Think Of The Filter As Your Pools Kidneys
Just as your kidneys are constantly working to remove impurities from your body, your pools filter is responsible for removing impurities from the water think dirt, leaves, and even small toys.Most of the time, the pool can be cleaned by turning off the filter, removing the filter cap located on the pool deck, lifting out the filter basket, and removing any debris before replacing everything. Its best to clean out your filter basket at least once a week.Once a month youll also want to clean out the pipes utilized by your filter system, which you can do by backwashing.;To do so, simply set your filter to backwash, remove the leaf basket and clean it out. Then turn on your pump and let it run until the waste pipe ejects clear water.A final note on turning the filter on and off: Doing so too often can cause the filters mechanics to crack. Set your filter on a timer and allow it to run for at least six hours a day.
Pools Need Consistent Chemical Levels
Chemical levels are arguably one of the most important facets of pool maintenance.; Improperly balanced water looks murky, irritates skin and eyes, and can cause your pool to become a breeding ground for bacteria.Ideally, you should test the water at least once a week. According to the Center for Disease Control , there are six chemical levels that need to be considered:
- Cyanuric Acid; Protects chlorine from sunlight and determines the required Free Chlorine;level. An ideal reading for outdoor pools is 30- 50.
- Free Chlorine; A sanitizer which keeps your pool water safe and free of germs.
- Acidity/Alkalinity; Also known as the PH level, acidity needs to be kept between;7.5 and 7.8 to prevent irritation and protect the pool equipment from eroding.
- ;Total Alkalinity; ;Helps keep the PH in balance. Levels should be within range of 60-120.
- Calcium Hardness; Appropriate levels help prevent plaster damage. Aim for 220-350, but lower for pools with vinyl siding.
Chemicals Costing Too Much Give Baking Soda A Try
Theres no denying that pool chemicals can be expensive to purchase, so why not get a little help straight from the grocery store?Most pool stores suggest using sodium bicarbonate to control the alkalinity of a pool without drastically reducing the PH levels. They will try to ;sell overpriced solutions in order to get the job done.As it turns out, regular baking soda does the same job as sodium bicarbonate for only a fraction of the price. All baking soda boxes even have sodium bicarbonate listed on their ingredients label. Take a look!If youre worried that using baking soda will mean doing a lot of complicated mathematical conversions, dont be. Baking soda has the same concentration of sodium bicarbonate per pound as the solutions, so the amount youd need to add to your water would be identical.
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Swimming Pools & Supplies
Above Ground Pools by Sharkline: We have a 100 page folder in the store with everything that you need to know. Start with our Introduction to Above Ground Pools and well show you a lot right here.
Inground Pools: We dont build them ourselves, but well give you some free advice in our Inground Pool Buyers Guide.
Parts: for pools, filters, heaters, everything. If you cant come here to the store for us to help you, well refer you to vendors and even an online parts source. Click to our Pool and Filter Parts page.
Chemical Systems: by Baquacil®, Bioguard®, Target, Robelle, New Water, Nature2, hth PoolLife, and others. Learn more at our Chemical Systems page.; Check your pool chemical inventory at home, then print out our Warehouse Pick Up Sheet for all the heavy or bulky items available at the Customer Pick Up Door.
Pool Schools: Twenty FREE classes a year, not to mention private tutorials at your home. We want to make pool care easy for you. Learn more at our Pool Schools page.
FREE Computerized Water Testing: using the countrys most sophisticated water lab and software. Six water labs and a night deposit to keep lines to a minimum. Learn more at our Water Testing Introduction page.
Pool Tips: FREE advice on many pool problems and procedures. Learn more at our Pool Tips Introduction page.
Pool Service and Repairs: In home and in store service and repairs on almost anything pool related. Learn more on ourPool Service and Repairs page.
New Pool Design Center
Our New Pool Design Center is so popular that even our competitors send customers to our space to see the materials used to create their pools. We encourage everyone that is looking to build a new pool or remodeling an existing pool to come in and look around. Our 6000 square foot space allows you to see first hand the materials, colors, textures, stone types and equipment that is needed to construct a modern pool
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About Pools & Accessories
When the weather heats up, stay cool and have fun in the sun with a swimming pool from Ace. We have an assortment of pool games, pool floats and other pool toys you can use to stay comfortable all summer long.
Shop Ace Hardware to find swimming pools and pool accessories to fit your needs. Use the search tool to sort by brand, price, top-selling products and more.
Pick Your Pool
Every kid dreams of having a swimming pool in their backyard. Luckily, there are simple and affordable ways to set up a pool in your yard this season.
