Results for "leaf removal"

Equipment Easy 30 minutes 374 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Vacuum? Complete Equipment Guide 2026

Wondering if anyone else had their manual skimming routine work perfectly on their old above-ground pool but this inground one still looks swampy? I've been trying to maintain it with just skimming and brushing, but there's always debris settling on the bottom that I can't seem to get rid of. My neighbors keep telling me I need some kind of vacuum, but I have no idea what type would actually work for my setup.

I have a medium-sized inground pool that gets a decent amount of leaves from the trees overhead, especially in fall. I'm willing to put in some manual work if it saves money, but I also don't want to be out there for hours every week. What should I be looking for in a pool vacuum, and do I really need one or are there alternatives that actually work?…more

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Winterizing Medium 2-4 hours 447 👍 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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Filters Easy 45-60 minutes 483 👍 0

Can I Vacuum Pool to Filter? Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Three different pool cleaning methods later — skimming, brushing, and running my pump for hours — and my water is still cloudy, so I'm wondering if vacuuming to filter works. Is it okay to vacuum debris directly through my pool's filtration system? Want to make sure I'm cleaning it the right way without damaging anything.…more

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Editor's Pick

Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Vacuum (2026)

Wall-climbing scrubber brush and Wi-Fi control — ideal for in-ground pools up to 40 ft. View on Amazon →

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Pump Problems Medium 30 minutes 970 👍 0

Can You Run Pool Pump Without Skimmer? Safe Solutions

Every pool owner seems to swear by replacement skimmer baskets, but I'm wondering if I'm about to waste money on this cracked assembly replacement? I have a 20,000 gallon inground pool with both a main drain and skimmer line feeding into the pump. The skimmer is currently letting air into the system and causing the pump to lose prime intermittently.

I'm wondering if I can temporarily close off the skimmer line completely and just run the pump using suction from the main drain until I can fix the skimmer properly. Will this provide adequate circulation for my pool size, and are there any risks I should be aware of? I'm concerned about whether the main drain alone can handle all the filtration needs and if this might cause any damage to my pump or affect water quality during this temporary period.…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 45 minutes 697 👍 12

Can Pool Chlorine Clean Concrete? Safe Methods & Alternatives

Between the humidity and recent rain, my concrete pool deck started showing these nasty green algae stains last week and now I'm wondering if pool chlorine can clean them off. My concrete pool deck is absolutely filthy with algae stains and dirt buildup, and nothing seems to work. I've scrubbed until my arms hurt and tried different cleaners, but these green stains just won't budge.

I have tons of pool chlorine sitting around and I'm wondering if I can use that to blast these concrete stains away? I don't want to damage the surface or create some kind of chemical disaster, but I'm running out of options. If chlorine works, what's the right way to dilute it? And honestly, are there better alternatives that might actually get this mess clean without all the guesswork?…more

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Equipment Medium 45 minutes 692 👍 17

Can You Vacuum Pool on Recirculate? Complete Guide

Pulled a ton of storm debris out of our pool and now I'm trying to decide between normal filtration and recirculate mode for vacuuming.
The pool is so messy that I'm concerned about clogging up our filter system if I vacuum normally, but I also don't want to compromise water quality.

Can I vacuum the pool using the recirculate setting instead? I want to make sure I understand what this does - will it actually clean the water properly or just move things around? My main concern is whether the water will be safe and clean enough for the kids to swim in afterward, or if I need to take additional steps to ensure proper filtration.…more

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Winterizing Easy 20 minutes 320 👍 0

How Long Do Mesh Pool Covers Last? Complete Lifespan Guide

Pulled back my mesh pool cover this morning and noticed some wear patterns that definitely weren't there last season, making me wonder exactly how long these things are supposed to last.

