Last month I moved into a house and discovered the previous owner's pool cover routine left me with constant algae blooms despite maintaining proper chlorine levels. I've been dumping shock and algaecide like crazy, but it keeps happening whenever I cover the pool.

Is the cover actually causing this algae growth? I thought covers were supposed to help keep pools clean, but mine seems to be doing the opposite. What am I missing here? There has to be a way to use a cover without turning my pool into a green swamp every week.…more

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Maintenance Easy 15 minutes to 48 hours 124 👍 0

How Long After Pool Cleaning Can I Swim? Safe Wait Times

I noticed after the pool service truck left today that nobody can agree on how long I actually need to wait before diving in. Sometimes I do basic skimming and vacuuming, other times I'm adding shock or algaecide, and occasionally I have to do a full chemical rebalancing. Each situation feels different but I never know how long I should actually wait.

I really want to enjoy my pool this summer, but I also don't want to risk getting sick or having skin irritation from jumping in too soon. Can someone break down the actual wait times based on what type of cleaning or treatment I've done? I'm tired of guessing and would love some clear guidelines I can follow.…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 15 minutes 119 👍 0

Can Pool Chlorine Kill Lice? Head, Body & Pubic Lice Facts

Nobody believed me when I said the lice problem started with just one kid last month, but now half our swim team is infected and I'm questioning everything about pool chlorine. My pool maintains standard chlorine levels between 1-3 ppm as recommended for safe swimming.

Specifically, I need to understand whether these typical chlorination concentrations are sufficient to kill lice parasites, or if higher chemical levels would be required. I'm also concerned about what concentration thresholds would become unsafe for human exposure while swimming.…more

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