Use these tips from Ace Hardware to find the right swimming pool for your family:
- Look for small inflatable pools for young children.
- Opt for a plastic pool for quick setup for younger children. These pools can help them stay cool and have fun and are easy to fill and clean. Just use your garden hose and you’ll have a play area for your kids in no time.
- Step up to a larger inflatable pool with a built-in pump system for the whole family. These pools are often between 8 and 10 feet in size, making them comfortable for three to five people to enjoy at once.
Helpful Hint: If you do opt for a larger inflatable pool, make sure you add the right pool treatment chemicals to keep it clean, sparkly and inviting all season long. From chemicals like chlorine tabs to maintenance equipment like pool rakes, brushes and poles, we offer a wide selection of cleaners and treatments for pools of any size.
Don’t Forget Accessories
Need help? Call 1-866-290-5334
Big Lots Has Your Pool Supplies
Easily manage and maintain your pool with this assortment of pool supplies from Big Lots! Whether you’re looking to ensure your pool water is clean or start a new backyard setup, we have all you need to get your favorite swim area summer ready. Safeguard your pool against outdoor elements by using a durable pool cover that’s designed to keep out leaves and pests. Our assortment of Summer Waves filter cartridges allow you to keep your pool’s water clean all year long. Protect your lawn by placing your pool on a convenient ground cover as you rinse off your feet to keep grass from entering the water with a handy footbath you can place at the foot of your pool’s ladder. When you need to know the temperature of the water, a pool thermometer is always good to have. For great deals on pool supplies, shop Big Lots for pool maintenance kits, covers and more!
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Power Wash To Make The Pool Deck Shine
The area that surrounds your pool is just as important as the physical structure itself. You can help keep your pool deck shining by power washing.Power washing, also known as pressure washing, will help get rid of any rust or weather stains that occur over time. You can rent a power washer at any home improvement store.Start;the process by sweeping the deck free of any errant dirt or leaves first, so you dont end up spreading them all over during the cleaning process. Then, put the power washer together according to the directions.;Set the machine on a weak to medium power spray and remove the surface debris in layers, repeating the process until the surface is clean.As you spray, be sure to overlap the ;areas youve cleaned in order to help prevent streaks. Youll want;the nozzle of the power washer several feet off the surface of the pool deck and maintain this height to prevent gouging.
Use A Tennis Ball To Absorb Oils
Most of the time when people think about tennis balls in a pool, they think about playing catch. However, those toys can do double duty.When swimmers exit the pool, certain oils can get left behind in the water suntan lotion, hair product, the natural oils produced by our skin. While its unpleasant to think about, luckily theres an easy solution.Simply throw a tennis ball into the water. The fibers used to make the tennis ball will help absorb the oils and keep them from leaving a slick sheen on top of the water.
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Above Ground Pools At Big Lots
Above ground pools provide an easy summer getaway right in your own backyard. Splash and relax in one of our durable, sturdy pools that come in multiple sizes so you can find the perfect fit for your family and yard space. Find the best above ground pool selection right here at Big Lots at an incredible value! Above ground swimming pools let you, family and friends have an adventure each day when the sun’s out. Our selection of above ground pools are a necessity for when you are looking to cool off in the summertime. Offering metal frame pools and quick set pools, these durable retreats are the best above ground pools you can find. We also have a great selection of kiddie pools for the younger children and even pets. It’s easy to find above ground swimming pools that match your backyard and budget with our outstanding selection! Perfect for pool parties or just relaxing, your summer will be filled with fun in the sun.
Dont Be Afraid To Shock A Cloudy Pool
On the topic of chemicals, dont be afraid to shock your pool when necessary. While that may seem like a process only fit for public pools. But, think about how your pool water looks after you throw a big party. Odds are its murkier than it was the day before the big bash. That murkiness? Its bacteria that youll want to get rid of as soon as possible.Shocking refers to drastically raising the chlorine levels for a short period of time to kill bacteria. Its done by diluting three to five times the normal amount of chlorine or other chemical sanitizer with water, slowly poring it into the pools return line, letting it filter throughout the pool, and then slowly refilling the pool with water over time.While shocking too often would risk damage to your pools siding, you;should aim to shock the pool at least twice every season.
