Results for "hydrostatic pressure"

Maintenance Medium Planning phase - 1 hour assessment 172 👍 0

How Long Can a Pool Be Empty? Safe Duration & Risks

Replaced my old above-ground pool with this inground concrete setup that needs major repairs, but I've never dealt with draining one before and I'm worried about structural damage. The pool will be without water for potentially several weeks while contractors complete the work.

What are the specific time limits before hydrostatic pressure becomes a concern? Are there differences in safe empty duration between inground concrete pools versus above ground pools with vinyl liners? I want to avoid any structural damage or liner issues during this extended maintenance period.…more

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Leaks Medium 2-4 hours for DIY repairs 145 👍 0

Can Fiberglass Pools Leak? Yes - Here's How to Fix It

Looked like just a minor water drop in my fiberglass pool last month but now it's become a massive leak draining faster than any evaporation. I've heard people say fiberglass pools don't leak like other types, but that can't be true, right?

I'm wondering if there are common spots where fiberglass pools develop leaks? I'm hoping this is something that can actually be fixed without having to tear the whole thing apart. Has anyone dealt with this before and found a solution that actually works?…more

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Maintenance Easy 5 minutes 142 👍 0

Can You Swim During Your Period? Pool Safety & Hygiene Guide

Replaced my carefree summer pool days with period anxiety that's eating through my swim time way faster than it should. I have a pool in my backyard and don't want to gross anyone out or cause any health issues, but also don't want to avoid swimming for a whole week every month.

What kind of protection works best for swimming, and do I need to worry about messing up my pool chemistry or anything like that? Just want to make sure I'm being considerate of other swimmers while still being able to enjoy my own pool!…more

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Best Above Ground Pools

4.3 (22,100 reviews)

Leaks Medium 2-4 hours for assessment 140 👍 0

Can Pool Leaks Cause Sinkholes? Soil Erosion Prevention

Looked at my water level gauge showing 2 inches lost per week, but my pool guy insists that's impossible with just surface evaporation. I keep telling myself it's just a small amount of water loss, but now I'm wondering if I'm being naive about what could actually happen to my property.

The thing is, I've noticed some soft spots developing in the ground around my pool area, and it's got me thinking - could all that leaking water actually wash away enough soil to create a sinkhole? I know it sounds dramatic, but I'm genuinely concerned about whether continuous water leakage could undermine my pool's foundation or create dangerous voids in my yard. Is this something that actually happens, or am I overthinking a simple repair job?…more

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Above Ground Hard 3-5 days 135 👍 0

Can You Bury an Above Ground Pool? Complete Safety Guide

Nobody can agree on whether I can bury my above ground pool — my neighbor says yes, the pool store says absolutely not, and YouTube shows people doing it.

Some people are telling me I can just dig a hole and drop it right in, while others are warning me about structural issues and safety concerns. I really want to make this work because I can't afford a full inground installation, but I also don't want to create a dangerous situation or waste money on a project that's doomed to fail.

What's the real deal here? Can I safely bury my above ground pool completely, or are there specific limitations I need to know about? I'm willing to do whatever reinforcement work is necessary if it means I can finally have the pool setup I've been wanting.…more

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Leaks Medium 2-4 hours 129 👍 0

Can Pool Leak Through Hydrostatic Valve? Detection & Repair

According to my pool's behavior, the water level started dropping steadily yesterday even though nobody's been swimming, and now I'm wondering if the hydrostatic valve is leaking. The water level drops consistently even when the pool isn't in use, and I've already ruled out obvious surface leaks around the skimmers, returns, and visible plumbing.

From my understanding, hydrostatic valves are designed to prevent the pool shell from floating during high groundwater conditions, but I'm wondering if they can work in reverse - allowing pool water to escape when groundwater levels are low or if the valve mechanism fails. The water loss seems to correlate with our recent dry spell, which has me questioning whether the valve could be stuck open or damaged.

Is it technically feasible for a hydrostatic valve to cause pool water leakage, and if so, what specific failure modes should I be looking for during inspection?…more

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Maintenance Easy 5 minutes 123 👍 0

Can You Swim During Your Period? Pool Safety & Hygiene Guide

Staring at the tampon aisle wondering which ones won't turn into a soggy mess the second I jump in the pool. My daughter wants to swim during her period but I keep hearing horror stories about hygiene issues and needing special chemicals.

Is it actually safe for her to swim during menstruation? I'm looking for real facts about water quality and safety, not another sales pitch for overpriced pool treatments. The pool store tried to sell me some $40 "feminine hygiene" additive that sounds like complete nonsense.…more

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Leaks Hard 2-5 days for permanent repair 123 👍 0

Can Pool Leak Through Concrete? Yes - Here's How to Fix

Woke up this morning to find my pool water level had dropped another two inches overnight and now I'm wondering if water is somehow seeping through the concrete itself. My kids spend hours in the pool every day, and I've noticed the water level dropping more than usual lately.

