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General Pool Faq
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FAQs - General Pool Ownership Questions

Frequently Asked QuestionsPlease remember: It is important to remember to use extreme caution when dealing with some pool heaters, pool pumps and underwater lights - they can carry live voltage and this can be hazardous! We do have experienced and professional staff here to help; however, we highly recommend that you consult a POOL PROFESSIONAL IN YOUR AREA. Some Gas Pool Heaters can be explosive and Carbon Monoxide can be emitted from other Heaters. Caution should also be taken with pool chemicals. Gases which can be poisonous and deadly are emitted from the basic chemical, these can change when they are mixed with other chemicals, including water! When dealing with chemicals, skin burns can also occur, so please take care.

*Be sure to consult our glossary of pool terms for any help with definitions.

Q. How do I work out how many gallons of water there are in my pool?
Q. Can I mix chemicals together before putting them into my pool?
Q. When should I clean my filter?
Q. My pool water is cloudy what should I do?
Q. My pool water has turned green, what should I do?
Q. How much water evaporates from a pool?
Q. How can I lower the chlorine level in my pool?
Q. Should I winterize my pool?
Q. Does a solar cover for the pool need to cover the entire pool?
Q. How do I cut a solar pool cover to fit my pool?
Q. Will a solar pool cover heat up my pool?
Q. Will a pool cover save me money?
Q. How do I get rid of calcium build up on my tiles?
Q. The tiles in my pool are white and scaly - what should I used to remove the build up?
Q. What temperature should I keep my pool at?
Q. How long should my pool pump run for?



Q. How do I work out how many gallons of water there are in my pool?

Length x Width x Average Depth x Multiplier = Gallons 7.5 is the multiplier for a rectangular pool 5.9 is the multiplier for an oval or round pool

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Q. Can I mix chemicals together before putting them into my pool?

Absolutely NOT! It is extremely dangerous to mix any type of chemicals, always follow the manufacturer's instructions precisely.

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Q. When should I clean my filter?

Filters should be monitored and kept clean to ensure that your pool stays sparkling. There is a pressure gauge on your filter, when this is between 8 – 10 psi, or the pressure recommended by the manufacturer of your filter system, this indicates that it is time to clean or replace your filter due to a build up of dirt. Filters need regular maintenance in order for them to operate correctly.

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Q. My pool water is cloudy, what should I do?

There are a number of reasons that pool water can turn cloudy, it could be poor water chemistry, so check your levels. Also make sure your filtration system is working correctly, clean and replace the filter if necessary, check the skimmer basket make sure your pool system is running for an adequate amount of time each day. It could also be that you have a large number of micro particles that your filter is not catching, a clarifier can help clump these tiny particles together to make them easier to remover either with the filter or a vacuum

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Q. My pool water has turned green, what should I do?

There are a number of things that can turn a pool green, the number one culprit is usually algae. This is normally caused by an imbalance in pool chemistry, very high or low ph can significantly decrease the effectiveness of chlorine. The first thing you should do is to test your pH and alkalinity. Once you have them balanced, you can shock the water and use an algaecide. It is also advisable to run the pool filter 24 hours a day and to vacuum the algae debris often, you may have to clean the filter daily until the green starts to disappear. You can also add a blue clarifier to the pool to assist in clearing the dead algae and eliminate any cloudiness. If the pool is extremely green, then an Acid Wash may be needed. Green water could also be caused by metal in your water, reacting with chlorine and turning the water green or brown, many areas have naturally high levels of metal present in their water source, so this problem may reoccur every time water is added to the pool. Use a product specifically designed to target the metal in the pool water.

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Q. What is an acid wash?

If you cannot see the bottom of your pool because of green or black algae, then it will probably be impossible to bring back just with chemicals alone. This is normally the case when pools have been incorrectly winterized or not maintained. The algae spores impregnate themselves into every pore of the pool wall surface, even with extensive cleaning they will continue to grow and multiply. The best solution if your pool is in this condition is an Acid Wash. An Acid Wash, simply put, is stripping a very tiny layer of the pool surface or concrete, to expose fresh clean surface underneath. In some States a permit for this work is required. There are various ways to carry out an acid wash, it can be done by either emptying the pool and working directly on the surface, in many areas this has to be done in a timely manner as it is unadvisable to leave a swimming pool empty for a prolonged period of time. An empty pool can collapse in on itself, especially is the surrounding area is near water. Another way is to have a California Acid wash, which is carried out whilst the pool water is still in place. Acid washes vary in price depending upon the size of the pool and the degree of contamination, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1000 to $3000.

