Articles
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Pool Skimmer Not Working? Common Causes and Fixes
A pool skimmer that's not working is almost always one of four things: the water level is wrong (too high or too low), the basket or pump strainer is
September 9, 2026 -
How to Remove Calcium Buildup on Pool Tile
Remove calcium buildup on pool tile by first lowering total alkalinity to 60 to 80 ppm and pH to 7.2 to 7.6, which makes the water aggressive enough to
September 6, 2026 -
Robotic vs Suction Pool Cleaner: Which Should You Buy?
A robotic pool cleaner costs $500 to $1,500 or more upfront versus $200 to $500 for a suction cleaner, but a government-tested energy study found robotic
September 1, 2026 -
Pool Cover Cost: Solar, Safety & Automatic Compared
Pool cover cost ranges from $75 to $250 for a basic winter tarp to $8,000 to $20,000 installed for a full automatic cover, with safety covers ($1,000 to
August 31, 2026 -
How to Lower Pool pH Safely and Correctly
Lower pool pH with muriatic acid (liquid, 31.45% strength) or dry acid (granular sodium bisulfate), added in small doses with a retest between each one
August 28, 2026 -
Pool Deck Repair Cost: Resurfacing Price Guide 2026
Pool deck repair costs $100 to $750 for a simple crack or spot fix, $750 to $2,500 for typical wood deck repair, and $1,500 to $10,800 for a full concrete
August 27, 2026 -
Variable-Speed Pool Pump Benefits: Worth the Cost?
A variable-speed pool pump's main benefit is running your filtration at a much lower RPM most of the time, which cuts energy use by roughly 70% to 90%
August 27, 2026 -
How Often to Clean a Pool Filter (and How to Do It)
Clean a pool filter whenever the pressure gauge reads 8 to 10 psi above its clean baseline, no matter the filter type. On a routine schedule, that works
August 23, 2026 -
Above Ground Pool vs Inground Pool Cost: Full Comparison
An above-ground pool costs $1,500 to $15,000 fully installed; an inground pool averages around $66,000, with a total range of roughly $14,000 to
August 20, 2026 -
Pool Leak Detection and Repair: Cost and How-To Guide
A pool losing more than about a quarter inch of water a day, after accounting for evaporation, likely has a leak. The bucket test settles it in 24 hours
August 17, 2026 -
Cloudy Pool Water Fix: Causes and How to Clear It
Cloudy pool water almost always traces back to one of five causes: low or chemically locked chlorine, an out-of-range pH or alkalinity, poor filtration or
August 12, 2026 -
Pool Heater Cost: Gas vs Heat Pump Pricing Compared
A gas pool heater costs $1,500 to $4,500 installed, with $250 to $400 a month to run. A heat pump costs more upfront, $2,000 to $6,000 installed, but runs
August 12, 2026 -
Pool Liner Replacement Cost: 2026 Pricing Breakdown
Replacing an above-ground pool liner costs $500 to $2,500 installed. An inground vinyl liner runs $3,000 to $5,500 for a standard rectangular pool, or
August 12, 2026 -
How to Close a Pool for Winter: The Full Closing Checklist
Closing a pool for winter means balancing the water, shocking it 2 to 3 days early, adding a stain preventer, then algaecide before winterizing plumbing.
August 8, 2026 -
Pool opening checklist: spring startup, step by step
A spring pool opening checklist runs three phases: prepping equipment, testing five chemistry numbers, then balancing chemicals in a specific order.
August 8, 2026 -
How to remove algae from pool walls without damage
Algae removal from pool walls without damage means matching bristle to surface: nylon for vinyl and fiberglass, steel only for plaster or gunite.
August 5, 2026 -
Pool resurfacing cost: 2026 price guide by finish
Pool resurfacing cost ranges from $4 to $10 per square foot for plaster up to $30 for tile, or about $5,700 to $11,600 for a standard 16x32 pool.
July 28, 2026 -
Salt water vs chlorine pool: the real difference and cost
In the salt water vs chlorine pool debate, a salt system still uses chlorine: electrolysis converts dissolved salt into the same sanitizer as tablets.
July 28, 2026 -
Green pool cleanup: the breakpoint chlorination guide
Clearing a green pool takes 1 to 5 days of breakpoint chlorination depending on severity, with DIY costs from $50 to $300.
July 25, 2026 -
Pool pump replacement cost: what owners actually pay in 2026
Expect $700 to $2,000 installed in 2026, almost all of it variable-speed since federal rules phased out single-speed pumps.
July 25, 2026 -
Pool chemistry kit guide: strips, drop kits, and testers
Test strips run about 0.3 to 0.5 ppm off, while FAS-DPD drop kits land within 0.1 to 0.2 ppm, closer to lab-accurate results.
July 23, 2026 -
Pool shock 50 lbs: the bulk buying guide and chlorine math
A 50 lb bucket of cal-hypo runs $200 to $270 and covers 20 to 40 treatments, cheaper per dose than buying single 1 lb bags.
July 23, 2026 -
Pool Chemicals for Above Ground Pool: Starter Kit Guide
Pool chemicals for above ground pool starter kits compared: what's in the box, what it costs, and whether a 10,000-gallon kit is enough for your pool.
July 19, 2026 -
Pool chemical calculator: the dosing math explained
Every pool chemical calculator, ours included, runs the same underlying mass-balance idea: (pool gallons ÷ 10,000) × (ppm change needed) × the chemical's
July 19, 2026 -
Copper algaecide for pools: how it works and staining risk
Copper algaecide kills algae by disrupting the enzyme systems inside the algae cell, and it works faster than most alternatives against stubborn strains
July 18, 2026 -
Pool chemical for alkalinity: baking soda and acid dosing
Sodium bicarbonate, plain baking soda, raises total alkalinity at a rate of about 1.5 pounds per 10,000 gallons for every 10 ppm you need to add.
July 18, 2026 -
Algaecide for mustard algae: shock kills, keeps it dead
Algaecide alone will not kill mustard algae. The chlorine shock does the actual killing by pushing free chlorine past the algae's waxy outer coating; the
July 17, 2026 -
Best pool stain remover: identify the stain, then treat it
There is no single 'best' pool stain remover because stains fall into three chemically different categories: metal, organic, and mineral scale.
July 17, 2026 -
Chemicals needed to open a pool: the spring checklist
Opening a pool takes six chemical categories: alkalinity increaser, pH adjuster, calcium hardness increaser, stabilizer (cyanuric acid), sanitizer, and
July 17, 2026 -
Acid Wash Pool Cost by Size (2026 Price Guide)
Acid washing a pool runs $300 to $700 on average. See real cost by pool size, what drives the price, and when you actually need one.
July 14, 2026 -
Pool Chlorine Tablets: Dosing, Cost, and the CYA Problem
Pool chlorine tablets add steady sanitizer but also cyanuric acid. See the real dosing math, tablet costs, and when CYA buildup forces a drain.
July 14, 2026