All Pool Maintenance Guides

Every troubleshooting and maintenance guide on the site, organized by category. Search below or browse by topic.

Water Chemistry & Testing

Pool Water Chemistry Cheat Sheet
Every ideal range in one place, and the correct order to balance them.
How to Shock a Pool (Properly)
The 4 types of shock, real dosing guidance, and a step-by-step process.
Why Does My Pool Smell Like Chlorine?
A strong smell actually means too little effective chlorine, not too much.
Using Bleach Instead of Pool Chlorine
The real dosing math and cost comparison, and what to avoid entirely.
Cloudy Pool After Adding Shock
Why a brief haze is normal, and the causes when it lingers past 2-3 days.

Cloudy Water? Start Here.
A complete, step-by-step guide to fixing cloudy pool water.
Green Pool? How to Fix It
Why pools turn green and the correct order to clear an algae bloom.
Black Algae vs Green Algae
Why black algae resists normal chlorine levels and needs a different treatment.
Why Does My Pool Foam?
What actually causes pool foam, and how to clear and prevent it.

Common Pump & Filter Problems
Symptom-to-fix troubleshooting for losing prime, short cycling, and more.
Sand Filter Pressure Gauge Not Moving
The specific causes behind a stuck gauge, and how to replace one.
Salt Cell Not Producing Chlorine
Six specific causes to check in order, from low salt to a worn-out cell.
Robotic Cleaner Leaving Lines or Missing Spots
Why it happens and how to fix both symptoms, plus a preventive maintenance schedule.

How to Detect and Fix a Pool Leak
The bucket test to confirm a real leak, common leak locations, and when to call a professional.
Pool Losing Water at the Skimmer Line
The specific leak points around a skimmer, and how to narrow down which one.

Opening a Pool the Right Way
The correct order of operations for opening a pool for the season.
Closing a Pool for Winter
What to drain, what to leave alone, and the step most guides skip.
When to Close Your Pool: A Climate Zone Guide
How to pick the right week for your climate, based on water temperature and first frost date.
Opening a Pool That's Been Neglected for Years
The realistic order of operations for a pool that's sat closed a year or more.

How to Remove Metal Stains From a Pool
Rust-brown, blue-green, or dark staining means dissolved metal - here's the correct sequence.
How to Remove Calcium Scale From Pool Tile
Removing existing scale, and the water balance fix that stops it coming back.

True Cost of Owning a Pool: Annual Breakdown
A full annual cost breakdown by pool size, plus an estimator for your own setup.
Pool Pump Running Cost Calculator
Enter your pump's wattage and rate for an exact monthly and annual cost.
DIY vs Hiring a Pool Service: Real Cost
The honest trade-off between dollars saved and time spent.