Guides
Pool care blog
How and why answers for pool water, pumps, filters, and lights. One question per note.
A pool pump hums and does not start
A hum with no shaft rotation is the motor, the capacitor, or a seized pump. It is not the same fault as a pump that spins and loses prime.
ReadA pool heater will not light
Most heaters that will not fire are short on water flow, set so they are not calling, or showing a code. Read the code and the rating plate before you open anything.
ReadWhite scale on a salt chlorine cell
Crust on the blades is calcium scale. It cuts chlorine output. Clean it the way the cell maker specifies, and correct the water that caused it.
ReadWhy pool water turns cloudy
Cloudy water is usually filtration, circulation, or chemistry out of range. Test and read the filter pressure before you add a clarifier.
ReadA pool light is out: what to check first
Check the switch, the timer, and the GFCI before you buy a lamp. Match voltage and the niche, and leave wet-niche wiring to an electrician.
ReadHow to clean a cartridge, sand, and DE pool filter
Pressure above the clean baseline means the filter is holding dirt. Rinse, backwash, or recharge it the way that filter is built.
ReadWhy a pool pump loses prime
Air at the lid, a low water line, a bad basket seal, and a suction leak are the usual reasons a pump spins and moves no water.
ReadHow to balance pool water before you add chemicals
Test first, then adjust alkalinity, pH, and sanitizer in that order. A practical sequence for a residential pool.
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