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

The right solar pool heater for your above ground pool needs to be effective, energy-efficient, and take little to no money to heat your water. When choosing the best solar heating system for your swimming pool, you need to think about your local climate, the length of your swim season, the size of your pool,

Do you have a green pool? It won’t be any fun to swim in or to look at. Don’t worry, though. You don’t have to drain your pool and start over. You can kill pool algae fast and keep it from coming back. Why Do I Have a Green Swimming Pool? There’s only one reason:

Shocking your pool is part of regular pool maintenance. It helps keep algae, bacteria, and other contaminants from building up in your water. But getting the right kind of pool shock is critical for keeping your water clean and clear. Not all pool shock products are right for every type of pool or for every

If you’re looking for a cheap, energy-efficient way to heat your pool, making your own DIY solar pool heater is a great option. Not only can you use the sun’s power to heat your water, but the whole project will likely cost less than $100 (which is way cheaper than purchasing solar panels). Here’s a

Choosing the best gas heater for your pool means taking several factors into consideration: your pool size, your climate, and how long you want to extend your swim season. But beyond that, you also need to think about which kind of gas to use, how easy it is to install the heater, and whether it

When it comes to buying an inground pool heater, there are a few factors you must consider: the size of your pool, the type of energy you want to use, the climate you live in, how quickly you want to heat your water, and how easy you need it to be to install. With those

Choosing the best heater for your above ground pool means finding the best fit based on your pool size and your local climate. It also means considering a heater’s energy efficiency, how quickly it heats your water, and how easy it is to install. And a reliable pool heater should not only help extend your

Your swimming pool needs regular maintenance. That’s why it pays to develop a strong basic understanding of pool maintenance essentials, no matter if you have an inground, above ground, Intex®, or saltwater pool. When you know how your pool works, the best ways to care for it, and how to plan for it, you’ll be

Need to drain your above ground pool? Maybe it’s full of nasty, stagnant water. Or maybe you need to completely take it down for the season or make emergency repairs. Either way, you’ll need to drain some or all of the water from your swimming pool. And if you’ve never drained your pool before, doing

The best pool cleaner you can get is a robotic pool cleaner. You can’t beat the convenience of simply dropping an automatic cleaner into your pool without running your filter system. You’ll find a few robotic cleaners for less than $500, but most cost between $500 and $1,000. While the inexpensive models will get the

The best option for pool owners on a budget is a suction pool cleaner. This type of cleaner hooks up to your skimmer or dedicated suction line. It rolls around your pool cleaning up debris, sending it through your pool’s filtration system. It will pick up mostly medium debris, but some models can be set

Pressure-side cleaners are available across a wide price range, with most models usually falling between $200 and $900. NOTE: The following automatic pressure-side pool cleaners are available to buy on either Amazon and InTheSwim.com. Check both sites for availability. All the links are affiliate links which means if you click a link and make a

Your filter is one of the main components in keeping your pool clean, so it also needs to be kept clean. But maybe you’re new to pool maintenance. Or maybe you just got a new type of filter. Whatever the case, knowing how to clean a pool filter is an essential part of owning a