Results for "pool service"

Maintenance Easy varies - 2-3 hours weekly for DIY 205 👍 0

Do I Need Pool Service? Professional vs DIY Pool Care Guide

Our pool has somehow trained me to become this weekend warrior who religiously spends three hours testing, skimming, and chemical-balancing our 20,000 gallon inground pool like it's my part-time job. The quotes I'm getting are around $150-180 per month for basic cleaning and chemical balancing, which adds up to over $2,000 annually. I'm reasonably handy and don't mind learning, but I work long hours and travel frequently for business.

I've been doing basic skimming and adding chlorine tablets, but I'm not confident about proper water testing, balancing pH and alkalinity, or handling equipment issues when they arise. My pool gets a lot of use from the kids during summer, and I want to make sure it stays safe and clean. What factors should I consider when deciding between professional service versus DIY maintenance?…more

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Maintenance Easy varies 308 👍 1

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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Water Chemistry Medium 1,076 👍 63

Calcium Hardness Too High But My Fill Water Is Just As Hard

During my last water test, my calcium hardness came back at somewhere around 600 ppm, which I know is way above the recommended range of 200–400 ppm. The frustrating part is that my tap water tests at nearly the same hardness level, so draining and refilling the pool doesn't seem like it would actually help — I'd basically just be starting back at square one with equally hard water. Everything I've read says to partially drain and dilute, but when the numbers on my fill water don't add up to any real improvement, that solution seems pointless.

I'm in a region where hard water is just a fact of life, and I can't find a clear answer on what chemical treatments actually lower calcium hardness directly in the pool. Is there something I'm missing here, or am I stuck just managing the problem rather than fixing it?…more

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Equipment Medium 62 👍 0

How to Replace a Pool Light Bulb Without Draining the Water?

I noticed my pool light stopped working this morning and want to fix it without draining the pool. Can I replace the bulb or entire fixture underwater, and what's involved?…more

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Heaters Medium 15 minutes reading 276 👍 0

Pool Heater Lifespan in Florida: How Long They Last

Turned on my pool heater this morning and noticed those same rust spots on my 8-year-old unit are definitely getting worse. With three young kids who love to swim year-round, having consistently warm water is important for their comfort and safety.

I've been looking at both gas heaters and electric heat pump options, but I'm concerned about how Florida's climate might affect their lifespan. The humidity here is intense, and we're close enough to the coast that salt air is definitely a factor. Should I expect to replace the heater more frequently than if we lived somewhere with milder weather? I want to budget appropriately and ensure we always have reliable heating for safe, comfortable swimming conditions.…more

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Heaters Medium 2-3 hours 181 👍 0

Pool Heater Outdoor Installation Guide - Placement Tips

Somewhere between watching five different YouTube tutorials on gas pool heater placement, I managed to confuse myself even more about proper outdoor installation. The area near my equipment pad gets decent airflow but is somewhat exposed to weather. I've got the electrical and gas connections sorted, but want to make sure I'm following best practices for outdoor heater installation. Should I be concerned about rain exposure, or do most pool heaters handle outdoor conditions just fine? Any specific clearance requirements I should know about?…more

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Algae Green Pool 89 👍 3

Why Is the Lincoln Reflecting Pool Green—and Why Not Shock It?

I saw the photos of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool gone bright green again, days after they finished a big renovation. I run my own backyard pool, and when mine goes green I shock the daylights out of it and it clears up in a couple of days. So why is the government out there pouring hydrogen peroxide and scraping algae by hand off a national monument? Why don't they just shock the thing like the rest of us do? What am I missing?…more

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Heaters Medium 20-40 hours 258 👍 0

Can I Install a Pool Heater Myself? DIY Installation Guide

Staring at my dead pool heater at 11 PM — need to figure out if I can install a replacement myself before the kids want to swim tomorrow. I keep reading mixed information about whether this is something I can tackle myself or if I need to hire a professional.

