Results for "ice protection"

Salt Water Easy 30 minutes 149 👍 0

Can You Use Table Salt in a Saltwater Pool?

Looked all over town yesterday for pool salt and every store nearby is sold out, so I topped up what little I had left and now I'm sitting just under the target level on my salt chlorine generator. I've got a full bag of regular iodized table salt in the pantry, a half-bag of water softener pellets in the garage, and some leftover ice-melt from winter. The generator is still reading low and I don't want to wait a week for an online order to arrive.

I'm wondering if any of those substitutes will actually work in a pinch, or if dumping the wrong stuff in will trash the salt cell. The replacement cells aren't cheap, so I really don't want to find out the hard way. What actually makes pool-grade salt different from the other stuff sitting in my garage?…more

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Maintenance Easy 45 minutes 497 👍 1

Do I Need a Pool Pillow for Winter? Complete Guide

Despite being on a tight budget for winter pool closing, I'm wondering if a pool pillow is actually necessary or just another expense I can skip? I've been researching proper closing procedures and keep seeing conflicting information about pool pillows (air pillows). Some sources say they're absolutely critical, while others suggest they're optional accessories.

Specifically, I need to understand whether pool pillows actually provide meaningful protection against freeze damage to pool walls and equipment. My pool is located in an area where temperatures regularly drop below freezing for extended periods during winter months. What's the technical reasoning behind using these pillows, and what risks am I facing if I skip this component of winterization?…more

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Winterizing Easy 30 minutes 70 👍 0

Gizzmo vs Rubber Plug: Best Way to Winterize a Skimmer?

During every fall closing season, I find myself second-guessing the advice I get at the pool store. This year I'm closing my inground pool on my own for the first time, and the store recommended I pick up a Gizzmo for the skimmer. The thing is, my neighbor has been closing his pool for years using nothing more than a rubber plug and a jug of antifreeze poured into the skimmer basket — and his skimmer has never cracked.

So now I'm wondering: does a Gizzmo actually do something fundamentally different, or is it just a more expensive version of the same idea? And the guy at the store also mentioned keeping the skimmer cover plate on top. Is that step necessary if I already have the Gizzmo in place, or is that overkill?…more

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Winterizing Medium 30–45 minutes 37 👍 1

What Goes in Your Skimmer When Closing for Winter?

Found myself in a debate with a neighbor and now I'm second-guessing everything I thought I knew about winterizing my inground pool. We get legitimate hard freezes here — not just a few nights of light frost — and I want to make sure I'm not cracking my skimmer housing this year.

My neighbor swears by dropping a half-filled milk jug into the skimmer and calling it a day, but a guy at the pool store told me I really need antifreeze poured in there or my skimmer will crack no matter what. A friend who closed pools professionally said just blow the lines and plug it — no antifreeze needed. Now I've got three different opinions and I'm reading about Gizzmos, rubber expansion plugs, foam backer rod, and antifreeze on top of all of it.

After blowing out the skimmer line with a shop vac, what actually needs to go into the skimmer, in what order? Is the antifreeze genuinely necessary or is that the pool store upselling me? And does it matter whether I use a Gizzmo versus a rubber plug versus the milk jug trick?…more

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Winterizing Medium 2-3 hours 383 👍 0

Should I Cover My Pool Heater in Winter? Complete Guide

Our new house came with a Pentair heat pump that the previous owner left completely exposed to the elements with zero winter protection. I have a Pentair heat pump that I've been using throughout the swimming season, and I'm wondering about proper winterization procedures.

I've heard conflicting advice about whether pool heaters need to be covered during the off-season. Some neighbors with gas heaters say they just shut them down and leave them exposed, while others insist that all heaters should be covered regardless of type. My heat pump manufacturer's manual mentions winterization but isn't super clear about covering requirements.

Given our climate with snow, ice, and temperatures that can drop below freezing for extended periods, what's the best practice for protecting different types of pool heaters? Does it matter if it's a heat pump versus a gas heater, and are there specific covers or protection methods that work best for harsh winter conditions?…more

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Winterizing Medium 2-4 hours 291 👍 0

Should You Cover Pool Equipment in Winter? Protection Guide

After 8 years, my pool pump and filter system are developing rust spots — should I invest in winter covers or just replace everything? They're pushing these fancy insulated covers for my pump, heater, and control panel, but I feel like they're just trying to empty my wallet again.

