Results for "sanitizer"

Filters Medium 2-3 hours 557 👍 0

Pool Filter Balls vs Sand: Complete Replacement Guide

Noticed my pool filter isn't performing like it used to — can't afford professional service right now, so is switching from sand to filter balls a DIY job under $100? The pool store mentioned they might work better than traditional sand, but I want to make sure before I make the switch.

Are filter balls actually a good replacement for sand in my filter system? I'm curious about things like how well they filter compared to sand, if they're easier to work with, and whether the maintenance routine changes at all. Any guidance would be really helpful!…more

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Maintenance Easy 15 minutes 490 👍 1

When Are Pools Open in Las Vegas? Year-Round Pool Season

My Vegas hotel's pool is supposedly "closed for winter" but I'm literally watching guests splash around in 70-degree weather right now. Do most hotels and resorts close pools during winter months like other places? Or does the desert climate keep them running all year?

Looking at both resort pools and maybe some residential options. Want to know if there's a specific season or if it's pretty much always pool weather out there.…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 30 minutes 308 👍 0

Can You Shock Pool After Adding Muriatic Acid? Safe Timing

Our 2019 Intex Easy Set just got muriatic acid to lower the pH but now we're wondering if we can shock it right away. I added some muriatic acid to my pool yesterday to bring down the pH (it was reading around 8.2). Now I'm wondering if I can go ahead and shock the pool today or if I need to wait? I don't want to create any dangerous chemical reactions or damage anything. The pool store guy mentioned something about waiting between chemicals but I can't remember exactly what he said. Should I test the water first or just wait a certain amount of time? Thanks for any help - still learning all this pool chemistry stuff!…more

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Best Pool Covers

4.5 (11,300 reviews)

Pump Problems Easy 30 minutes 273 👍 0

Can I Turn Pool Pump Off at Night? Complete Owner's Guide

This electric bill is destroying my budget and I can't afford to keep this pool pump running 24/7 — is it safe to shut it off nights?
The pool store told me the pump should run constantly, but my neighbor says he turns his off at night to save on electricity costs.

I'm worried about messing something up since this is all new to me. Is it actually safe to turn the pump off overnight, or will that cause problems with the water? If I can turn it off, how many hours should it still be running each day to keep everything clean and healthy?…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 15 minutes 270 👍 0

Do I Need pH Up and Down for Pool? Essential pH Guide

My husband casually mentioned that we're the only neighbors who stock both pH Up AND pH Down, and now I'm suspicious the pool store is playing us. That's like $40-50 just for pH adjustment chemicals alone!

Is this just upselling, or do I actually need to keep both products on hand? My pool seems to drift one way or the other pH-wise, but rarely both directions. Looking for some honest advice from people who aren't trying to empty my wallet every time I walk in for supplies.…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 30 minutes 269 👍 0

Can I Add Pool Chemicals at the Same Time? Safe Mixing Guide

Spent all week prepping for Saturday's pool party and now I'm scrambling to balance the water but wondering if I can add multiple chemicals together to save time.
The pool store gave me a bunch of different chemicals but didn't really explain the timing. I want to make sure I'm not going to create some dangerous reaction or mess up my water chemistry. Should I be spacing these out somehow?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2-3 days 260 👍 0

How to Raise Pool Stabilizer (CYA) Levels - Complete Guide

Already tried three different YouTube tutorials to raise my pool's CYA levels but somehow made them even lower than before. Pool is about 10,000 gallons. What's the right amount of cyanuric acid to add and what's the best method? Granular or liquid stabilizer?…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 45 minutes 247 👍 0

Can You Use Pool pH Down for Hydroponics? Safe Alternatives

Apparently my neighbor's hydroponic tomatoes are thriving using basic pool pH down while mine struggle with the expensive hydroponic-specific version.

I want to make sure I'm not putting anything harmful into our food system. Are there differences between pool pH down and hydroponic pH adjusters that I should be aware of? I'd rather spend a little extra if it means keeping our homegrown produce safe for the kids to eat.…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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Salt Water Medium 2-3 hours for water testing and balancing 239 👍 0

Can You Use Salt in Pool Without Saltwater System?

Replaced my salt cell last month but the levels still plummet whenever it hits 85°F outside — completely stable during cooler weather though. My pool has been fighting me all season - cloudy water, constantly adjusting chemicals, and I swear I've spent more on chlorine than my mortgage payment. A neighbor mentioned that adding salt might help stabilize things and reduce the harsh chemical smell that's been burning our eyes.

Before I dump a bunch of pool salt into my regular chlorinated pool, I want to make sure I'm not about to make things worse. I don't have a saltwater chlorinator system - just the standard setup with skimmer, pump, and filter. Will adding salt actually help with anything, or am I just setting myself up for more headaches?…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 15 minutes 239 👍 0

Can You Use Pool Chlorine to Clean Your House? Safety Guide

About to tackle some serious deep cleaning this Saturday — is it safe to just grab my leftover pool chlorine instead of buying a bunch of specialty household cleaners? The pool store keeps trying to upsell me on expensive specialty cleaners, but I've got plenty of pool chlorine sitting around. I'm wondering if I can just use some of that chlorine to clean my bathroom, kitchen counters, or other surfaces around the house instead of buying separate products.

Is this actually safe to do, or am I asking for trouble? I'd love to find a DIY solution that saves me some money, but I don't want to damage anything or create health hazards. What are the real risks here?…more

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Best Pool Heaters

4.4 (8,900 reviews)

Filters Easy 30 minutes 238 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Filters Last? Replacement Guide & Signs

After following my pool filter manual religiously for years, I'm baffled why it says replace every 6 months when mine still looks spotless after twelve. Have cartridge now but considering switching. How long do different filter types actually last before they need replacing? What are the signs it's time for a new one?…more

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Pump Problems Medium 30 minutes 237 👍 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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Equipment Medium 8-24 hours wait time, 30-60 minutes vacuuming 236 👍 0

Can You Vacuum Pool After Shock? Complete Safety Guide

Last night my wife casually mentioned our 20,000 gallon inground pool still looks cloudy after yesterday's calcium hypochlorite shock treatment, and now it's all I can see. I added about 2 pounds of shock around 7 PM, and now this morning I'm wondering when it's safe to start vacuuming.

I have a lot of debris that settled to the bottom overnight, including some leaves and dirt that blew in during a storm. My test strips are showing the chlorine is still pretty high - looks like it's reading around 8-10 ppm this morning. I don't want to damage my pool equipment or create any safety issues, but I'm eager to get the pool cleaned up since we have guests coming over this weekend.

What's the recommended waiting period before I can safely vacuum? Should I wait for the chlorine to drop to a certain level first, or is there a standard timeframe I should follow regardless of the chemical readings?…more

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Water Chemistry Easy 15 minutes 232 👍 0

Can I Use Pool pH Increaser in My Spa? Safe Chemical Guide

Noticed I'm always running low on spa pH increaser and wondering if this is a dumb question, but can I just use my pool's pH increaser instead? I have both a pool and a hot tub, and I noticed my spa's pH is running low. I have some pH increaser that I bought for my pool - can I use the same product in my hot tub, or do I need to buy separate chemicals?

The pool store didn't really explain if there's a difference between pool and spa chemicals, and I don't want to mess anything up. If I can use the same pH increaser, do I need to adjust how much I add since the hot tub is obviously much smaller than my pool?…more

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