Results for "outdoor storage"

Water Chemistry Easy 15 minutes 167 👍 0

Can You Use Pool Chlorine to Clean Your House? Safety Guide

About to tackle some serious deep cleaning this Saturday — is it safe to just grab my leftover pool chlorine instead of buying a bunch of specialty household cleaners? The pool store keeps trying to upsell me on expensive specialty cleaners, but I've got plenty of pool chlorine sitting around. I'm wondering if I can just use some of that chlorine to clean my bathroom, kitchen counters, or other surfaces around the house instead of buying separate products.

Is this actually safe to do, or am I asking for trouble? I'd love to find a DIY solution that saves me some money, but I don't want to damage anything or create health hazards. What are the real risks here?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2-4 hours setup 146 👍 0

Can You Store Pool Chemicals in an Outdoor Shed? Safety Guide

Around summer my backyard shed gets scorching hot, has terrible ventilation, AND I'm panicking about whether my pool chemicals are safe out there. Is this safe or asking for trouble?

Mainly have chlorine tablets, shock, pH adjusters, and algaecide. Shed gets pretty hot in summer and doesn't have great ventilation. What are the main things I need to worry about for safe storage?…more

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Winterizing Medium 60-90 minutes 123 👍 0

Do I Need to Winterize My Pool Heater? Complete Guide

Woke up dreading winterizing season because my old gas heater routine was foolproof — but this new heat pump has me completely lost. We definitely get some cold snaps here where temps drop into the 30s and sometimes lower.

I've heard horror stories about equipment getting damaged over winter, but I'm not sure if that's just pool store scare tactics or if there's real risk. What's the worst that could happen if I skip the winterizing process? Just trying to figure out if this is one of those "nice to do" things or absolutely essential.…more

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Product Ranking 5 compared

Best Solar Pool Skimmers

4.4 (8,400 reviews)

Filters Medium 45 minutes 123 👍 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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Winterizing Easy 30 minutes 122 👍 0

Can Pool Chemicals Be Stored Outside in Winter? Storage Guide

Our family is trying to decide between hauling all our pool chemicals into the basement this winter or just leaving them in our unheated garage. We're expecting some pretty cold temps this winter and I'm wondering if I should drag all this stuff inside or if it's fine to leave out there?

I've got the usual suspects - chlorine tablets, shock, algaecide, pH adjusters, some liquid stuff. My neighbor said something about containers cracking but I figured I'd ask here before hauling everything to my basement. Anyone know which chemicals are okay with cold and which ones I definitely need to bring in?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2-3 hours for setup 117 👍 0

Can I Store Pool Chemicals Outside? Safe Storage Guide

Halfway through my morning coffee, I spotted my pool chemicals sitting in direct sunlight by my detached shed that definitely weren't there yesterday. Shed gets hot/cold with seasons and sometimes damp. Garage stays more consistent but still gets chilly in winter.

Which is better for storing chlorine, muriatic acid, and shock? Or do I need to bring everything indoors? Just want to avoid any safety issues or chemicals going bad.…more

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Winterizing Easy 15 minutes 116 👍 0

How Do Solar Pool Covers Work? Complete Guide & Benefits

Halfway through deciding on a solar pool cover, my neighbor insists they're just glorified tarps while the pool store swears they're miracle heaters. I mean, it's just plastic with bubbles, right? How does that translate to warmer water and less evaporation? What's the actual mechanism that makes these things effective?…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 30 minutes 113 👍 0

Does Lowe's Have Pool Chemicals? Complete Shopping Guide

This summer my neighbor's pool stays crystal-clear while I'm constantly driving to multiple stores hunting down chlorine, pH adjusters, and shock treatments.

Does Lowe's carry all the pool chemicals I need? I'd prefer to shop somewhere I trust that has a good selection so I can get everything in one trip. Can I order online if they don't have something in stock? I just want to make sure the water is safe for my children before they jump in.…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2 hours setup 113 👍 0

Can You Store Pool Chemicals in a Deck Box? Safety Guide

I opened my deck box yesterday to grab pool shock and noticed a strong chemical smell — did I mess up storing chlorine tablets and pH adjusters out here?

I know chemicals can be finicky, but these deck boxes seem pretty sturdy. Anyone know if this is actually safe or if I'm asking for trouble? Don't want to accidentally create some kind of chemical reaction disaster in my backyard!…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 45 minutes 111 👍 0

Do Pool Chemicals Cause Cancer? Safety Facts & Prevention

It turned out our neighborhood pool uses chlorine and other heavy chemicals, and with my kids swimming there almost daily, I'm seriously worried about potential health risks. They spend hours in the water during summer, and I can't shake this anxiety about whether the chlorine and other chemicals are harmful to their health long-term.

What's the real cancer risk from swimming in chlorinated pools? Are there specific chemicals I should be more concerned about, or ways to make sure the pool is safer for my kids? I want them to enjoy swimming but not at the expense of their health.…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 15 minutes reading 109 👍 0

Can Pool Chemicals Make You Sick? Health Risks Explained

Before I let my kids jump in this morning, I spotted a strong chemical smell around our freshly treated 20,000-gallon pool that wasn't there yesterday. I've been handling chlorine tablets, shock treatments, and pH adjusters, but I'm concerned about whether these chemicals could be making my family sick. We've noticed some skin irritation after swimming sessions, and I occasionally experience a scratchy throat after adding chemicals to the water.

I maintain chlorine levels around 2-3 ppm and pH between 7.2-7.6 based on my test strips, but I'm wondering if exposure to these chemicals during storage, handling, or swimming could cause health problems. I store all chemicals in my garage and sometimes notice strong fumes when opening containers. What are the main ways pool chemicals can affect your health, and how can I minimize any risks while keeping the water safe for swimming?…more

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Best Pool Chemical Starter Kits

4.5 (18,700 reviews)

Winterizing Medium 2-3 hours 109 👍 0

How to Winterize Above Ground Pool: Complete Step Guide

My first winter with an above ground pool is coming up and I'm completely lost on how to winterize it without causing expensive damage. I've heard horror stories about pools that weren't properly winterized ending up with nasty algae blooms or equipment damage that could create safety issues.

What's the complete process for winterizing an above ground pool? I want to make sure I'm covering all the bases - from the chemical balance to protecting the equipment - so that when we open it back up in spring, the water will be safe and ready for my family to enjoy.…more

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Pump Problems Medium 2-3 hours 108 👍 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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Above Ground Medium 4-6 hours 102 👍 0

Can You Reuse a Pool Liner? Complete Reuse Guide 2024

Took down the above ground pool last fall and the liner sat folded in the garage all winter. Setting it back up this spring and wondering if I can reuse it or if the creases and folds have already ruined it. Buying a new one seems wasteful if this one's still good.…more

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Winterizing Medium 45 minutes 101 👍 0

Can You Cover a Pool Heater? Complete Winterizing Guide

Three different "experts" just gave me three different answers about covering my pool heater for winter — my neighbor says always cover it, the pool store says never, and YouTube is all over the place. My pool heater is a significant investment, and I'm concerned about potential damage from winter weather, debris accumulation, and moisture intrusion during the months it won't be operational.

What's the recommended protocol for covering pool heaters during winter storage? I need to understand the proper materials and methods to prevent condensation issues while still providing adequate weather protection. Are there specific cover types designed for pool heating equipment, or should I avoid covering altogether to prevent moisture-related problems?…more

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