What's the typical lifespan I should expect from a quality mesh cover? I've heard some last much longer than others, and I'm wondering if spending more upfront on better materials is worth it. I want something reliable that won't fail when we need it most.…more

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Equipment Easy 30 minutes 237 👍 0

Do I Need an Automatic Pool Cleaner? Complete Guide 2026

Noticed my 18,000-gallon inground pool still looks like a swamp after following every YouTube DIY cleaning tutorial for weeks. Currently managing manual vacuuming twice weekly, but considering automation to improve efficiency and reduce maintenance time commitment.

My pool experiences moderate debris load from surrounding oak trees, particularly during fall months. Weekly chemical balancing is consistent, but manual cleaning consumes approximately 90 minutes per session. Budget allows for mid-range robotic or suction-side units.

What specific factors should determine whether automatic cleaning systems provide sufficient return on investment? Looking for technical analysis of pool size thresholds, debris management capabilities, and operational cost considerations.…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes 275 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Skimmer? Essential Equipment Guide

Spent the morning staring at my new pool setup and realized I can't tell which equipment is actually essential versus just expensive extras. The skimmer seems like it would be helpful for picking up leaves and stuff, but I'm wondering if it's something I actually NEED or if I could get by without one to save some money.

I keep seeing them mentioned everywhere but nobody really explains if they're required or just recommended. Are there any safety issues or code requirements I should know about? Just want to make sure I'm not skipping something important that'll cause problems later!…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes 570 👍 0

How Does Pool Skimmer Basket Work? Complete Guide

Our pool's running great but I've got my cleaning tools laid out and want to master how this skimmer basket actually works before I accidentally break something. Specifically, I want to know the water flow dynamics and debris capture process that occurs when water enters the skimmer unit.

What is the step-by-step process of how debris gets trapped while maintaining proper water circulation to the pump? I'm looking for technical details about the basket's role in the overall filtration sequence and how it prevents larger contaminants from reaching downstream equipment.…more

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Filters Easy 45-90 minutes 557 👍 2

Can I Vacuum Pool on Waste? Complete Filter Setting Guide

Halfway through prepping for our pool party this Saturday, I realized I have no clue which filter setting to use when vacuuming all this debris. I've got some pretty heavy debris that's settled on the bottom of my pool after a storm, and I'm worried about clogging up my filter if I vacuum it all up normally.

The guy at the pool store mentioned something about using the "waste" setting when vacuuming, but I didn't really understand what he meant. Does this actually work, and when should I be using waste instead of the regular filter setting? I don't want to mess anything up since I'm still learning all this stuff.…more

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Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Salt Chlorine Generators

4.3 (6,200 reviews)

Winterizing Easy Research and decision: 2-3 hours 337 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Cover? Winter Protection Requirements

Despite watching three neighbors deal with expensive freeze damage to their pools last winter, I'm still on the fence about whether my 20,000 gallon inground pool actually needs a cover. We live in a climate where temperatures drop below freezing for about 3-4 months of the year, and I currently spend a fortune on heating costs during shoulder seasons plus constantly dealing with leaves and debris that require daily skimming.

I've been going back and forth on this decision because of the upfront cost, but I'm curious about the long-term benefits. My current chemical usage seems excessive - I'm adding chlorine tablets twice weekly and shock treatment every 10 days just to maintain proper levels around 2-3 ppm. The constant debris also means my filtration system works overtime.

For those with experience, how much difference does a pool cover actually make in terms of chemical reduction, heating efficiency, and overall maintenance? Is it truly essential for winter protection in freezing climates, or more of a nice-to-have convenience feature?…more

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Salt Water Medium 4-6 hours 291 👍 0

Do You Have to Cover a Salt Water Pool? Requirements Guide

Standing in front of my saltwater pool after following three conflicting YouTube tutorials about covers, I'm now more confused than when I started. I keep hearing mixed opinions - some neighbors swear by covers while others never bother.

I'm mainly wondering if there are any actual requirements I need to follow, and what the real benefits are beyond just keeping leaves out. Also, if I do decide to cover it, is there anything special I need to know about winterizing a salt water system? Don't want to accidentally mess up my salt cell or anything expensive like that!…more

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