Results for "filter settings"

Equipment Easy varies by cleaner type 222 👍 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 30 minutes 218 👍 0

Can You Pressure Wash Pool Filters? Safe Cleaning Guide

Between my pool party this Saturday and getting completely conflicting advice on pressure washing cartridge versus DE filters, I'm running out of time to figure this out.

My current setup includes cartridge filters, but I'm considering switching to either DE or sand filtration depending on cleaning requirements.

What are the specific limitations and recommended procedures for pressure washing each filter type? I want to ensure I'm using appropriate PSI settings and techniques to avoid damaging the filtration media while achieving optimal cleaning results.…more

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Filters Medium 45 minutes 207 👍 0

Can a Pool Sand Filter Be Too Big? Sizing Problems Explained

During our weekly pool maintenance routine, my husband casually mentioned that our 15,000 gallon inground pool's water has looked consistently cloudy despite my best filtration efforts, and now I can't stop obsessing over what's wrong. The water isn't cloudy exactly, but it lacks that crystal-clear sparkle and seems to have a slight haze that won't go away. My chemical levels are all in range - chlorine at 2.5 ppm, pH 7.4, alkalinity 110 ppm, and I've shocked multiple times with no improvement.

I recently upgraded to a larger 24-inch sand filter thinking bigger would be better, but I'm starting to wonder if I made a mistake. My pump runs at about 45 GPM, and I've noticed that when I backwash, the water doesn't seem to flow very forcefully compared to my old smaller filter. Could the filter actually be too large for my system? I've heard that oversized filters can cause problems, but I'm not sure how to tell if that's what's happening here.…more

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Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Above Ground Pools

4.3 (22,100 reviews)

Filters Easy 45-90 minutes 198 👍 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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Pump Problems Medium 15 minutes reading 187 👍 0

How Variable Speed Pool Pumps Work - Complete Guide

Woke up to another $400 electric bill after replacing my pool filter, cleaning the skimmer baskets, checking all the connections — my single-speed pump is still draining my wallet on this 20,000-gallon inground pool. My utility bills have been astronomical running the pump 8-10 hours daily, and I'm trying to understand exactly how these newer pumps achieve such significant energy savings.

Specifically, I'd like to know what type of motor technology variable speed pumps use and how they're able to adjust their speed so precisely. My current pump seems to be either on full blast or off completely. What's the RPM range these variable speed units can operate in, and how does that translate to better flow control and lower energy costs? I want to make sure I understand the technology before investing in what seems like a more expensive upfront purchase.…more

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Pump Problems Medium 30 minutes 184 👍 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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Water Chemistry Medium 15-20 minutes 163 👍 0

Hot Tub & Spa Water Care Guide: Complete Chemistry Manual 2024

Hot tub water care requires maintaining proper pH (7.4-7.6), alkalinity (80-120 ppm), and sanitizer levels while following regular testing and chemical adjustment schedules. Higher temperatures and smaller water volumes make spas more sensitive to chemical imbalances than pools.…more

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Maintenance Medium 45 minutes 159 👍 0

Can I Swim While Pregnant? Pool Safety for Expectant Mothers

Woke up realizing my backyard pool has chemical balance concerns, temperature questions, AND safety worries now that I'm pregnant and still want to swim. What are the safety requirements? Need to know proper chemical levels and water temperature limits. Also wondering if I need doctor approval first.…more

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Filters Easy 30 minutes 158 👍 0

How to Use a Pool Sand Filter: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

The pool sand filter that worked fine for years started giving me cloudy water last month but now it's completely dead and those expensive pool store fixes aren't working.

Can someone just give me the straight facts on how to actually operate my sand filter? I want to know the basic daily routine, when I should backwash, and how to tell if it's working properly. I'm looking for simple, practical steps I can handle myself without breaking the bank on unnecessary add-ons.…more

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Salt Water Medium Reading time: 10 minutes 146 👍 0

How Salt Water Pools Work: Complete System Guide 2024

Already confused about how my salt water pool system works, but after all that rain last week it's acting completely weird and making everything worse. The pool store told me it uses salt to make chlorine somehow, but I don't really understand how that works.

Could someone walk me through the actual process? Like, how does salt turn into chlorine? And does this mean I never have to add chlorine manually? I want to make sure I understand what's happening so I can properly maintain it. Any guidance would be really appreciated!…more

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Filters Medium 45 minutes 137 👍 0

Can You Vacuum Pool on Filter Setting? Complete Guide

About to give up on pool vacuuming after yesterday's disaster — kept getting debris blown right back in no matter what I did. My standard maintenance routine involves weekly vacuuming, but I'm uncertain whether the filter setting is appropriate for all scenarios or if there are specific conditions that warrant switching to the waste position.

Specifically, I want to understand the technical rationale behind each setting choice. When does debris load become sufficient to justify bypassing the filtration system entirely? Are there water quality indicators or visible contamination thresholds that should trigger a waste setting protocol instead of normal filtration?…more

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Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Variable Speed Pool Pumps

4.5 (12,400 reviews)

Filters Easy 30 minutes 113 👍 0

Can You Backwash Cartridge Pool Filters? Proper Cleaning

My cleaning supplies are all laid out and I'm ready to tackle this cartridge filter maintenance myself — just need to know if backwashing is the right move. My pool guy mentioned something about cleaning them differently but I want to make sure I'm doing this right. Should I be looking for a backwash setting on my filter system?…more

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Maintenance Easy 45 minutes 112 👍 0

Can You Vacuum Pool on Backwash? Proper Filter Settings

Already tried everything but my pool filter clogs every time I vacuum, the water won't clear up, AND I can't figure out the right filter setting.
Should I have it on backwash while I vacuum, or use a different setting? Don't want to mess anything up.…more

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Filters Easy 30 minutes 91 👍 0

Pool Filter Runtime: 24/7 vs Scheduled Operation Guide

During my pool maintenance reading, I keep seeing conflicting advice about filter runtime schedules. Some sources say the filter needs to run 24/7 while others mention you can get away with just 8-12 hours daily. My pool is about 20,000 gallons and I'm using a sand filter with a variable speed pump that I installed last season. Right now I have it programmed to run from 6 AM to 6 PM, but I'm wondering if that's enough turnover to keep the water properly filtered and circulated.…more

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