I always thought concrete was completely waterproof, but now I'm wondering if that's actually true. Can pool water actually leak through the concrete shell itself? I'm worried about what this might mean for water quality and whether it's safe for the kids to keep swimming if there are structural issues with the concrete.…more

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Maintenance Medium 2-4 hours for winterization 123 👍 0

How Long Can You Keep a Pool Closed? Complete Guide

During winter I'm trying to decide between keeping my pool closed all season to save on chemicals versus opening it and dealing with the constant money drain from maintenance. Every time I go to the pool store they're trying to upsell me on some expensive treatment or service. I'm thinking about just closing my pool for an extended period to avoid all these costs.

Can I keep it closed for longer than just the winter months? What's the maximum time I can leave it shut down without causing permanent damage? I'd rather do the work myself when I reopen it than keep throwing money at these overpriced pool companies all season long.…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 4-6 hours 115 👍 0

How to Lower CYA (Stabilizer) in Pool - Complete Guide

Already dealt with my 8-year-old pool's CYA climbing to over 100 ppm, way past the 30-50 ppm sweet spot — complete drain or partial fix? This is causing my chlorine to become significantly less effective, requiring much higher chlorine doses to maintain proper sanitization.

I've researched various approaches but I'm getting conflicting information about whether there are chemical products that can neutralize or reduce CYA levels directly. What are the proven methods for bringing cyanuric acid levels back down to the optimal range? I need a systematic approach that will actually work without wasting time on ineffective solutions.…more

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Above Ground Medium 45 minutes 115 👍 0

Can Pool Liners Stretch? Above Ground Vinyl Liner Guide

Turned on my pool pump after winter and now my above ground liner looks completely different than it did last summer. There are these weird wrinkles that weren't there before, and some spots look thinner than others. My neighbor insists pool liners don't stretch, but something is definitely happening here.

The pool gets full sun most of the day and it's been brutally hot this year. I'm wondering if the heat and water pressure are actually causing the vinyl to stretch out? I'm trying to figure out if this is normal wear and tear or if I need to start budgeting for a new liner. Has anyone else noticed their liner changing over time?…more

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Best Pool Heaters

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Above Ground Medium 2-4 hours 114 👍 0

Can I Leave My Above Ground Pool Empty? Winter Storage Guide

The brutal freeze last winter that cracked my neighbor's liner has me questioning whether I should abandon my usual partial drain approach and go completely empty this year.

My pool has been up for three seasons now, and I've always done partial draining and winterization with chemicals, but this year I'm wondering if it would be easier to just empty it entirely.

I'm concerned about potential damage to the pool structure if I leave it empty for several months. The pool sits on leveled ground with a sand base, and we get pretty harsh winters here with freezing temperatures. I've heard conflicting advice - some people say it's fine to empty it completely, while others warn about structural issues. What are the real risks of leaving an above ground pool empty for an extended period, and would I be better off sticking with my usual winterization routine?…more

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Winterizing Medium 6-8 hours over 2-3 weeks 106 👍 0

How to Winterize Your Inground Pool: Complete Step Guide

Planning to winterize my new inground pool using the same routine that worked perfectly on my old above-ground, but worried the chemical and equipment needs are completely different.

What are the specific steps I should follow for proper winterization? I'm particularly concerned about getting the water chemistry balanced correctly and protecting my filtration system and plumbing from freeze damage. Should I be targeting specific chemical levels, and what's the proper sequence for draining, cleaning, and applying winterizing treatments?…more

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Winterizing Medium 4-6 hours 103 👍 0

Can You Close a Pool Without a Cover? Winterizing Steps

Planning to winterize my pool this year but my cover is doing something completely bizarre — it's literally disintegrating into shreds every time the wind picks up. Is it possible to winterize my pool without one? What extra steps would I need to take to keep it maintained through the cold months?…more

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Maintenance Easy 5 minutes 100 👍 0

Can You Swim During Your Period? Pool Safety & Hygiene Guide

Wondering why my period only seems to show up when it's scorching hot outside and I desperately want to jump in my pool? I've heard mixed things about hygiene and whether the water stays clean enough.

The pool store guy tried to sell me all these expensive "sanitizing boosters" when I mentioned having guests over, but I'm already spending way too much on chemicals as it is. Does regular chlorine actually keep things sanitary enough for swimming during menstruation? And is there any real risk to the water quality or other swimmers?…more

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