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Where to Drain a Saltwater Pool Safely
Salt Water Medium 2–4 hours depending on volume 87 👍 1

Where to Drain a Saltwater Pool Safely

Found out the hard way that you can't just dump saltwater pool water wherever you want. Moved into this place a couple months ago and the previous owners left a saltwater pool I'm still figuring out. The water level was way too high after some heavy rain, so I pumped a bunch out into the backyard near one of the trees. About a week later the grass in that spot turned brown and the tree is looking very dead. Now I still need to lower the water level but I'm terrified to touch anything.

Where are you actually supposed to put saltwater pool water when you need to drain some out? Is the sewer cleanout pipe okay to use? Can you run it to the street gutter? I've heard you can spread it on grass but obviously my grass is dead where I tried that. How damaging is pool salt to trees and plants compared to, say, the chlorine? I want to fix this without killing anything else.…more
Where to Drain Pool Water When Winterizing
Winterizing Easy 1–2 hours 16 👍 1

Where to Drain Pool Water When Winterizing

Nobody told me this part would be confusing. When I started dropping the water level to close the pool for winter, I realized I had absolutely no idea where that water is actually supposed to go. My pool is an inground, and right now I've got a submersible pump running — but I keep stopping because I'm genuinely not sure if I'm about to flood my neighbor's yard or create a problem with the municipality.

The water has to go somewhere, obviously, but there seem to be a few options and I can't figure out which one is actually correct. Is it okay to run it out to the street drain? Can I just let it soak into the yard? Or is there a hookup to the sewer I should be using instead?

I want to do this right and not get a fine or cause a drainage mess. Any guidance would be really helpful before I crank the pump back on.…more
Do You Need a Pool Cover Pump? Winter Pool Guide
Winter Maintenance Easy 2-3 hours 204 👍

Do You Need a Pool Cover Pump? Winter Pool Guide

Already dropped serious cash on winter prep, but before I skip the pool cover pump: I've had my 18x36 inground pool for about 4 years now. This is my second winter with the safety cover, and I'm noticing that after heavy rains and snowmelt, there's quite a bit of standing water pooling on top of the cover. Last year I just left it alone, but by spring the water was pretty gross looking and there was so much weight that the cover was sagging significantly in some areas. My neighbor mentioned something about cover pumps, but I'm not sure if I really need one or if it's just another unnecessary pool expense. The water doesn't seem to be going anywhere on its own, and I'm worried about potential damage to the cover or the pool underneath. What's the best approach here?…more
Why Is the Lincoln Reflecting Pool Green—and Why Not Shock It?
Algae Green Pool 223 👍 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
How to Drain Above Ground Pool - Complete Safety Guide
Above Ground Medium 4-8 hours 533 👍

How to Drain Above Ground Pool - Complete Safety Guide

Three different sources are telling me wildly different drain times for my above ground pool — my contractor says 6-8 hours but the pump manual clearly states 2-3 hours maximum. Now they want to charge me $300 just to drain my above ground pool for the winter! That's ridiculous.

I know I can do this myself but I want to make sure I don't mess up my liner or damage anything. What's the safest DIY method to drain it? I've heard about using pumps or some kind of siphon thing, but I don't want to risk doing it wrong and having to buy a whole new pool setup.…more
Can Pool Cover Pumps Be Completely Submerged? Safety Guide
Pump Problems Medium 30 minutes 471 👍

Can Pool Cover Pumps Be Completely Submerged? Safety Guide

Winter cover is sagging with a foot of rainwater on top and my little cover pump can barely keep up. Worried about just tossing it in the deep end fully submerged to pump faster, but the cord connection doesn't look waterproof. Can these things actually run underwater safely?…more
Can Green Pool Water Make You Sick? Health Risks Explained
Algae Green Pool Easy immediate recognition 656 👍

Can Green Pool Water Make You Sick? Health Risks Explained

Nobody believed me when I said our pool looked dangerous until my husband walked outside and said it resembles a literal swamp. I know it looks gross but is green water actually dangerous or just unsightly?

What kind of health problems can you get from swimming in algae water? Should I keep everyone out until it's crystal clear again?…more
Can You Run Pool Pump Without Filter? Risks & Solutions
Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes 573 👍 1

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
How to Vacuum Pool Without a Skimmer - 4 Easy Methods
Equipment Medium 45 minutes 542 👍

How to Vacuum Pool Without a Skimmer - 4 Easy Methods

Before the pool season even starts, my skimmer cracks from freeze damage every single year, leaving me staring at a swampy disaster. I've been dumping shock and algaecide for weeks but I know I need to vacuum out all this debris and dead algae to actually win this battle.

The problem is my skimmer is completely shot and won't be replaced for another week. Is there any way to vacuum without using the skimmer? I'm willing to try anything at this point - manual methods, different equipment, whatever it takes. I just need to get this gunk out of my pool before it gets any worse!…more
Can I Swim in Pool After Getting a Tattoo? Safety Guide
Maintenance Medium 30 minutes 489 👍

Can I Swim in Pool After Getting a Tattoo? Safety Guide

Every time I see that crystal-clear pool water calling my name, my week-old tattoo reminds me why I shouldn't have jumped in last weekend. I also recently got a tattoo and I'm wondering when it would be safe to take my first swim.

The pool store told me about keeping chlorine levels balanced, but they didn't mention anything about tattoos. How long should I wait before getting in? I want to make sure I don't risk any infections or mess up the healing process. Are there specific things I should check about my pool's chemical balance before swimming with a new tattoo?…more
Can I Install a Pool Heater Myself? DIY Installation Guide
Heaters Medium 20-40 hours 311 👍 1

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
How Pool Sand Filters Work: Complete Diagram & Process
Filters Medium 15 minutes 968 👍

How Pool Sand Filters Work: Complete Diagram & Process

New pool owner trying to understand how my sand filter actually cleans the water. Watched a couple YouTube videos but they all skip over the important details. The pool store just says "backwash when pressure goes up" but I want to actually understand what's happening inside this tank.…more
How to Reset Pentair Variable Speed Pool Pump - Complete Guide
Pump Problems Medium 15-30 minutes 546 👍

How to Reset Pentair Variable Speed Pool Pump - Complete Guide

Pulled into my driveway after work and realized our Pentair variable speed pump is throwing constant error messages with Saturday's pool party just days away. It keeps throwing error codes and the speeds seem all wonky - like it's not responding to the programmed settings at all. I've tried adjusting the speed programs but nothing seems to stick.

I'm hoping a good reset might fix this mess before I have to call a tech out. I know there's got to be a way to do a complete system reset on these things, but I want to make sure I do it right. What's the proper procedure to fully reset one of these pumps and get it back to working normally?…more
Above Ground Pool Distance From House: Complete Guide
Above Ground Medium 2 hours research + installation planning 538 👍

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
Can I Open Pool Cover With Water On It? Safe Removal Guide
Winterizing Medium 2-4 hours 447 👍

Can I Open Pool Cover With Water On It? Safe Removal Guide

Finally facing spring opening and worried it's dangerous to remove my winter pool cover with all that standing water on top while my kids are constantly playing nearby? Can I just pull it off like this or do I need to get the water off first? Don't want to mess up my pool water or damage anything.…more

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