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

Before you bought a pool filter, the word backwash probably meant something kind of gross to you, right? Well, when it comes to pools, it has a literal meaning. And it’s something good. Your pool is only as clean as your filter is. The good news is, when you backwash a pool, cleaning the filter

Shocking your pool on a regular basis is a simple way to prevent stray algae and bacteria from taking root in your water. It also helps keep your pool smelling … well, hopefully like nothing at all. What is Pool Shock? Think back to the last time you walked past a hotel pool. The chemical

We tested and reviewed a bunch of automatic inground pool cleaners on a variety of pools, both big and small. And here are our top picks for the best pool cleaners specifically for inground swimming pools. NOTE: The following inground pool cleaners are Amazon affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase,

After testing every single above ground pool vacuum on the market on a variety of pools, both big and small, here are our top picks. NOTE: The following above ground pool vacuums are available to buy on either Amazon and InTheSwim.com. Check both sites for availability. All the links are affiliate links which means if

Pool leaks can occur anywhere in your pool. But before you start searching for a leak, you’ll need to rule out a few issues like evaporation or a crack in the filter system plumbing. Here’s a quick guide on how to find a pool leak and how to fix it yourself. You can watch the

Before you run out to the nearest pool store and plunk down a big ol’ chunk of change, make sure you know what pool supplies are actually necessary. You’ll save yourself some money, and you’ll be ready to take care of your pool like a pro. NOTE: The following products are available to buy on

Need to figure out how many gallons of water are in your pool? Just plug in your pool’s measurements into our pool volume calculator below. Pool Volume Calculator Pool Volume Calculator Click on your pool shape to calculate the volume of water. Rectangle Round Get Pool Volume Get Pool Volume Be sure to measure from

Muriatic acid is a cheap way to lower your pool’s alkalinity and pH and keep your pool filters and surfaces clean. But adding an acid to your pool can be dangerous if it’s not done safely. Pool-grade muriatic acid is similar to hydrochloric acid that’s used to clean concrete and brick — just with a

If you’re struggling with mild, cloudy pool water and you’re looking for an easy fix, pool clarifier is a great option. It’s a simple method for clearing up cloudiness in your swimming pool. But it won’t work for every cloudy pool problem. So when should you use pool clarifier? And when should you use pool

If you’ve got cloudy pool water and you want to clear it up fast, pool flocculant can help. It’s fast and effective at clearing up cloudy water. But it won’t work in every cloudy pool situation. So when should you use pool flocculant? And when should you use a pool clarifier instead? Here’s a quick

Looking for an easier, more reliable way to add chlorine to your pool? If you want to save time taking care of your pool (and stop worrying about your chlorine levels when you’re out of town), an automatic pool chlorinator can help. What is an Automatic Pool Chlorinator? Also known as an automatic chlorine feeder,