Results for "main drain"

Cloudy Water Medium 24-72 hours 939 👍 0

Can I Swim in Cloudy Pool Water? Safety Risks Explained

I tried everything to clear my 20,000 gallon inground pool's cloudiness and about to drop $200 on chemicals — should I buy them or is it safe to swim first? The water looks like a light milky haze - you can see the bottom but it's definitely not crystal clear like it usually is. I've been maintaining chlorine levels around 2-3 ppm and pH at 7.4, but the cloudiness appeared after we had several heavy rainstorms and a pool party with about 15 people.

I'm particularly concerned about safety since we have young children who aren't strong swimmers yet. The visibility isn't terrible, but it's definitely reduced compared to normal. I've tried shocking the pool with 2 pounds of calcium hypochlorite and running the filter continuously for 24 hours, but the cloudiness persists. Should we avoid swimming until this clears up completely, or is it okay to use the pool with some basic precautions?…more

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Pump Problems Medium 30 minutes 687 👍 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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Filters Medium 45 minutes 250 👍 0

Can I Leave Pool Filter Outside for Winter? Storage Guide

This Hayward sand filter is sitting in my backyard and the pool store warned me the housing will crack if I leave it outside this winter. They're saying I absolutely MUST bring my filter inside and store it properly or it'll crack from freezing water. Is this just another upsell, or will my filter actually get damaged if I leave it outside during winter?

I'm in a climate that gets below freezing, and I'm trying to handle as much of the winterization myself as possible. The pool store quoted me $200 just for filter removal and storage! Can I really not just drain it well and leave it in place, or am I risking expensive damage? Looking for honest advice from people who've actually dealt with this.…more

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Above Ground Medium 3-4 hours 357 👍 1

Should You Drain Above Ground Pool for Winter? Complete Guide

Despite having my winter prep checklist ready and being determined to winterize this above ground pool myself — just need to nail down the right water level for safe storage. I've seen conflicting information about whether to completely drain the pool or maintain partial water levels during freezing months.

Specifically, I need technical guidance on optimal water height relative to skimmer and return line positions, and the structural implications of different drainage approaches. What are the engineering considerations regarding liner integrity and ground pressure effects during winter storage?…more

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Filters Easy 15 minutes reading 328 👍 0

How Pool Filters Work: Sand, Cartridge & DE Filter Guide

Pool store tried explaining the difference between sand, cartridge, and DE filters for 20 minutes and I walked out more confused than when I went in. My sand filter is dying and I need to pick a replacement but every type seems to have major trade-offs. How do these three actually compare?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2-3 hours over 2 days 235 👍 0

Can Pool Chlorine Make You Itchy? Causes & Solutions

Finally planning to tackle my itchy pool problem this Saturday — need to figure out why my arms and shoulders keep getting irritated despite maintaining 2-3 ppm free chlorine in my 20,000-gallon inground pool. I maintain pH around 7.4 and alkalinity at 100 ppm, so the basic chemistry seems fine. The itching mainly affects my arms and shoulders where I spend the most time in the water.

I'm wondering if there's something I'm missing about chlorine that could be causing this skin irritation. I shock the pool weekly with calcium hypochlorite and use trichlor tablets in my skimmer, but the itchy feeling has gotten worse over the past month. Could it be the chlorine itself making me react this way, or is there another water chemistry issue I should be looking into? I've tried moisturizing after swimming but that only helps temporarily.…more

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Maintenance Medium Planning phase - 1 hour assessment 603 👍 1

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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Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes 1,217 👍 0

Can You Run Pool Pump With Cover On? Safety & Efficiency

Between my morning coffee run and checking the backyard, I spotted my pool pump still humming away with yesterday's cover locked on tight. My primary concerns are maintaining adequate ventilation around the pump housing and ensuring optimal energy efficiency during covered operation periods.

Are there specific operational guidelines I should follow for different cover types (solar, safety, winter covers)? I want to verify that continuous pump operation won't create any mechanical stress or ventilation issues that could compromise system performance or safety parameters.…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 30 minutes 474 👍 0

Does Pool Stabilizer Evaporate? CYA Levels Explained

Woke up determined to finally understand pool chemistry, but now I'm standing in the pool store aisle staring at bottles of cyanuric acid and chlorine stabilizer with no clue which one I actually need. I know chlorine evaporates and needs constant replenishment, but I'm unclear about what happens to stabilizer over time.

Specifically, does CYA evaporate from the pool like chlorine does, or does it remain in solution indefinitely? If it doesn't evaporate, what are the actual mechanisms for removing excess stabilizer when levels get too high? I need to understand this for proper water balance management.…more

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Maintenance Easy 5 minutes 303 👍 0

Pool Glossary: SLAM, Sanitizer, PSI, CYA & Common Pool Terms

I keep seeing pool terms and abbreviations like SLAM, CYA, FC, PSI, sanitizer, backwash, and shock. What do they mean in plain English?…more

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Pump Problems Medium 2-3 hours 303 👍 0

Can I Leave Pool Pump Outside in Winter? Storage Guide

During freezing weather my pool pump starts making this bizarre clicking sound that I've never heard before, and I'm genuinely confused about what's causing it. We have young kids who love to explore everything in the backyard, and I want to make sure our pool pump will be safe sitting outside through the cold months.

I've heard horror stories about pumps getting damaged from freezing, which could lead to expensive repairs or worse - safety issues when we open the pool next spring for the kids. Should I be taking it inside somewhere, or is there a way to properly protect it outdoors? We live in an area that definitely gets below freezing, so I'm particularly concerned about freeze damage.…more

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Winterizing Medium 6-8 hours over 2-3 weeks 205 👍 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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Leaks Medium 2-4 hours 259 👍 0

How to Find Pool Leak: Complete Detection Guide 2026

Got my pool water level dropping a massive 2-3 inches this week and there's definitely something wrong beyond normal evaporation. My water chemistry is balanced (chlorine at 2.5 ppm, pH 7.4, alkalinity 120 ppm), so I don't think it's a chemical issue causing excessive evaporation.

I suspect there might be a leak somewhere but I'm not sure how to pinpoint the exact location. Should I be checking around the skimmers and return jets first? I've heard about using food coloring to detect leaks but I'm not sure of the proper technique. Also wondering if there's a way to test whether it's a structural leak versus something in the plumbing lines.

What's the most systematic approach to track down where exactly the water is going? I'd rather diagnose this myself before calling in a expensive leak detection service if possible.…more

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Equipment Medium 45 minutes 450 👍 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 45 minutes 248 👍 1

Do I Need Pool Antifreeze? Complete Winterizing Guide

According to my old above-ground pool routine I never needed antifreeze, but now I'm questioning everything with this inground setup. My neighbor swears by it but another friend says it's totally unnecessary. I live in an area where we definitely get below freezing temps, but I'm not sure if my equipment can be completely drained or not.

What are the situations where pool antifreeze is actually needed? And if I do need it, does it matter what type I buy? Don't want to mess this up and end up with burst pipes come spring!…more

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