Results for "rain-damage"

Above Ground Medium 2-3 days 282 👍 0

Can You Paint Above Ground Pool? Complete Guide & Best Methods

Called it—after all that rain last week, my above ground pool looks even more rusty and faded than before, practically mocking me from the backyard. It's become such an eyesore that I'm embarrassed to have people over. I've been researching pool painting but getting mixed information online - some say it works great, others say it's a waste of time and money.

My pool is one of those standard metal frame ones, probably about 15 years old with some rust spots and serious fading. I'm willing to put in the work if it'll actually make a difference, but I need to know if this is even feasible or if I'm just setting myself up for disappointment. What type of paint works on these things, and do I need special prep work?…more

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Algae Green Pool Easy 15 minutes 240 👍 0

Do I Need Algaecide in My Pool? Expert Pool Care Guide

I opened three different algaecide advice sources and got three different answers: pool guy says skip it, store says weekly doses, forums are completely split. I see algaecide products at the pool store and some neighbors swear by them, but I'm not sure if it's actually necessary or just extra insurance. Should I be using algaecide regularly, or only in certain situations? I just want to make sure the water quality is safe and clean for my kids to swim in without overdoing it on chemicals.…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 30 minutes 224 👍 0

Why Pool Alkalinity Gets Low: 7 Common Causes & Solutions

Opened my pool this morning and the alkalinity had crashed again — only happens when it's above 85 degrees but stays perfectly normal during cooler weather. My kids swim in it almost daily during summer, so I'm really concerned about whether this is safe for them.

I'm trying to figure out what's causing this so I can fix it properly. We've had a lot of rain lately, and I've been shocking the pool more often because of increased usage. Could these things be making the alkalinity drop? What are the main reasons pool alkalinity gets low, and should I keep the kids out until I get it balanced again?…more

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Best Pool Chemical Starter Kits

4.5 (18,700 reviews)

Water Chemistry Easy 30 minutes 220 👍 0

How to Increase Pool Alkalinity Fast - Complete Guide 2024

So there's this pool guy telling me to drain and refill my entire pool just because my alkalinity hit zero, but that sounds like expensive overkill for some cloudy water. Every time I try to balance the pH, it just crashes back down within a day or two.

I've got a 20,000 gallon pool and honestly I'm tired of throwing random chemicals at this problem. What's the RIGHT way to get my alkalinity back up to where it should be? I need specific amounts and steps because clearly what I've been doing isn't working.…more

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Cloudy Water Medium 24-72 hours 203 👍 0

How to Clear Cloudy Pool Water: Complete Fix Guide 2024

Our pool turned into a cloudy mess ever since the kids' party last weekend, and now I'm worried it's not safe for them to swim. They keep asking to get in, but I don't want to risk their health if there's something wrong with the water quality.

What's the proper way to clear up cloudy pool water and make it safe again? I want to make sure I'm doing everything right - testing chemicals, shocking, filtering, whatever it takes. How do I know when the water is actually clear and safe enough for the kids to swim again?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2 hours for testing and treatment 190 👍 0

Does My Pool Need Phosphate Remover? Expert Guide 2024

I tried everything to prevent algae blooms, but my pool only gets green when temperatures hit 85°F or higher—my pool store insists phosphate remover is the solution.

My pool currently has balanced pH and alkalinity, and I maintain chlorine at recommended levels. I'm wondering if phosphate removal should be a regular part of my maintenance routine, or if there are specific conditions where it becomes necessary. What's the technical perspective on when phosphate removers actually provide measurable benefits versus when they're just an additional expense?…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 30 minutes 183 👍 0

Can You Pre-Dissolve Pool Stabilizer? Complete Guide

Every time my neighbor dissolves his cyanuric acid in a bucket first it works perfectly, but when I dump mine straight into my pool it takes forever — what am I missing?

