A salt water system is a great investment if you’re tired of buying and adding chlorine and you’re looking to spend less time managing your pool water chemistry. But before you buy a salt water chlorinator (also known as a salt water generator), there are a few things to keep in mind: Salt water pools

Testing your pool water regularly is an essential part of pool maintenance. It’s how you know your chemical balance is where it should be. But, unless you know when and how to use pool test strips, you could be misinterpreting your water test results. Watch the video below for how to test your water. Or

Adding shock to your water is an important part of pool maintenance, but it can be hard to know confidently when it’s okay to swim again. Should you wait an entire day after shocking your water? And how do you know the shock is actually dissolved and it’s truly safe for swimmers? How long to

Wondering how much shock to add to your pool? The exact amount you need to add depends on the size of your pool, the type of shock your using, and whether you’re shocking as part of regular pool maintenance, or treating an issue like algae. For general pool maintenance, add one pound of shock for

If you’ve noticed that your total alkalinity is higher than it should be, it’s an easy fix. To lower the alkalinity in a pool, use either muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate (pH reducer). Here’s a quick guide explaining how alkalinity levels get too high and what you can do to lower your alkalinity in a

Is the pH in your pool too high? If the levels stay high for too long, you might notice itchy eyes and skin, cloudy water, algae growth, and even damaged pool parts. So you’ll need to add some pool chemicals ASAP to bring your pH back down to normal levels. There are two ways to

Which one is best: a salt water pool vs. a chlorine pool? Salt water pools tend to have gentler, smoother water than other pools. And you only need to add salt to your water once or twice a year to keep things sanitized. But you’re still technically swimming in water with chlorine. And salt water

Cyanuric acid, or CYA, is also known as pool conditioner or pool stabilizer. And it’s crucial for protecting your chlorine from being destroyed by the sun’s UV rays. So if your CYA levels are too low, your chlorine won’t last as long — and that leads to unsanitary pool water. When do you know if

Pool aerators are a great way to help keep your water cooler and improve your pool’s circulation. And while things like your return jets can also aerate your water, a swimming pool aerator is an easy thing to install and may be a worthwhile investment — especially if you’re in a hotter climate. Here’s everything

Every pool owner needs to own and know how to use a manual vacuum. While an automatic pool cleaner provides hands-off pool cleaning, it doesn’t help vacuum cloudy water or algae. Here’s our full in-depth guide to how to vacuum an inground or above ground pool quickly and effectively so you can get back to