Results for "skimmer removal"

Filters Medium 4-6 hours 193 👍 0

Can You Shock Pool Without Running Filter? Safe Method

Spent years shocking my old above-ground pool without running the filter and it worked perfectly, but now I'm questioning if it's actually safe for this new setup. I need to shock my pool but I'm wondering if I absolutely have to have the filter system running while I do it? The pool store mentioned something about circulation being important, but they weren't super clear about whether that meant the filter specifically or just water movement in general.

I'm trying to figure out if there's a safe way to shock the pool even if my filter isn't running - maybe by brushing or using the return jets? Any guidance would be really appreciated since I don't want to mess this up!…more

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Pump Problems Medium 30 minutes 155 👍 0

Can You Run Pool Pump Without Skimmer? Safe Solutions

Every pool owner seems to swear by replacement skimmer baskets, but I'm wondering if I'm about to waste money on this cracked assembly replacement? I have a 20,000 gallon inground pool with both a main drain and skimmer line feeding into the pump. The skimmer is currently letting air into the system and causing the pump to lose prime intermittently.

I'm wondering if I can temporarily close off the skimmer line completely and just run the pump using suction from the main drain until I can fix the skimmer properly. Will this provide adequate circulation for my pool size, and are there any risks I should be aware of? I'm concerned about whether the main drain alone can handle all the filtration needs and if this might cause any damage to my pump or affect water quality during this temporary period.…more

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Leaks Medium 2-4 hours for inspection and testing 152 👍 0

Can Pool Leak Through Tile Grout? Expert Detection Guide

Woke up to my pool losing another 3 inches this week from my 20,000-gallon inground — before I jackhammer the tile grout, will homeowner's insurance cover this mess? I've checked all the obvious spots like the skimmer, return lines, and pump connections, but haven't found any obvious leaks.

What's got me wondering about the grout is that I've noticed some areas where it looks cracked or slightly deteriorated, especially on the north side of the pool where we get the most freeze-thaw action during winter. The tile and grout are probably 8-10 years old now. My water chemistry has been pretty stable - chlorine around 2-3 ppm, pH 7.4, alkalinity 120 ppm - so I don't think chemical imbalance is causing rapid deterioration.

Is it actually possible for pool water to leak through damaged grout at the waterline? I'm trying to figure out if I should focus my leak detection efforts there or keep looking elsewhere. The water level seems to stabilize when it drops below the tile line, which makes me think the grout theory might be on the right track.…more

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Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Robotic Pool Cleaners

4.6 (28,500 reviews)

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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Leaks Medium 2-4 hours for assessment 140 👍 0

Can Pool Leaks Cause Sinkholes? Soil Erosion Prevention

Looked at my water level gauge showing 2 inches lost per week, but my pool guy insists that's impossible with just surface evaporation. I keep telling myself it's just a small amount of water loss, but now I'm wondering if I'm being naive about what could actually happen to my property.

The thing is, I've noticed some soft spots developing in the ground around my pool area, and it's got me thinking - could all that leaking water actually wash away enough soil to create a sinkhole? I know it sounds dramatic, but I'm genuinely concerned about whether continuous water leakage could undermine my pool's foundation or create dangerous voids in my yard. Is this something that actually happens, or am I overthinking a simple repair job?…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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Salt Water Medium 45 minutes 137 👍 0

Do Salt Water Pools Stay Clean? Complete Maintenance Guide

Already three weeks into this rental with a salt water pool I've never maintained before and getting nasty algae blooms plus cloudy water. My generator is running fine and producing chlorine, but somehow I still have to test chemicals, brush walls, and fight green water.

What am I missing here? Does the salt water system actually keep the pool clean on its own, or is there still a bunch of regular maintenance I need to be doing? I feel like I got sold a bill of goods about how "easy" salt water pools are supposed to be.…more

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Salt Water Medium 4-6 hours initial setup 133 👍 0

Can Above Ground Pools Be Salt Water? Complete Guide 2024

Tried following my pool manual that says above ground pools can't handle salt water systems, but keep seeing people online who've successfully converted theirs. What equipment do I need and are there any compatibility issues I should know about? Also heard something about different chemical levels for salt pools - is that true?…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes 129 👍 0

Do Pool Skimmers Work? Complete Effectiveness Guide

Three weeks ago my husband casually mentioned that our pool skimmers aren't picking up leaves or surface oils, and now I'm obsessing over whether they're broken. My pool consistently accumulates leaves, insects, and surface oils, and I want to understand if the skimmers are operating at optimal capacity or if there are performance factors I should be monitoring.

