Results for "pump runtime"

Maintenance Easy 15 minutes 399 👍 1

When Are Pools Open in Las Vegas? Year-Round Pool Season

My Vegas hotel's pool is supposedly "closed for winter" but I'm literally watching guests splash around in 70-degree weather right now. Do most hotels and resorts close pools during winter months like other places? Or does the desert climate keep them running all year?

Looking at both resort pools and maybe some residential options. Want to know if there's a specific season or if it's pretty much always pool weather out there.…more

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Filters Medium 30 minutes 161 👍 0

How Long to Run Pool Filter Daily - Complete Guide

Every pool season I feel like an idiot asking this, but I genuinely have no idea how many hours my filter should actually be running daily. My kids swim almost every day during summer, and I want to make sure the water stays clean and safe for them. I've heard different opinions - some neighbors say they run theirs 24/7, while others only run it a few hours.

I'm worried about under-filtering and having bacteria or algae grow, but I also don't want to waste electricity if it's not necessary. Our pool gets heavy use with the kids and their friends, plus we've had some really hot weather lately. What's the right balance for daily filter runtime to keep the water properly clean?…more

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Pump Problems Easy 30 minutes 156 👍 0

Can I Turn Pool Pump Off at Night? Complete Owner's Guide

This electric bill is destroying my budget and I can't afford to keep this pool pump running 24/7 — is it safe to shut it off nights?
The pool store told me the pump should run constantly, but my neighbor says he turns his off at night to save on electricity costs.

I'm worried about messing something up since this is all new to me. Is it actually safe to turn the pump off overnight, or will that cause problems with the water? If I can turn it off, how many hours should it still be running each day to keep everything clean and healthy?…more

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Product Ranking 5 compared

Best Solar Pool Skimmers

4.4 (8,400 reviews)

Pump Problems Easy 30 minutes 153 👍 0

Do I Need to Run My Pool Pump All the Time? Runtime Guide

Three neighbors gave me three different pump runtime schedules and I'm ready to figure out the right one myself — just need to know where to start. My neighbor says he runs his 24/7 but that seems excessive (and expensive!). I've heard different things - some people say 8 hours is enough, others say you need way more.

What's the sweet spot for daily pump runtime? I want to make sure my water stays clean and properly filtered without running up a crazy electric bill. Does it depend on how much the pool gets used or other factors?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2-3 hours initial setup, ongoing monthly testing 150 👍 0

Do Salt Pools Need Stabilizer? Complete CYA Guide 2024

Called the pool store about my new saltwater system but they keep insisting I need stabilizer — thought I was done with all those chemicals? The pool store told me I need to add stabilizer (cyanuric acid) even though I have a salt generator, but I'm confused because I thought the generator makes its own chlorine.

Do saltwater pools actually need stabilizer? If so, what level should I be targeting? I want to make sure I'm doing this right and not wasting money on chemicals I don't actually need. Any guidance would be really appreciated!…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 2-48 hours depending on chemical type 148 👍 0

How Long Pool Chemicals Take to Settle - Complete Guide

Halfway through adding my pool chemicals, they're just floating on the surface for hours instead of dissolving like they normally do. After adding chemicals like chlorine, pH adjusters, or alkalinity increasers, I want to ensure they're properly mixed before taking water samples for testing.

My pump runs approximately 6-8 hours daily, and I'm concerned about getting inaccurate readings if I test too early. What's the standard circulation time required for different types of pool chemicals to fully distribute throughout the water? I want to establish a proper testing protocol to avoid chemical imbalances.…more

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Pump Problems Easy 5 minutes 145 👍 0

Can You Run Pool Pump With Solar Cover On? Safety Guide

After getting slapped with a $200 "improper equipment usage" charge from my pool guy, I'm second-guessing whether I can safely run my pump with the solar cover on. I bought a solar cover to help keep the water warm, but I'm not sure about the pump situation. The pool store told me to run my pump daily for circulation, but they didn't mention anything about what to do when the cover is on.

Is it safe to run the pump while the solar cover is covering the pool? I don't want to damage anything or mess up the water chemistry since I'm still learning. Any guidance would be really appreciated!…more

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Heaters Medium 15 minutes 143 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Heaters Last? Lifespan by Type & Maintenance

Found out after calling three different pool supply stores that each one gave me a totally different answer about how long my heater should last. I've been looking at gas, electric, and heat pump options, but I'm finding conflicting information about how long each type typically lasts.

