Pool Care Blog
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Do You Need a Pool Service, or Can You Maintain It Yourself?
A time-and-cost breakdown of DIY pool care versus a weekly service, plus the honest signals that actually tip the decision one way or the other.
Do Pool Maintenance Records Affect Home Appraisal?
An appraisal and a home inspection are different processes with different jobs, here's which one your pool log actually influences, and when to bring it out during a sale.
Pool Chemistry for Beginners: The 5 Numbers That Matter
The five numbers on every pool test strip, explained in plain language: what each one actually does, why it's on the strip at all, and which ones you actually need to check every week.
What Is a Pool Service History Report, and Why Buyers Ask for One
A pool service history report documents what actually happened to a pool over time. Here's what belongs in one, why buyers and inspectors ask for it, and how to put one together even if you never kept records.
How to Maintain a Pool While You're on Vacation
A calm plan for keeping your pool clear while you're away: what automation can handle on its own, what still needs a human, and how to pick between a neighbor and a short-term pool service.
5 Pool Math Alternatives Worth Considering
Pool Math is a trusted dosing calculator, not an ongoing log. Here are five alternatives to consider depending on whether you want a running history, a full-service platform, or to keep things free.
Why Desert-Climate Pools Lose So Much Water to Evaporation
Low humidity, wind, and intense sun make desert pools evaporate faster than the general rules of thumb assume. Here's what a realistic refill routine and cover strategy actually look like.
Coastal Homes and Saltwater Pool Equipment Corrosion
Salt air off the ocean corrodes pool equipment differently than a saltwater chlorinator does. Here's what to protect, what to inspect more often, and how to tell the two kinds of "salt problem" apart.
pHin Is Discontinued: What Are the Alternatives?
A calm rundown of what pHin's shutdown means for the sensor sitting in your pool, and the realistic options for testing and tracking your water going forward.
Why Pools Turn Green After Heavy Rain
Heavy rain doesn't turn pool water green by itself, it dilutes your sanitizer and washes in the organic matter algae feeds on. Here's the mechanism and the rebalancing sequence that fixes it.
Sutro Shut Down: What Pool Owners Should Do Now
Sutro's floating sensor and app were discontinued in 2025, leaving owners without automated readings. Here's what actually happened and a calm, step-by-step way to get your pool back on a routine.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Pool Pump?
Pool pump replacement cost depends far more on pump type than most homeowners expect. Here's the typical price spread between single-speed, two-speed, and variable-speed pumps, and what actually drives it.
What Happens to Your Data When a Smart Pool Device Is Discontinued?
Smart pool sensors depend on a company's servers staying online. Here's what typically happens to your readings, history, and hardware when that backend goes away, and how to protect yourself before it does.
How Much Does It Cost to Heat a Pool?
A realistic look at what pool heating actually costs by heater type, what drives the bill up or down, and the cheapest ways to keep your pool warm without keeping your heater running nonstop.
Pool Maintenance Resources Worth Following
Pool advice online ranges from genuinely useful to actively wrong, and it's rarely obvious which is which. Here's how to evaluate any pool-care resource before you trust it.
How Much Does a Pool Inspection Cost?
What a pre-purchase pool inspection typically costs, what it covers versus what costs extra, and how to decide if you need one before closing.
Gunite Pool Maintenance: What Makes It Different
Gunite pools have a plaster or aggregate surface that reacts chemically to your water. Here's why calcium hardness matters more, and how the resurfacing cycle actually works.
Above-Ground vs. Inground Pool: Ongoing Maintenance Cost Compared
The purchase price gap between above-ground and inground pools gets all the attention, but the maintenance cost gap matters just as much over time. Here's a realistic year-by-year comparison.
How Fiberglass Pool Maintenance Differs From Concrete
Fiberglass and concrete pools share the same water-chemistry targets, but the surface underneath changes how algae takes hold, how you clean it, and how the pool ages. Here's what actually differs.
Converting a Chlorine Pool to Saltwater: What It Actually Involves
What a saltwater conversion actually changes about your pool: the equipment it adds, roughly what it costs, and how your weekly testing routine shifts once the cell is running.
Above-Ground Pool Maintenance: A Complete Guide
What actually differs about maintaining an above-ground pool: liner care, simpler equipment, and how to decide whether to tear it down for winter or keep it running year-round.