Results for "household-bleach"

Pump Problems Medium Professional installation required 1,022 👍 18

Can You Run a Pool Pump on Extension Cord? Safety Guide

After planning our pool party for this Saturday, I discovered my pump outlet is nowhere near the pool equipment pad and I'm scrambling for solutions. The pool store wants me to hire an electrician to install a dedicated circuit for my new pump, but they're quoting me over $800 just for the electrical work. That's on top of what I already spent on the pump itself!

Can I just run a heavy-duty extension cord from my garage outlet to save some money? I've got a 12-gauge outdoor cord that should handle the load. I'm trying to avoid another expensive "professional installation" if I can help it - seems like everything pool-related has to be done by a specialist these days.…more

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Winterizing Medium 2-3 hours 667 👍 16

Can Pool Covers Be Recycled? Complete Disposal Guide

Opened my pool storage shed yesterday to find my cover completely shredded after years of patches, and now I'm stuck with this massive tarp I can't dispose of properly. I really don't want to just throw it in the dumpster if there's a better option - it seems like such a waste!

I called my local recycling center and they had no clue what I was talking about. The cover is one of those vinyl ones with the foam backing, so it's not like it's a single material. Does anyone know if there are places that actually take these things? I'm hoping there's some specialized facility or program I don't know about, because sending this thing to a landfill feels wrong.…more

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Maintenance Medium 1-3 days for installation 360 👍 1

Pool Fence Requirements: Do You Need One? Safety Guide 2026

According to my contractor, I'm looking at $3,200 for pool fencing and wondering if it's actually legally required before my installation is complete.

Anyone know the actual requirements? Like how deep does a pool have to be before you need fencing, and are there specific rules about the fence height or gate types? Just want to make sure I'm following all the safety regulations and not getting hit with any surprise violations from the city!…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 15 minutes 355 👍 0

Do I Need pH Up and Down for Pool? Essential pH Guide

My husband casually mentioned that we're the only neighbors who stock both pH Up AND pH Down, and now I'm suspicious the pool store is playing us. That's like $40-50 just for pH adjustment chemicals alone!

Is this just upselling, or do I actually need to keep both products on hand? My pool seems to drift one way or the other pH-wise, but rarely both directions. Looking for some honest advice from people who aren't trying to empty my wallet every time I walk in for supplies.…more

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Above Ground Medium 4-8 hours 348 👍 0

How to Drain Above Ground Pool - Complete Safety Guide

Three different sources are telling me wildly different drain times for my above ground pool — my contractor says 6-8 hours but the pump manual clearly states 2-3 hours maximum. Now they want to charge me $300 just to drain my above ground pool for the winter! That's ridiculous.

I know I can do this myself but I want to make sure I don't mess up my liner or damage anything. What's the safest DIY method to drain it? I've heard about using pumps or some kind of siphon thing, but I don't want to risk doing it wrong and having to buy a whole new pool setup.…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 30 minutes 337 👍 0

How to Raise Pool pH: Complete Guide to pH Increaser

Before I dump chemicals into my pool, I'm trying to decide between adding baking soda or actual pH increaser to bring it up from 7.0. The pool store told me I need to raise it, but they mentioned a couple different chemicals and I'm honestly a bit confused about which one to use.

I've heard about soda ash and baking soda, but I'm not sure what the difference is or how much I should add to my 20,000 gallon pool. I really don't want to mess this up and swing it too far the other way. Should I be adding the chemicals slowly, and do I need to have my pump running when I do it? Any guidance would be really appreciated!…more

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Filters Medium 45 minutes 314 👍 1

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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Above Ground Medium 15 minutes 291 👍 0

How Long Do Inground Pool Liners Last? Complete Guide

Replaced my inground pool liner three years ago — the pool store mentioned that I'll eventually need to replace the vinyl liner, but they didn't give me much detail about timing.

How long do these liners typically last before needing replacement? Is it something I should be budgeting for in the next few years, or is it more of a long-term expense? I want to make sure I'm taking proper care of it so it lasts as long as possible.…more

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Winterizing Medium 1-3 hours 248 👍 0

Can Pool Covers Be Repaired? Complete Repair Guide 2026

Finally got a chance to inspect my pool cover after last week's brutal storm, and it's completely shredded with way more damage than I originally spotted. The cover has sustained various types of damage over multiple seasons, including what appears to be small punctures, deteriorated fastening points, and compromised attachment mechanisms.

Specifically, I'm dealing with minor tears in the cover material, several broken grommets around the perimeter, and worn securing straps that no longer maintain proper tension. Before investing in a new cover system, I want to understand which of these damage types can be effectively repaired and what repair methodologies are available for different cover materials and hardware components.…more

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Heaters Easy 30 minutes 236 👍 1

Do You Need Pool Heating in Florida in October? Complete Guide

Got a 15,000-gallon pool in Central Florida and my pool store is pushing a $3,000 heater just for October swimming.

The water does feel pretty chilly in the mornings and evenings now that we're in October, but I don't want to get stuck with crazy electric bills all winter. Are there any DIY heating solutions that actually work, or do most people here really invest in proper pool heaters? What temperature should I actually be aiming for to make swimming comfortable?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2 hours setup 231 👍 1

Can You Store Pool Chemicals in a Deck Box? Safety Guide

I opened my deck box yesterday to grab pool shock and noticed a strong chemical smell — did I mess up storing chlorine tablets and pH adjusters out here?

I know chemicals can be finicky, but these deck boxes seem pretty sturdy. Anyone know if this is actually safe or if I'm asking for trouble? Don't want to accidentally create some kind of chemical reaction disaster in my backyard!…more

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4.5 (12,400 reviews)

Winterizing Medium 2-4 hours 218 👍 0

Should You Cover Pool Equipment in Winter? Protection Guide

After 8 years, my pool pump and filter system are developing rust spots — should I invest in winter covers or just replace everything? They're pushing these fancy insulated covers for my pump, heater, and control panel, but I feel like they're just trying to empty my wallet again.

Do I actually need to cover all my pool equipment for winter, or is this another one of their money grabs? If protection is really necessary, are there cheaper DIY alternatives that work just as well? I'm sick of spending a fortune on overpriced pool store solutions when there might be simple ways to winterize my equipment without breaking the bank.…more

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Algae Green Pool 89 👍 3

Why Is the Lincoln Reflecting Pool Green—and Why Not Shock It?

I saw the photos of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool gone bright green again, days after they finished a big renovation. I run my own backyard pool, and when mine goes green I shock the daylights out of it and it clears up in a couple of days. So why is the government out there pouring hydrogen peroxide and scraping algae by hand off a national monument? Why don't they just shock the thing like the rest of us do? What am I missing?…more

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