I'm particularly concerned about gas connections and electrical work - I don't want to mess something up that could put my family at risk. Are there certain types of pool heaters that are safer for DIY installation? I want to make sure whatever heating system we choose is properly installed so there are no safety hazards for the kids.…more

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Heaters Medium 2-4 hours 181 👍 0

Electric Pool Heaters: Types, Costs & Installation Guide

I woke up to three completely different electric pool heater recommendations for my 20,000 gallon inground pool and now I'm more confused than ever. Some pool stores are pushing gas heaters hard, saying they're the only real option, but I don't have a gas line to my equipment pad and running one would be expensive. My neighbor mentioned something about electric heaters but wasn't sure if they actually work well. I've been researching online but getting mixed messages about whether electric pool heaters are even a viable option. Are electric pool heaters a real thing that actually work, or am I stuck having to run a gas line?…more

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Heaters Medium 2-4 hours for protective measures 331 👍 0

Can Pool Heaters Get Wet? Complete Weatherproofing Guide

Somewhere between last week's torrential downpour and watching my kids cannon-ball into the pool nonstop, I started panicking about whether our new heater is actually waterproof. We had it installed last month, but I'm concerned about whether it can handle direct rain, sprinkler overspray, and the humid conditions around our pool area.

Should I be covering it during storms? I want to make sure it stays safe and keeps working properly so the water temperature is always comfortable for the kids. What kind of protection does it actually need from water exposure?…more

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Heaters Medium 15 minutes 235 👍 1

How Does a Pool Heater Work? Complete Guide 2026

Since this is my third pool heater confusion this season and I keep getting different explanations from everyone, I'm done pretending I understand how these systems actually work. I want to make an informed decision based on how each system actually operates to heat the water.

Specifically, I'm looking for detailed explanations of gas heaters, electric heaters, heat pumps, and solar heating systems. What are the fundamental differences in how each type transfers heat to the pool water? I need to understand the operational principles, not just basic pros and cons.…more

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Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Above Ground Pools

4.3 (22,100 reviews)

Heaters Medium 45 minutes 228 👍 0

Can Pool Heaters Explode? Safety Guide & Prevention Tips

Standing outside after last week's downpour, I keep hearing these weird clicking sounds from my pool heater and now I'm paranoid it might actually explode. Is there actually a real risk of these things exploding, or am I just watching too much news?

I do the basic maintenance but honestly don't know much about the safety side of things. What should I be looking out for to keep my family safe? And how often do pool heater explosions actually happen - is this something I need to lose sleep over or just stay on top of with regular checkups?…more

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Maintenance Easy 5 minutes 221 👍 1

How to Spell Pool - Correct Spelling and Pool Terms Guide

It started with a few embarrassing typos in my pool maintenance logs last month and turned into me questioning every word I write about my 20,000-gallon inground system. Obviously I know how to spell the basic word "pool," but I want to be thorough and professional in my record-keeping.

When I'm documenting chemical treatments, test results, and communicating with pool service companies, proper spelling and terminology seems important for clear communication. I've noticed that using incorrect terms or spellings can sometimes lead to confusion when discussing maintenance procedures with professionals.

Can someone confirm the correct spelling of "pool" and explain why proper pool terminology matters when dealing with maintenance documentation and professional communications?…more

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Heaters Medium 2-4 hours for planning and consultation 116 👍 0

Can You Enclose a Pool Heater? Safety & Clearance Guide

Found a gas pool heater that came with my house and I'm wondering if I can put some kind of enclosure around it. This is my first pool and I have no idea what I'm looking at. The heater is just sitting out in the open next to my equipment pad and it looks kind of ugly. I was thinking about building a small shed or cabinet around it to make it look better and maybe protect it from the weather. Is this something I can do safely, or are there rules about how much space it needs around it? I don't want to create a fire hazard or mess up the ventilation.…more

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Equipment Medium 2-4 hours 999 👍 47

WhisperFlo to IntelliFlo Upgrade: Cost vs Energy Savings

Hey, just thinking about upgrading our WhisperFlo pump (in service for 20 years) to an IntelliFlo. Will I save money? Even with the cost to upgrade?…more

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