Results for "winter cover"

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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Maintenance Easy varies by season 479 👍 0

How Long Are Pools Open in Texas? Swimming Season Guide

Finally got a second opinion after my pool contractor insisted Texas pools should only stay open 6-7 months yearly, but something about losing half my investment doesn't add up. I moved to Texas thinking I'd be swimming constantly, but I'm honestly confused about when pools are actually swimmable here. Some neighbors say theirs are open March through November, others claim they swim year-round with heaters.

I've been debating whether to invest in a heating system since I'm paying for this pool either way. How long is the typical swimming season in Texas, and is it realistic to keep a pool open all year? I want to maximize my investment and actually enjoy this thing!…more

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Heaters Easy 30 minutes 387 👍 0

Do You Need Pool Heating in Orlando in April? Temperature Guide

Woke up this morning realizing our pool party is this weekend and I have no idea if April water temps in Orlando will freeze our guests out without heating. What are typical pool temperatures in April without a heater? Is it warm enough to swim comfortably or should I budget for heating equipment?…more

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Best Pool Chemical Starter Kits

4.5 (18,700 reviews)

Above Ground Easy 15 minutes 351 👍 0

How Long Do Above Ground Pools Last? Lifespan Guide 2024

Every YouTube video promised their above ground pool would last 20+ years, but now I'm drowning in conflicting lifespan advice and more confused than ever. I've been looking at steel, aluminum, and resin options and they're all pretty different price-wise.

Before I commit, I'd love to know how long each type typically lasts? Like, are we talking a few years or more like a decade? And does the material really make that big of a difference, or is it more about how well you take care of it? Don't want to cheap out now and regret it later when I'm dealing with rust or cracks!…more

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Maintenance Medium varies by closure type 337 👍 0

How Long Can a Pool Stay Closed? Duration & Safety Limits

Between the winter thaw and spring opening every year, I'm left wondering if my pool's been closed too long and the water is now unsafe. My facility requires extended closure periods for various operational reasons, and I want to establish clear protocols for both planned seasonal shutdowns and emergency closures.

Specifically, I'm looking for data on maximum safe closure timeframes before water chemistry becomes unmanageable and equipment integrity is compromised. What are the industry standards for winterized pools versus temporary emergency closures?…more

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Winterizing Medium 2-3 hours 261 👍 0

Can Pool Covers Be Recycled? Complete Disposal Guide

Opened my pool storage shed yesterday to find my cover completely shredded after years of patches, and now I'm stuck with this massive tarp I can't dispose of properly. I really don't want to just throw it in the dumpster if there's a better option - it seems like such a waste!

I called my local recycling center and they had no clue what I was talking about. The cover is one of those vinyl ones with the foam backing, so it's not like it's a single material. Does anyone know if there are places that actually take these things? I'm hoping there's some specialized facility or program I don't know about, because sending this thing to a landfill feels wrong.…more

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Salt Water Medium 2-4 hours for complete winterization 241 👍 0

Do Salt Water Pools Freeze? Winter Protection Guide

Between the $800 winterizing quote I just got and hearing horror stories about frozen saltwater pools, I'm wondering if there's anything special I need to know before winter hits.
The pool store told me that salt water systems are different from regular chlorine pools, but they didn't really explain much about winterization.

Do salt water pools actually freeze like regular pools? I've heard conflicting things - some people say the salt prevents freezing, others say it doesn't matter. I want to make sure I'm preparing properly and not going to come back to any nasty surprises in the spring. Any guidance would be really appreciated!…more

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Winterizing Medium 4-8 hours 234 👍 0

Do I Need to Winterize My Pool? Complete Regional Guide 2024

My 20,000 gallon inground pool looked fine yesterday, but walked out this morning and spotted ice crystals forming around the edges that definitely weren't there last night. I live in central Pennsylvania where we definitely get freezing temperatures, but I'm trying to figure out the right strategy.

I've been maintaining my pool chemistry pretty well - chlorine stays around 2-3 ppm, pH is balanced at 7.4, and alkalinity is good at 100 ppm. The pool has been crystal clear all season. But now that October is here and nighttime temps are starting to drop into the 40s, I'm wondering what level of winterization is actually necessary for my climate zone.

Do I need to drain the pool, blow out all the lines, and do the full winterization process? Or are there different approaches depending on how cold it gets in my area? I want to make sure I protect my equipment and plumbing from freeze damage, but I also don't want to do more work than necessary if my climate doesn't require it.…more

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Water Chemistry Medium 2-4 hours 230 👍 0

Do Vinyl Pools Need Calcium? Complete CH Guide 2024

Before our big pool party this Saturday, I'm getting completely contradictory advice about whether my vinyl pool even needs calcium added! I keep reading conflicting info online - some sources say vinyl pools don't need calcium at all, others say they do but at different levels than concrete pools. My test strips show I'm sitting around 100 ppm right now and I'm not sure if that's too low or if I even need to worry about it.

