ask the general Archives - Thursday Pools

Ask the General; Do You Have Some Winter Pool Safety Tips?

Dear General- Where did our pool go? We had nearly ten inches of snow overnight and now, when I look out the window, it’s hard to tell where the yard ends and the pool begins. We just got our new fiberglass pool this past summer, and we’re all very familiar with summer swimming pool safety tips and how to take care of our pool in swim season. But now that the snow is flying, I’d like to know if you have any tips on winter pool safety covers to share. Signed, Shivering in Chicago Dear Shivering- In the Midwest, there are three different types of people when it comes to snow: The ones who head south for the winter, the ones who love snow and skiing, and the ones who hope for a white Christmas but spend the rest of the winter wondering how soon they can reopen their pools. As a new fiberglass pool owner, you’re smart to wonder about winter inground pool safety tips. Sometimes people forget about their pools in the winter. Based on where you live, you’ll have different winter-time considerations. Here are three tips on winter pool safety covers to make sure your family […]

Ask the General: How Do I Troubleshoot the Heater and Chlorinator on My Fiberglass Pool?

Some pool troubleshooting tips to try before you call in the pros. Dear General- We are fiberglass pool owner newbies. We love it, but we did have to call an inground pool service pro a couple of times—once for our heater and another time for our chlorinator. Both times, it turned out to be a fairly simple fix and we wished we had tried to troubleshoot the problem ourselves before we called. Do you have some pool troubleshooting tips to share? Signed- Newbies in New Orleans Dear Newbies- Of course, I’m happy to share pool troubleshooting tips, especially for new pool owners. You didn’t say what kind of heater or filtration system you use, so I’m just going to go with one of the most common combinations: a gas heater with a sand filter and a chlorine-sanitized system. Let’s start with the heater. Do a visual inspection. Your first pool troubleshooting step is simply taking a look at the unit. You’re looking for leaks, rust or burn marks. Any of these visual clues most likely mean trouble inside the unit, and you probably need to bring in a pool maintenance pro to check it out. Clean it off. You should […]

Ask the General; How Do I Troubleshoot the Pump on my Fiberglass Pool?

Five pool pump troubleshooting tips before you call the pros. Dear General- It’s still pretty warm in Atlanta, and we haven’t yet closed our fiberglass pool. Over the last few days, our pool pump has started making some strange noises. It doesn’t happen all the time, but we’re not sure what we should do about it. Do you have any swimming pool pump troubleshooting tips for us, or is it time to call in the pros? Signed- Addled in Atlanta Dear Addled- While northerners are thinking about winter pool maintenance, we realize that other places across the country are still enjoying swim season. That said, I appreciate your question and do have a few tricks up my sleeve that you can try before you call the pros. Check your water level. Your pool pump may be struggling to get water. Pool pumps can only operate in a “closed” system. This means that they’re only designed to pump water—not air. When your water is low and it cascades into the skimmer, it’s bringing air along with the water into the system, which is not a good thing. If you want to know the physics behind how your pump works, here it […]

Ask the General: How Do I Choose the Perfect Pool Design for My Family?

Dear General- Well, we’re finally going to do it. We’ve decided that we’re going to have a new inground pool put in this year. (It’s our New Year’s resolution to have more fun as a family!) So now we’re past the dreaming stage and on to the choosing stage. We feel that fiberglass is the right kind of pool for us. But, I have to say, we’re a little overwhelmed. We started looking at all the available pool designs–the options for shapes, sizes and features for fiberglass pools–and we couldn’t believe how many choices there were! This is a big decision. How do we pick the perfect pool design for our family? Signed- Overwhelmed in Oak Park Dear Overwhelmed- I hear you. Although I’m retired now, I was in the fiberglass pool business for many years, and it seemed like there was something new every time I turned around–new shapes, sizes, features and innovations to make your fiberglass pool easier to install. There is the Backfill Eliminator® to make pool maintenance for fiberglass pools easier and the Lucky 7 Skimmer® that ensures a perfect skimmer fit for fiberglass pools. In addition to new innovations, the design options just […]

Ask the General: New Pool Owner FAQs

Dear General- I think our family is finally ready to take the plunge and get an inground fiberglass pool. We’re excited! But we have so many questions. When should we buy? How should we finance? What should we be thinking about when we’re choosing the features for our pool? What do we need to learn in terms of pool safety and maintenance? Help us be a new pool owner, dear General! Signed- Excited in East Chicago Dear Excited- Yes, getting a pool IS a very exciting time and yes, there is a lot to think about. I could go on for hours about all the fun you’ll have as a new pool owner. I could also go on about the responsibilities of owning a pool, like assigning pool maintenance chores, pool safety and common pool maintenance mistakes to avoid. But let’s just dip our toes in the water for now… I’ll try to tackle some new pool owner FAQs. You should definitely tune in to my regular posts to learn as much as you can about pool ownership. When is the best time to buy a pool? Well, I was a pool salesman for years, so I’m tempted to […]

How to Avoid Common Pool Maintenance Mistakes

Whether you’re a new pool owner or have owned one for years, proper pool maintenance ensures your inground pool remains a sparkling oasis, extends its lifespan, and minimizes costly repairs. If you’re a fiberglass pool owner, you probably have heard that fiberglass pools are the lower maintenance option among pool types. However, lower maintenance does not mean no maintenance. The following tips can help you avoid the common mistakes people make when caring for their inground pool. Video 1 Tip 1: Balance your Water with Fiberglass In Mind Failing to monitor water chemistry regularly is one of the most common—and most costly—mistakes pool owners make. The water may look crystal clear, but that doesn’t mean it’s maintained properly. Poor water chemistry and balance can silently cause scaling, chalking, and permanent damage to your fiberglass pool’s surface. With fiberglass, focus on the chemistry that matters most: Maintain pH between 7.2–7.4 Keep calcium hardness below 120 ppm (If above 120 ppm, must use a chelating stain/metal and scale control product.) Chlorine should stay between 1–3 ppm Use a stain and scale control product consistently Rather than relying solely on LSI, which was developed with concrete pools in mind, fiberglass pool care […]

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