Results for "new installation"

Heaters Hard Professional installation required 285 👍 0

Can Pool Heater and Pump Share Same Circuit? Safety Guide

Finally it's midnight and my pool heater tripped the breaker for the third time tonight — desperately need to know if wiring both heater and pump together is causing this mess. The pool store is pushing me to hire their electrician for thousands of dollars, but I'm handy with electrical work and want to do this myself if possible.

Before I start running wiring, I need to know if there are any safety issues with putting both the heater and pump on one circuit. They're both major electrical components so I want to make sure I'm not creating a fire hazard or code violation. Anyone have experience with DIY pool electrical work?…more

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Pump Problems Medium Professional installation required 281 👍 0

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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Filters Medium 2-3 hours 223 👍 0

Pool Filter Balls vs Sand: Complete Replacement Guide

Noticed my pool filter isn't performing like it used to — can't afford professional service right now, so is switching from sand to filter balls a DIY job under $100? The pool store mentioned they might work better than traditional sand, but I want to make sure before I make the switch.

Are filter balls actually a good replacement for sand in my filter system? I'm curious about things like how well they filter compared to sand, if they're easier to work with, and whether the maintenance routine changes at all. Any guidance would be really helpful!…more

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Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Pool Chemical Starter Kits

4.5 (18,700 reviews)

Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes 200 👍 0

Can You Run Pool Pump Without Filter? Risks & Solutions

Somewhere between my husband questioning why our pool pump is running without a filter cartridge and my growing panic, I'm wondering if I'm actually damaging something. My filter cartridge is completely clogged and I need to replace it, but my kids are asking to swim this afternoon. I'm wondering if I can just run the pump without any filter for a few hours until I can get to the pool store.

I know this probably isn't ideal, but would it cause any serious damage to the pump or create unsafe water conditions? I don't want to risk my children's safety, but I also don't want to damage our equipment if there's a way to manage this temporarily.…more

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Winterizing Medium 2-4 hours research and planning 184 👍 0

Can Pool Cover Replace Safety Fence? Legal Requirements

Apparently my pool installation has a city permit hanging in limbo, a contractor demanding expensive perimeter fencing, AND an automatic cover salesman swearing their ASTM system satisfies every legal requirement. My research indicates that automatic safety covers meeting ASTM standards provide excellent protection, but I'm uncertain about regulatory requirements.

Specifically, I need to understand if jurisdictions typically accept ASTM-compliant automatic pool covers as the primary safety barrier, or if permanent perimeter barriers like fencing remain mandatory regardless of cover installation. What are the standard legal requirements for pool safety barriers, and can covers serve as fence replacements?…more

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Above Ground Medium 1-2 hours research 181 👍 0

Above Ground Pool Liner Cost & Replacement Guide 2024

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 Medium 4-6 hours 173 👍 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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Maintenance Easy varies 170 👍 0

Do You Need a License to Clean Pools? Requirements by State

Somewhere in the paperwork mess the previous owner left behind, I discovered they were running an unlicensed pool cleaning business right out of this house. But I'm completely lost on the legal side of things and don't want to get shut down before I even start.

Do I need some kind of special license just to clean pools? What about when I'm adding chemicals or fixing pumps and filters? I've heard different things from different people and I'm getting conflicting information about business permits too. Really hoping someone can break down what's actually required because I'm ready to make this career change happen!…more

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Above Ground Medium Assessment: 15 minutes, Prevention: ongoing 165 👍 0

Can Pool Liners Shrink? Causes, Prevention & Solutions

Finally asking what's probably a dumb question, but why does my vinyl liner keep pulling away from the pool walls, especially after this cold snap we had? Is this normal shrinkage or something else?

What causes pool liners to shrink? Want to know if I can prevent this or if I need professional help.…more

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Above Ground Medium 4-6 hours 154 👍 0

How to Install Above Ground Pool Liner Yourself - DIY Guide

Halfway through every spring pool prep, I'm staring at the same mysterious liner shrinkage and random tears that definitely weren't there last fall. I'm reasonably handy and have helped friends with home projects before, but I've never attempted anything like this.

Before I dive in headfirst, is this actually something a determined DIYer can handle? I'm wondering about the time commitment and whether I'll need to recruit some buddies to help out. I'd rather know what I'm getting into upfront than end up with a half-installed liner and a flooded backyard!…more

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Filters Easy 30 minutes 149 👍 0

Do I Need to Wash Pool Filter Sand? Complete Guide

After years of perfect pool maintenance, my filter sand suddenly turns cloudy and clogs up every time the temperature hits 85 degrees outside. The new sand I bought looks pretty dusty and I'm wondering if I need to clean it first before putting it in the filter system.

I'm really concerned about water quality and don't want to introduce anything harmful or make the water cloudy for the kids. Should I be washing this sand before installation, or is it ready to go straight from the bag? What's the safest approach here?…more

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Best Pool Heaters

4.4 (8,900 reviews)

Above Ground Medium 4-6 hours 147 👍 0

Can Pool Liners Be Reused? Complete Guide for Above Ground

During my pool inspection today I'm staring at this above ground liner with wear and fading covering every inch, wondering if this thing can actually be reused. My above ground pool liner is about 3 years old and looks to be in decent shape - no major tears that I can see, though there might be some minor stretching around the edges.

The pool store told me I'd need to be really careful removing it if I want to reuse it, but they seemed kind of hesitant about whether it's actually a good idea. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with reusing liners? Is it actually cost-effective or am I just setting myself up for problems down the road? I don't want to be penny-wise and pound-foolish here.…more

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Above Ground Medium 2 hours research + installation planning 147 👍 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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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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Equipment Easy 15 minutes research 144 👍 0

Does Costco Sell Pool Vacuums? Complete Availability Guide

Noticed my pool's looking rough this week and planning to tackle a deep clean Saturday — what vacuum equipment should I have ready from Costco? The pool store told me I definitely need a good vacuum to keep it clean, but their prices seem pretty steep.

I'm a Costco member and was wondering if they carry pool vacuums? I'd love to save some money if possible, and I trust Costco's return policy in case I mess up and buy the wrong thing. Do they have a decent selection, or should I stick with the pool store? Any guidance from experienced pool owners would be amazing!…more

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