Specifically, I need to know the percentage of surface debris that properly functioning skimmers should capture, and what maintenance parameters directly impact their removal efficiency. Are there measurable benchmarks for skimmer performance that indicate when the system is working correctly versus when adjustments are needed?…more

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Filters Easy 45-90 minutes 129 👍 0

Can I Vacuum Pool on Waste? Complete Filter Setting Guide

Halfway through prepping for our pool party this Saturday, I realized I have no clue which filter setting to use when vacuuming all this debris. I've got some pretty heavy debris that's settled on the bottom of my pool after a storm, and I'm worried about clogging up my filter if I vacuum it all up normally.

The guy at the pool store mentioned something about using the "waste" setting when vacuuming, but I didn't really understand what he meant. Does this actually work, and when should I be using waste instead of the regular filter setting? I don't want to mess anything up since I'm still learning all this stuff.…more

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Equipment Medium 45 minutes 128 👍 0

Can You Vacuum Pool on Recirculate? Complete Guide

Pulled a ton of storm debris out of our pool and now I'm trying to decide between normal filtration and recirculate mode for vacuuming.
The pool is so messy that I'm concerned about clogging up our filter system if I vacuum normally, but I also don't want to compromise water quality.

Can I vacuum the pool using the recirculate setting instead? I want to make sure I understand what this does - will it actually clean the water properly or just move things around? My main concern is whether the water will be safe and clean enough for the kids to swim in afterward, or if I need to take additional steps to ensure proper filtration.…more

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Product Ranking 10 compared

Best Pool Water Test Kits

4.6 (45,200 reviews)

Maintenance Medium 15-20 minutes to read, 30-60 minutes to complete weekly tasks 125 👍 0

Weekly Pool Maintenance Checklist: Complete Expert Guide

Weekly pool maintenance involves testing and balancing water chemistry (pH 7.4-7.6, proper chlorine levels), cleaning skimmers and equipment, brushing walls, and vacuuming debris. Consistent weekly care prevents expensive repairs and keeps your pool safe for swimming year-round.…more

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Filters Easy 30 minutes 125 👍 0

How to Backwash Cartridge Pool Filter - Complete Guide

Despite replacing my cartridge pool filter twice already this season, it's clogged again and I'm done guessing whether to backwash or buy another replacement. The previous owner left behind what looks like a cartridge filter system, but I keep reading about backwashing filters online and I'm getting confused.

I went to the pool store and they mentioned something about cleaning cartridges differently than other filters, but I didn't fully understand. Can you actually backwash a cartridge filter like you would with sand filters? If not, what's the proper way to maintain these things? I want to make sure I'm taking care of my pool correctly from the start.…more

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Pump Problems Medium 30 minutes 125 👍 0

How to Program Variable Speed Pool Pump - Complete Guide

Nobody warned me that after the pool guy installed my new variable speed pump yesterday, I'd be staring at this digital display like it's speaking ancient Greek. The installer basically ran off after hooking it up and now I'm supposed to figure out how to program different speeds throughout the day.

I get that I'm supposed to run it at different RPMs at different times to save energy, but honestly have no clue where to start. Like, what speeds should I use and when? And how do I actually punch this stuff into the control panel? My old single-speed pump was so much simpler - just flip the switch and forget about it!…more

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Winterizing Easy 20 minutes 120 👍 0

How Long Do Mesh Pool Covers Last? Complete Lifespan Guide

Pulled back my mesh pool cover this morning and noticed some wear patterns that definitely weren't there last season, making me wonder exactly how long these things are supposed to last.

What's the typical lifespan I should expect from a quality mesh cover? I've heard some last much longer than others, and I'm wondering if spending more upfront on better materials is worth it. I want something reliable that won't fail when we need it most.…more

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