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10 Steps to Winterize Your Inground Pool
When the long summer days come to a close, it’s time to think about how and when to winterize your inground pool. Some people don’t need to winterize their pool — we’re looking at you, sunbelt region! — but if … Continue reading → The post 10 Steps to Winterize Your Inground Pool appeared first
- Published in In The Swim
How to Buy a Winter Pool Cover
When the air gets cooler and the days get shorter, you know it’s time to close up shop, and winterize your pool — swim season has come to an end. There are many factors that go into properly winterizing your … Continue reading → The post How to Buy a Winter Pool Cover appeared first
- Published in In The Swim
How to Raise Free Chlorine Levels in a Pool
If your free chlorine level is lower than 1 part per million (or ppm), then you need to take action to raise your chlorine levels. Chlorine levels at or below 1 ppm mean your pool water isn’t sanitized, which can lead to algae growth and bacteria build-up. But what if you’ve added chlorine tablets or
- Published in Swim University
Best Pool Test Kits for the Most Accurate Water Readings
Regular pool water testing is a crucial part of pool maintenance. But there are very different testing methods that provide different and sometimes more accurate results. So what’s the best way to test your water: test strips, liquid test kits, or a digital test reader? Test strips are the most cost-effective and easiest way to
- Published in Swim University
Salt Water Pool Systems: What’s the Best One and Are They Worth It?
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
- Published in Swim University
Pool Test Strips: How to Use Them the Right Way
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
- Published in Swim University
How Long to Wait to Swim After Shocking a Pool
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
- Published in Swim University
How Much Shock Should You Add to Your Pool
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
- Published in Swim University
Flooded Inground Pool: 10-Steps to Recovery
An abundance of heavy rain can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, if the area you live in is experiencing a drought, a torrential downpour can be a gift from Mother Nature herself. But on the other … Continue reading → The post Flooded Inground Pool: 10-Steps to Recovery appeared first on
- Published in In The Swim
Cloudy Pool after Rain
Rain, rain, go away! Seeing a murky, cloudy pool after a downpour can make anyone want to wish the rain away. But as we know, rain is an important weather element, especially for dry and drought-prone areas. Learning how to … Continue reading → The post Cloudy Pool after Rain appeared first on InTheSwim Pool
- Published in In The Swim
Alkalinity Too High? Here’s How to Lower Alkalinity in a Pool Quickly
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
- Published in Swim University
How to Lower pH in a Pool Quickly with These Common Chemicals
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
- Published in Swim University
Salt Water Pool vs. Chlorine Pool: Which One Is Better?
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
- Published in Swim University
CYA Levels Low? Here’s How To Raise Cyanuric Acid in a Pool
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
- Published in Swim University
What Is a Pool Aerator and Are They Worth It?
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
- Published in Swim University
Cloudy Pool Water Issues
As a former pool store manager for over a decade, you can trust that I’ve heard my fair share of, “My pool water’s cloudy, what can I do?!” In fact, it was the number one issue, day in and day … Continue reading → The post Cloudy Pool Water Issues appeared first on InTheSwim Pool
- Published in In The Swim
National Water Safety Month
Now that National Pool Opening Day has passed, we flip the calendar to May, which is the start of National Water Safety Month. As most pool owners open their pools this time of year, May is a fitting month for … Continue reading → The post National Water Safety Month appeared first on InTheSwim Pool
- Published in In The Swim
How to Vacuum Your Pool Super Quick
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
- Published in Swim University
Best Solar Heaters for Above Ground Pools of 2022
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,
- Published in Swim University
How to Clear a Green Pool in 5 Days or Less
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:
- Published in Swim University
What’s the Best Pool Shock for Your Swimming Pool?
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
- Published in Swim University
How to Build a DIY Solar Pool Heater for Less Than $100
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
- Published in Swim University
Best Gas Pool Heaters of 2022 (Propane and Natural Gas)
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
- Published in Swim University
The Best Inground Pool Heater of 2022
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
- Published in Swim University