I've been dealing with some metal staining on my vinyl liner and wondering if low calcium could be making it worse by causing corrosion. But I'm also terrified of adding too much and ending up with scaling or that dreaded cloudy water that takes forever to clear up. What's the sweet spot for calcium hardness in vinyl pools, and is it really different from other pool types?…more

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Above Ground Medium 30 minutes 220 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Liners Last? Lifespan & Replacement Guide

Staring at my pool liner that I replaced last summer, wondering if I chose the wrong thickness — did I mess this up or how long should this thing actually last? My above-ground pool is about 4 years old now with the original vinyl liner, and I want to know what kind of lifespan I should expect before needing a replacement.

I've been pretty good about maintaining proper water chemistry - keeping pH between 7.2-7.6 and chlorine around 1-3 ppm. The pool gets full sun most of the day during summer, and I'm wondering if the UV exposure will shorten the liner's life significantly. Are there things I can do now to extend how long it lasts, or is replacement just inevitable after a certain number of years regardless of maintenance?…more

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Above Ground Medium 30-45 minutes 220 👍 0

Can You Clean Pool Liner with Bleach? Safe Methods & Tips

Halfway through cleaning my new vinyl liner with the same bleach method that worked perfectly on my old above-ground pool, I'm wondering if I'm damaging it. They always push these expensive chemicals and act like regular household products will destroy my pool. I've got some stains and algae buildup on my vinyl liner that need attention, and I'm wondering if I can just use regular bleach to clean it.

I know bleach is basically chlorine, which is already in my pool, but I want to make sure I won't damage the liner if I use it directly. Has anyone successfully cleaned their pool liner with household bleach? If so, do I need to dilute it or can I use it straight from the bottle? Looking for some honest DIY advice from people who aren't trying to upsell me!…more

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Best Pool Filters

4.5 (15,600 reviews)

Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes 220 👍 0

Do Variable Speed Pool Pumps Last Longer? Expert Analysis

Noticed this is the third pool pump that's died on me in five years and I'm done guessing whether upgrading to variable speed will actually give me better longevity. While the upfront investment is significantly higher than single speed units, I need to understand the actual lifespan differences between these pump types to calculate true ROI.

Specifically, I'm looking for data on operational longevity - how many years can I realistically expect from a variable speed pump compared to a traditional single speed unit? Are there mechanical advantages to variable speed operation that translate to extended equipment life, or is this primarily marketing?…more

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Salt Water Easy 30 minutes 210 👍 0

Do You Need Cyanuric Acid in a Saltwater Pool? Complete Guide

Somewhere around midnight my saltwater pool's chlorine levels just crashed — need to figure out if cyanuric acid will fix this before the pool guy comes tomorrow. The pool store keeps pushing me to buy their stabilizer products, claiming it's essential, but I'm suspicious they're just trying to upsell me on expensive chemicals I don't really need.

I thought the whole point of having a salt system was to avoid all these extra chemical additions and maintenance headaches. My chlorine generator seems to be working fine, so do I really need to spend money on cyanuric acid? What levels should I be targeting if it's actually necessary, and can I add it myself instead of paying pool store prices?…more

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Above Ground Easy 5 minutes reading 209 👍 0

How Long Do Above Ground Pools Last? Complete Lifespan Guide

Before this heat wave hit, my above-ground pool looked practically brand new, but now that we're hitting 90+ degrees it's aging like crazy.

I'm looking at different types of above ground pools - steel frame, resin, inflatable - and I want the real truth about their lifespans. I don't want to dump money into something that'll fall apart in 3 years, but I also don't want to overspend if I don't need to. What can I realistically expect from each type, and are there any DIY maintenance tricks that actually make a difference in longevity?…more

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Above Ground Medium 15 minutes 208 👍 0

How Long Do Inground Pool Liners Last? Complete Guide

Replaced my inground pool liner three years ago — before I start tearing into another replacement would this failing liner be covered under my home warranty? The pool store mentioned that I'll eventually need to replace the vinyl liner, but they didn't give me much detail about timing.

How long do these liners typically last before needing replacement? Is it something I should be budgeting for in the next few years, or is it more of a long-term expense? I want to make sure I'm taking proper care of it so it lasts as long as possible.…more

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