Do I actually need to cover all my pool equipment for winter, or is this another one of their money grabs? If protection is really necessary, are there cheaper DIY alternatives that work just as well? I'm sick of spending a fortune on overpriced pool store solutions when there might be simple ways to winterize my equipment without breaking the bank.…more

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Winterizing Medium 4-6 hours 301 👍 0

Can You Close a Pool Without a Cover? Winterizing Steps

Planning to winterize my pool this year but my cover is doing something completely bizarre — it's literally disintegrating into shreds every time the wind picks up. Is it possible to winterize my pool without one? What extra steps would I need to take to keep it maintained through the cold months?…more

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Pump Problems Easy 45 minutes 386 👍 0

Should You Cover Your Pool Pump in Winter? Complete Guide

According to my pool pump manual I should cover it for winter, but that completely contradicts what three different pool technicians have told me.

I've already done the basic winterization steps but I'm worried about leaving expensive equipment exposed to the elements for months. Should I be covering my pump or not? And if so, what kind of cover works best? I don't want to make a costly mistake here.…more

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Winterizing Easy 45 minutes 546 👍 1

Do I Need Pool Antifreeze? Complete Winterizing Guide

According to my old above-ground pool routine I never needed antifreeze, but now I'm questioning everything with this inground setup. My neighbor swears by it but another friend says it's totally unnecessary. I live in an area where we definitely get below freezing temps, but I'm not sure if my equipment can be completely drained or not.

What are the situations where pool antifreeze is actually needed? And if I do need it, does it matter what type I buy? Don't want to mess this up and end up with burst pipes come spring!…more

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Salt Water Medium 4-6 hours 345 👍 0

Do You Have to Cover a Salt Water Pool? Requirements Guide

Standing in front of my saltwater pool after following three conflicting YouTube tutorials about covers, I'm now more confused than when I started. I keep hearing mixed opinions - some neighbors swear by covers while others never bother.

I'm mainly wondering if there are any actual requirements I need to follow, and what the real benefits are beyond just keeping leaves out. Also, if I do decide to cover it, is there anything special I need to know about winterizing a salt water system? Don't want to accidentally mess up my salt cell or anything expensive like that!…more

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Equipment Medium 30 minutes 272 👍 1

Can You Run Pool Pump 24/7? Winter Operation Guide

I spent all winter listening to this relentless humming from my pool pump running 24/7, and now I'm second-guessing whether constant operation during cold months is safe. I've heard mixed advice - some say it prevents freezing and keeps water circulating, while others warn about equipment wear and high electricity costs. My pool sits unused from November through March, so I'm trying to figure out the best approach for pump runtime during this period. What's the right balance between protecting my equipment and not wasting energy?…more

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Above Ground Medium 4-6 hours initial setup, monthly maintenance 462 👍 0

Can You Leave Above Ground Pool Up All Year? Winter Guide

Halfway through winter prep I've tried partial winterization, full chemical shutdown, and running it with a heater — but I'm still getting conflicting advice about leaving my above ground pool up year-round.

Is it actually possible to leave my above ground pool up through winter and do the winterization myself? What really needs to be done to prevent damage, and can I skip some of these expensive add-ons they keep pushing? I'd rather invest time than keep throwing money at the pool store every season.…more

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Winterizing Easy 45 minutes 292 👍 0

Do You Need to Cover Above Ground Pool? Complete Guide

Standing in my backyard staring at the swampy mess the previous owner called a pool that's been uncovered all winter. Every week I'm adding chlorine, algaecide, shock treatments - you name it. The water goes from crystal clear to swamp green faster than I can keep up with, and I'm spending a fortune on chemicals.

I keep debating whether I should just bite the bullet and get a pool cover, but I honestly don't know if it's worth the investment or if it'll actually help with all these water quality issues I'm having. Will covering it really make that much of a difference, especially during the colder months? I'm tired of throwing money at this thing but I want to keep enjoying my pool without breaking the bank.…more

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Pump Problems Medium 2-3 hours 520 👍 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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Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes to set up winter schedule 336 👍 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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