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Learn How To Properly Winterize To Prevent Damage
As important as pool care is during the summer, its even more important to make sure that you properly secure it for winter. ;After all, no one wants to remove a pool cover at the start of summer only to find out that their pool has a leak or that their water is full of dangerous bacteria. Taking the right steps to properly winterize your pool;can save you lots of time and money on repairs for next season.Before closing up shop in the fall, buy a water testing kit to;ensure your chemicals are correctly balanced. Then, ;blow any excess water out of your plumbing lines, and invest in a cover to keep the pool free of debris.Keeping a pool in good shape does entail a certain amount of work, but it doesnt need to be a burden. By incorporating these pool maintenance tips into a regular cleaning routine, you can ensure that youll spend more time sunbathing than doing chores. Which is exactly how it should be. Do you have a great pool maintenance tip to share? Let usow in the comments below. ;; ;
What Our Customers Say
Absolutely great experience and I would highly Pool Stop to anybody looking to build a custom pool From the start, our designer Tim Cassel was awesome and designed exactly what we wanted based a consultation and review of our property. Next, Rae Daniels-project coordinator keep us in the loop on status of permits, schedules and timing until the pool constructed started. Last but not least, Travis-project manager was incredibly!!! Daily updates on each step of the build and he provided great insight on any changes/upgrades he thought we should make based on his experience. Our pool is awesome and hats off to the Pool Stop staff on providing a great experience for me and my family!!! We will enjoy this for many years to come.Curtis SPool Stop designed and built exactly the pool I wanted. They were great to work with from design through pool school. Victor made sure everything ran smoothly and he answered all my questions. I had absolutely no construction delays and they hit every deadline in their schedule perfectly which is amazing when you deal with any type of construction. Rae was so helpful, if I had any concerns she handled them quickly and professionally. And best of all I love my pool. I highly recommend them!;BarbaraCAngela P
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Make A Skimming And Scrubbing A Part Of Life
Skimming the leaves and debris off of the surface of the water is a no-brainer, but it bears repeating. For a truly pristine pool, skimming ;should be done daily.If you have a bit of money to spend, consider buying a robot vacuum that will clean the bottom of the pool for you. This Polaris Pool 360;ranks middle-of-the-road in terms of pricing and consistently receives five-star performance reviewsIn addition to skimming, you need to scrub;;the sides of the pool to prevent algae build-up. Thankfully, that doesnt need to be done quite as often.;You can get away with scrubbing once every other week. Just look for any growths and go at them with a scrub brush to keep your siding looking fresh and clean.For those particularly stubborn spots that wont go away with any amount of elbow grease? Repurpose an old sock. Fill it with chlorine and let it sit on top of the spot for a few hours before scrubbing once more. The chlorine will eat away at the algae and youll finally have a use for those socks without pairs. Its a win-win.
Where Is The Best Place To Buy Pool Chemicals 4 Ideas And The Pros And Cons Of Each
If you are someone who is asking the question where is the best place to buy pool chemicals? then congratulations, you are probably a new pool owner!
As a pool owner, managing and implementing a proper chemical routine is very important to keeping your pool clear and healthy for your family enjoyment.; No family wants to enjoy fun and games in the pool if it isnt clean!
So, lets assume that you know all about the correct pool maintenance chemicals you need for your pool, so now where is the best place to get them?
There are a few different places that you can purchase the chemicals for your pool.; We will cover the pros and cons here of each.
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Floats Lounges And Toys
Floats and lounges add a fun element to the pool, and with free shipping, you can stock up for the next pool party in advance. Add a few toys and pool games to keep the fun times rolling all summer. The more you use the pool and the more fun you have, the more it makes all of your swimming pool maintenance tasks and investments in automatic pool cleaning equipment worthwhile.
A Local Big Box Store
Big box stores carry so many products.; Most stores will have a section dedicated to pool chemicals.; These stores can be a lifesaver when you realize you need to shock your pool immediately, but the local pool supply store is closed, and you cant wait for shipping!
You can Shop Walmart Online for pool supplies also.
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Schedule A Yearly Service Appointment Whether You Think You Need It Or Not
Sometimes you need to trust an expert. Especially when it comes to your pools mechanical equipment pumps, filters, heating systems you may not have the proper knowledge for care. At least once a year, have a pool service professional come out to check your devices.Before your appointment, take a thorough look at your pool as a whole, making sure to use all of your senses. Compile a list of any leaks you see in the piping, holes you notice in the linear, loud sounds coming from the mechanisms, or odd smells coming from the water. Mention them to your serviceperson in oder to give him or her an idea of where to start.In the event that there is noting amiss with your pool, the yearly service appointment may seem like a waste of money and it can be tempting to cancel. But remember: Detecting and fixing a small problem now can save you from having to fix a huge crisis later down the road.