Results for "measurements"

Maintenance Easy 15 minutes 310 👍 0

How to Measure Pool Length: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

The pool guy casually mentioned our measurements seemed "off" during his last visit, and now I'm questioning whether I even know how long our pool actually is. I need the measurements for a new cover and some DIY projects, but I'm not paying those ridiculous markups they charge for everything.

I've got a basic rectangular pool but it's got some curved edges at the corners. Should be simple enough to measure myself, right? What's the best way to get accurate length measurements without calling in the pros? I've already spent way too much money on overpriced chemicals this season.…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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Above Ground Medium 2 hours research + installation planning 309 👍 0

Above Ground Pool Distance From House: Complete Guide

HOA just sent a letter saying my new above ground pool might be too close to the property line. Measured it at 8 feet from the house and now I'm worried I need to tear it down and relocate it. How far does an above ground pool actually need to be from the house and property lines?…more

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Maintenance Easy 30 minutes 224 👍 0

How to Determine Your Swimming Pool Size & Volume

I keep getting asked what my pool volume is and all I know is it's big. Geez, are there any standards for this? It looks like a lot of water, but I flunked calculus...…more

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Winterizing Easy 2-4 hours 180 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Cover? Winter & Summer Benefits Guide

Somewhere between dumping another fortune into pool chemicals and actually wanting to swim in my own backyard, I decided to grab a pool cover and handle this myself.

I've been looking into DIY solutions to cut down on maintenance costs, and I keep seeing mixed opinions about covers. Do they really make a difference with chemical usage and heating bills? I live in an area with cold winters, so I'm also wondering if I need different types of covers for different seasons. Just want to know if this is a legitimate way to save money or if I'm better off sticking with my current routine.…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 30 minutes 1,937 👍 0

How Long to Wait Before Swimming After Pool Chemicals

Apparently I'm standing in my garage staring at three different pool chemicals I added this morning with no clue how long I actually need to wait before diving in. Yesterday I added liquid chlorine to bring my levels up from 1.2 ppm to around 3.0 ppm, and I wasn't sure if we could swim that evening or needed to wait until the next day.

I'm planning to shock the pool this weekend with calcium hypochlorite since we've had some cloudy water issues, and I also need to adjust the pH which has been running high at 7.8. The kids are eager to get back in the pool, but I want to make sure I'm following proper safety guidelines. Do different chemicals have different waiting periods, and should I always test the water first regardless of how much time has passed?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 45 minutes 741 👍 0

Do Pools Need Calcium? Complete Hardness Level Guide

Noticed my 15,000 gallon inground pool is still etching the plaster walls even though pH and chlorine levels are perfectly balanced. Have a plaster pool and not sure what levels to target. Also curious if vinyl and fiberglass pools need different ranges.

What happens if calcium gets too low? Will it damage my equipment or pool surface?…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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Above Ground Medium 1-2 hours research 491 👍 0

Above Ground Pool Liner Cost & Replacement Guide 2026

The previous owners left me with an above ground pool liner that's completely trashed with sun damage and tears scattered everywhere. I'm starting to see some wrinkles and fading that's making me think it's time for a replacement.

I'm trying to figure out what I should realistically budget for this project. Should I attempt to tackle the installation myself to save some cash, or is this one of those jobs where it's worth paying the pros? I've got a decent-sized pool but nothing huge, and I'm wondering what the total damage to my wallet might be.…more

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Above Ground Easy 2-4 hours 345 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Liner Pad? Above Ground Pool Guide

Since setting up my new 24-foot Intex above ground pool, I can't figure out if the liner pad is actually necessary or just another upsell. The pool company keeps pushing this liner pad thing on me, saying it's "essential" - but is it really? I've already blown through way more money than I budgeted for this project.

I'm hoping someone can give me the straight truth here. Will skipping the liner pad come back to bite me later? I'd rather spend the money upfront if it actually protects my investment, but I don't want to get taken for a ride on unnecessary add-ons either.…more

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Above Ground Medium 4-6 hours 330 👍 0

Can Pool Liners Be Recycled? Complete Step-by-Step Guide

It looked like any other trash day until my wife stopped me dragging our old vinyl pool liner to the curb and asked why we can't recycle it. The pool company that installed the new one just hauled it away, but now I'm wondering if they're just throwing it in a dumpster somewhere.

I'm trying to be more environmentally conscious and it seems like such a waste to just toss all that vinyl. Are there actually recycling programs for pool liners? My regular recycling pickup obviously won't take something this big, but maybe there are other options I don't know about?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 15 minutes for testing, planning required for solutions 313 👍 0

Can You Swim in a Pool with High CYA? Safety Guide

Around two weeks after my CYA hit 80 ppm, my 20,000 gallon inground pool is eating through chlorine way faster than it should. The water looks clear and I've been maintaining my free chlorine at 3-4 ppm, but I'm having to add way more chlorine than usual to keep it there.

My main concern is whether it's actually safe for my family to swim in the pool with these high stabilizer levels. I've read conflicting information online - some sources say high CYA itself is dangerous, while others focus more on the chlorine effectiveness issue. We've got kids who use the pool daily during summer, so I want to make sure I'm not putting anyone at risk.

Should I be keeping everyone out of the water until I can get the CYA levels down, or is it more about making sure I can maintain proper sanitization despite the high stabilizer? I'm trying to figure out if this is an immediate safety concern or more of a long-term maintenance headache.…more

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Salt Water Medium 45 minutes 297 👍 0

Do Saltwater Pools Need Calcium? Complete Guide to CH Levels

Tried everything I can think of, but why does my saltwater pool keep destroying my salt cell and corroding my heater elements while making the surface look rough? I've been obsessing over chlorine and pH levels, but maybe I'm missing something obvious?

A friend mentioned calcium hardness might be the culprit, but I honestly have no idea what levels saltwater pools need. I know regular pools need calcium, but does the salt system change things? And if my calcium is off, could that really be why my expensive equipment keeps failing? I'm hoping there's a simple fix here because I'm tired of replacing parts every few months.…more

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Salt Water Medium 45 minutes 260 👍 0

Do Saltwater Pools Need Chlorine? The Complete Truth

About two weeks into this rental with my first saltwater pool and the generator's been running constantly but the water stays green no matter what I do. I've thrown every chemical I can think of at this thing - algaecide, shock, clarifier - and nothing's working.

Do saltwater pools actually need regular chlorine added, or am I missing something else? I thought the whole point was that the salt system makes its own chlorine automatically. My levels seem off but I'm not sure if I should be manually adding chlorine to a saltwater pool or if that defeats the purpose entirely.…more

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Winterizing Easy Research and decision: 2-3 hours 259 👍 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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