I've heard that pre-dissolving chemicals helps them work better and faster, but I want to make sure I'm doing it right. Does anyone know if this actually works with pool stabilizer? I'd rather take the DIY approach and save some money instead of getting ripped off by the pool store again.…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 30 minutes 180 👍 0

Does Pool Stabilizer Go Away? Understanding CYA Depletion

This is the third time this season my cyanuric acid levels have mysteriously dropped after being perfect all spring and I'm done guessing what's happening. Now I'm opening for this year and my CYA is reading lower than where I left it. Do I really need to keep adding stabilizer every year, or did I mess up my test somehow?

I thought once you get your stabilizer levels right, you're basically set for life. But apparently that's not the case? Just want to make sure I'm not throwing money at chemicals I don't actually need.…more

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Salt Water Medium 45 minutes 173 👍 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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Water Chemistry Easy 30 minutes 157 👍 0

How to Add Pool Stabilizer: Complete CYA Addition Guide

CYA level dropped to 15 ppm after a heavy rain week and my chlorine is burning off by noon every day. Bought a bag of stabilizer but the instructions are vague — do I dissolve it first, pour it in the skimmer, broadcast it across the surface? Don't want to overdo it and end up with the opposite problem.…more

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Cloudy Water Medium 3-7 days 155 👍 0

How to Fix Cloudy Pool Water: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Staring at my neighbor's crystal-clear pool while mine's been cloudy for days has me worried about letting my kids swim. I can't see the bottom clearly anymore and I'm not sure if it's safe or what's causing it.

I have a test kit but I'm not entirely sure what to do with the results or how to fix this properly. Should I be shocking the pool? How long does it usually take to clear up? I just want to make sure the water is completely safe before the kids get back in there.…more

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Best Robotic Pool Cleaners

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Algae Green Pool Medium 3-7 days 153 👍 0

Can I Swim in a Slightly Green Pool? Safety Guide & Solutions

Got a barely-there green tint in my pool that's only visible if you really look — can't afford a service call, any DIY fixes under $50? Water still seems mostly clear. Is this safe to swim in or should I stay out until I fix it?

Not sure what's causing the green color - could be algae starting? Chemical levels might be off but haven't tested recently.…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 15 minutes 153 👍 0

Does Pool pH Naturally Go Up? Chemistry Facts & Solutions

According to my pool equipment warranty — before I start dumping more chemicals into my pool — would constantly rising pH levels be covered under this thing? Just last week I balanced everything perfectly to 7.4, but when I tested again a few days later it was already climbing toward 7.8.

Is this something that just happens naturally with pools? I'm worried about whether it's safe for the kids to swim when the pH keeps creeping up like this. Should I be adding something regularly to keep it down, and what's the best way to handle this without making the water unsafe?…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 6-8 hours (including wait time) 153 👍 0

How to Increase Pool Alkalinity - Step-by-Step Guide

After testing my 10,000 gallon pool at dangerously low alkalinity levels, I'm standing in the pool supply store aisle staring at sodium bicarbonate, alkalinity increaser, and pH buffers with no clue which product I actually need. I've tested the water and confirmed the alkalinity is below optimal range.

What's the standard chemical treatment and dosage rate for raising total alkalinity? I want to follow proper water chemistry procedures, including appropriate testing intervals and gradual adjustment methods to avoid overshooting the target levels.…more

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Algae Green Pool Medium 45 minutes 147 👍 0

Can Pool Algae Grow Without Sunlight? Indoor Pool Facts

Starting to see algae in my 8-year-old indoor pool despite zero sunlight exposure — is this equipment failure or normal aging? My pool has been covered for months now with zero direct sunlight hitting it, but I'm still dealing with algae growth! I thought algae needed sunlight to survive, so this doesn't make any sense to me.

I've been throwing chemicals at this problem left and right, but the green keeps coming back. The pool is basically in complete darkness under the cover, yet somehow this stuff is thriving. Can algae actually grow without sunlight, or am I missing something obvious? I'm starting to think there's more to this than just blocking out the sun.…more

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