Results for "commercial-pools"

Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes 200 👍 0

Can You Run Pool Pump Without Filter? Risks & Solutions

Somewhere between my husband questioning why our pool pump is running without a filter cartridge and my growing panic, I'm wondering if I'm actually damaging something. My filter cartridge is completely clogged and I need to replace it, but my kids are asking to swim this afternoon. I'm wondering if I can just run the pump without any filter for a few hours until I can get to the pool store.

I know this probably isn't ideal, but would it cause any serious damage to the pump or create unsafe water conditions? I don't want to risk my children's safety, but I also don't want to damage our equipment if there's a way to manage this temporarily.…more

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Filters Medium 45 minutes 192 👍 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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Above Ground Medium 30-45 minutes 161 👍 0

Can You Clean Pool Liner with Bleach? Safe Methods & Tips

Halfway through cleaning my new vinyl liner with the same bleach method that worked perfectly on my old above-ground pool, I'm wondering if I'm damaging it. They always push these expensive chemicals and act like regular household products will destroy my pool. I've got some stains and algae buildup on my vinyl liner that need attention, and I'm wondering if I can just use regular bleach to clean it.

I know bleach is basically chlorine, which is already in my pool, but I want to make sure I won't damage the liner if I use it directly. Has anyone successfully cleaned their pool liner with household bleach? If so, do I need to dilute it or can I use it straight from the bottle? Looking for some honest DIY advice from people who aren't trying to upsell me!…more

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Product Ranking 10 compared

Best Pool Water Test Kits

4.6 (45,200 reviews)

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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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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Filters Easy 30 minutes 139 👍 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 30 minutes 125 👍 0

How to Backwash Cartridge Pool Filter - Complete Guide

Despite replacing my cartridge pool filter twice already this season, it's clogged again and I'm done guessing whether to backwash or buy another replacement. The previous owner left behind what looks like a cartridge filter system, but I keep reading about backwashing filters online and I'm getting confused.

I went to the pool store and they mentioned something about cleaning cartridges differently than other filters, but I didn't fully understand. Can you actually backwash a cartridge filter like you would with sand filters? If not, what's the proper way to maintain these things? I want to make sure I'm taking care of my pool correctly from the start.…more

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Filters Medium 45 minutes 119 👍 0

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

I woke up to a $180 quote for cleaning my DE pool filter and I'm wondering if this is something I can tackle myself as a new homeowner. The previous owner left me with a DE filter system and I'm trying to figure out the maintenance routine. The pool store told me I need to backwash regularly, but they weren't super clear on the details.

How often should I be backwashing? And do I need to do anything else besides just hitting the backwash cycle? I want to make sure I'm taking proper care of the filter so I don't mess anything up in my first season as a pool owner.…more

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Winterizing Medium 2-4 hours 116 👍 0

Can I Open Pool Cover With Water On It? Safe Removal Guide

Finally facing spring opening and worried it's dangerous to remove my winter pool cover with all that standing water on top while my kids are constantly playing nearby? Can I just pull it off like this or do I need to get the water off first? Don't want to mess up my pool water or damage anything.…more

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Above Ground Medium 2-3 hours 115 👍 0

How to Clean Pool Liner: Complete Above Ground Pool Guide

Three days until our big pool party and I'm staring at an above ground pool liner that looks absolutely revolting. The liner is starting to look a bit grimy and I can see some algae spots forming near the waterline. The pool store told me I need to clean it regularly but didn't give me specifics on how to do it safely.

I'm worried about damaging the vinyl since it wasn't cheap to replace. What kind of cleaner should I use, and what's the proper technique? I have a regular scrub brush but I'm not sure if that's too harsh. Should I be checking my water chemistry first before cleaning? Any guidance would be really appreciated since I don't want to mess this up!…more

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Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes 114 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Cover Pumps Last? Lifespan & Replacement

This morning I discovered my pool cover pump completely dead after last week's torrential downpour, and now I'm questioning whether four years is actually normal lifespan. I'm looking at replacements and there's such a huge price range - from like $50 cheap ones to $300+ fancy models.

Before I drop the cash, what's a realistic lifespan I should expect? Is it worth spending more upfront, or do they all basically crap out after a few seasons anyway? Mine gets pretty beat up sitting outside through our harsh winters, so I'm not sure if that's just the nature of the beast or if I should be getting more years out of these things.…more

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Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Pool Covers

4.5 (11,300 reviews)

Filters Easy 20-30 minutes 111 👍 0

Do Sand Pool Filters Need Cleaning? Complete Maintenance Guide

Apparently the manual says to backwash my sand filter every few weeks, but that doesn't match what the pool store is telling me about maintenance. I have a sand filter system and the pool store told me I'd need to clean it sometimes, but they didn't really explain how often or what that involves.

I've been running the filter daily and the water looks pretty good so far, but I want to make sure I'm not missing something important. Should I be doing something regularly to keep the sand filter working properly? And how long does the sand itself typically last before it needs to be replaced?…more

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Equipment Easy 30 minutes 109 👍 0

Does Walmart Have Pool Vacuums In Store? Complete Guide

Opened up my Walmart app hoping to snag a pool vacuum like I did for my old 18-footer, but this 24-foot pool might need something different. My pool holds about 13,500 gallons and I've been maintaining proper chlorine levels around 2-3 ppm, but I'm still getting debris and algae buildup on the bottom that my skimmer can't handle.

I've been looking into different vacuum options - manual, automatic, and even some of the newer robotic models. Since I prefer to see products in person before buying, especially for something this important, I'm wondering if Walmart typically stocks pool vacuums in their physical stores? I know inventory can vary quite a bit by location and time of year, so I want to make sure I'm not wasting a trip to the store if they don't carry them locally.…more

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Filters Easy 30 minutes 108 👍 0

How to Clean Pool Cartridge Filters - Complete Guide

Since following that popular YouTube tutorial on cleaning my cartridge filters, they're somehow more clogged than before and my flow rate dropped even worse. My current filters are showing signs of debris accumulation and reduced flow rates, indicating it's time for cleaning.

What's the correct methodology for cleaning these filters, and what frequency should I maintain for optimal filtration performance? I want to ensure I'm following proper procedures to maximize filter lifespan while maintaining water quality standards.…more

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Filters Medium 4-6 hours 100 👍 0

When to Replace Pool Filter Sand: Complete Change Schedule

Nobody warned me I'd be stuck choosing between replacing my pool filter sand or dumping more money into chemicals for this cloudy mess that won't clear up. The water chemistry tests fine, but it still looks like swamp water. I'm starting to wonder if my sand filter is the problem.

I honestly can't remember the last time I changed the filter sand. It's been at least 4-5 years, maybe longer? The pool gets heavy use with kids jumping in constantly all summer. How often are you supposed to replace pool filter sand anyway? Could old sand really be causing all these water quality issues even when I'm maintaining proper chemical levels?…more

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