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Q. How much water evaporates from a pool?

Pool water will evaporate depending upon the following factors, the size of the pool, the temperate of the pool and air, the humidity and wind. Normal evaporation is around ½ to 1”per week, dependent upon where your pool is situated, in Florida during the summer months evaporation is high, but so is the rainfall. In the fall evaporation is actually higher, the cold air and warmer pool temperatures make for faster evaporation. If you are concerned about the amount of evaporation, you can check your water levels, by simply marking the tile with a crayon, then checking it daily to see how much water you are losing.

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Q. How can I tell if I have a leak?

If you are concerned that you may have a leak, there are a number of ways to determine this. Firstly check that its not just normal evaporation. Then, before you hire a professional leak detector, you can check the following to see if you can find out where you are losing water. Very high chlorine levels can cause pipes and plastic to crack and leak. Abnormally low calcium hardness levels can cause paint to chip by leaching calcium from grout and concrete, which may cause water to permeate the pool walls or floor. You may notice a sudden change in your pressure gauges, which may indicate a compromised circulation pipe. You may also notice cracking in your deck or building foundations, which may indicate settlement due to water leaks. If you are unable to locate the site of the leak, then it will be necessary to use the services of a professional leak detector, they have many ways of finding leaks, including sonar which allows them to listen for any noises which would indicate a leak, dyes can also be used to see where water is escaping the pool, a diver will squeeze the dye near the suspected area, if it gets sucked into the crack then you have located the problem area, they also can look around for visible tears/cracks.

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Q. How can I lower the chlorine level in my pool?

Chlorine will dissipate of its own accord, it normally takes a day or two, leave off your pool cover. Or you could use a chlorine reducing agent, sometimes called an “After Shock” agent.

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Q. Should I winterize my pool?

Your pool should be winterized if you live in an area that has below freezing temperatures. The other reason for winterizing a pool is to keep it as clean as possible for the next season. By closing your swimming pool correctly you can save yourself a lot of time and work when its time to open up the pool for the summer season. It is important to winterize a pool to safeguard against the dangers of damaging your pool, freezing water is ice that expands and can crack pipes. (Please visit our Information Supercenter for more information on how to winterize your pool!)

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Q. How do I cut a solar pool cover to fit my pool?

You need to make sure the cover is exactly the size of your pool surface, first lay the cover, bubble side down over the pool, this is best done with two people. Then once you have it laying flat with no wrinkles, take a sharp pair of scissors and simply cut it to the shape of your pool, using the deck surface as a guide, take care and it should fit perfectly.

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Q. Will a solar pool cover heat up my pool?

No, a Solar Pool Cover will not heat up your pool, it will help to attract a small amount of heat, but it cannot be used to heat an entire pool. However, it will help to retain up to 90% of the heat in your pool overnight, which in turn keeps your heating bills lower during the cooler nights and days.

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Q. Will a pool cover save me money?

If you cover your pool each time you finish using it, then the pool cover will help to keep the heat in the pool. Also if you are using a pool heater, then the pool cover will stop all the heat you are producing from evaporating during cooler weather; the pool heater will not have to work as hard to maintain a steady temperature in the water, so, yes it will save you money if used correctly.

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Q. The tiles in my pool are white and scaly, what should I used to remove the build up?

During your normal pool maintenance, brush the tiles, you can use a tile cleaner as a preventative, but the build up is probably calcium. Check your water chemistry to make sure the water is not too hard. If the calcium build up is thick then you may need to use a pumice stone to remove it. Prevention is by far the best solution.

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Q. What temperature should I keep my pool at?

Generally this is an individual decision for each pool owner. But as a rule most residential pool owners keep their pools between 78 degrees and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Q. How long should my pool pump run for?

Generally pool pumps should run for approximately 6 – 8 hours a day, but consult your manufacturer for exact guidelines.

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