My pool gets heavy use from April through October, and I'm pretty good about maintaining proper water chemistry (pH around 7.2-7.6, chlorine 1-3 ppm, alkalinity 80-120 ppm). I'm wondering if the heater type makes a significant difference in longevity, and whether factors like usage patterns and water balance really impact lifespan as much as some dealers claim.

What should I realistically expect for lifespan from gas vs electric vs heat pump heaters? I want to factor replacement costs into my decision since this is a long-term investment for our family.…more

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Cloudy Water Easy 24-48 hours 142 👍 0

Can I Swim in a Cloudy Pool? Safety Risks & Quick Fixes

Every time I walk down the pool supply store aisle staring at clarifiers and shock treatments, I have no clue which one I actually need for my cloudy 20,000 gallon inground pool that's been murky for days. The water isn't crystal clear like it usually is - you can't see the bottom clearly and visibility is definitely reduced. I've been maintaining what I thought were proper chemical levels, but I'm starting to wonder if there's an imbalance or contamination issue.

I'm particularly concerned about safety risks since we have young kids who love to swim. Could the cloudiness indicate bacteria or other contaminants that might make us sick? What specific dangers should I be worried about with reduced visibility in the water? Should we stay out of the pool until I can get this cleared up, or is it generally okay to swim as long as the chlorine levels seem normal?…more

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Filters Easy 15 minutes reading 141 👍 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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Equipment Easy 30 minutes 138 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Vacuum? Complete Equipment Guide 2024

Wondering if anyone else had their manual skimming routine work perfectly on their old above-ground pool but this inground one still looks swampy? I've been trying to maintain it with just skimming and brushing, but there's always debris settling on the bottom that I can't seem to get rid of. My neighbors keep telling me I need some kind of vacuum, but I have no idea what type would actually work for my setup.

I have a medium-sized inground pool that gets a decent amount of leaves from the trees overhead, especially in fall. I'm willing to put in some manual work if it saves money, but I also don't want to be out there for hours every week. What should I be looking for in a pool vacuum, and do I really need one or are there alternatives that actually work?…more

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Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Pool Heaters

4.4 (8,900 reviews)

Equipment Easy varies by cleaner type 136 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Cleaners Take? Complete Timing Guide

Nobody warns you that every spring when you're getting the pool ready for summer, figuring out how long cleaning actually takes becomes this recurring nightmare. I want to make sure the water is properly cleaned before they jump in, but I'm not sure how long each type of cleaner needs to run to do its job effectively.

I'm considering getting either a robotic cleaner, suction cleaner, or pressure cleaner, but I need to know how much time each one requires per cleaning cycle. I want to plan the cleaning times around when the kids aren't swimming, so knowing the exact duration would really help me create a safe routine that keeps the water clean without interfering with their swim time.…more

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Filters Easy 15 minutes 134 👍 0

Can I Leave My Pool Filter On All The Time? Expert Guide

About to run my pool filter 24/7 this summer — but would constant operation void my equipment warranty or cause any coverage issues? Currently I'm running my filter system about 6 hours per day, but I've been dealing with some water clarity issues despite maintaining proper chlorine levels (2.5 ppm) and balanced pH (7.4). My pool gets heavy use from my family and I've noticed the water looks a bit cloudy by evening even after shocking.

I'm wondering if I should just leave the filter running continuously to help with circulation and keep the water crystal clear, or if there's a sweet spot for daily runtime that balances effectiveness with energy costs. The pool is in full sun most of the day and we're in a fairly warm climate, so I want to make sure I'm getting adequate turnover without unnecessarily driving up my electric bill.…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 2-4 hours 134 👍 0

How Long After Adding Calcium Hardness Can You Swim?

Wondering why my neighbor was swimming hours after adding calcium hardness yesterday while I'm still waiting after adding mine this morning. How long do I need to wait before it's safe to swim? Pool's been circulating for about an hour now. Do I need to test anything else before getting back in?…more

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Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes to set up winter schedule 132 👍 0

Should You Run Your Pool Pump in Winter? Complete Guide

Pulled the cover off my pool this winter and realized I have absolutely no clue whether I'm supposed to keep this pump running or not. The pool store told me I still need to run the pump during winter, but they didn't really explain how long or when.

I live in an area where it gets cold but doesn't freeze every day. Do I need to run it the same 8 hours I've been doing all summer? And what happens if we do get a freeze - should I do anything different? I really don't want to mess up the equipment since I'm still learning all this stuff.…more

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