📢 Industry News
🛡️ FL Code Update: New residential pool safety feature requirements effective Oct 1, 2025.⚡ Energy Saver: Upgrade to a Variable-Speed Pump to reduce energy costs by up to 90%.
Empowering Homeowners

The DIY Pool Pro Hub

Professional tools, Florida-specific guides, and expert knowledge to help you maintain your backyard oasis with confidence.

Interactive Guide

The Master Maintenance Routine

Don't guess. Follow the exact step-by-step checklists our certified technicians use to keep Florida pools perfectly balanced and crystal clear.

Weekly (Summer: May - Oct)

High UV and heavy rain mean your pool needs aggressive maintenance.

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Empty Skimmer & Pump Baskets

5 mins

Summer storms blow heavy debris. A clogged basket starves the pump and burns out motors.

Tools: Gloves, Debris bin
Pro Tip: Turn off the pump before opening the pump lid to prevent losing prime.

Test & Balance Chemistry

10 mins

Check FC and pH. Heat and UV destroy chlorine rapidly. Keep Free Chlorine between 3-5 ppm.

Tools: Taylor K-2006 or Digital Tester
Pro Tip: Always test water from 18 inches below the surface, away from return jets.

Skim Surface & Net Bottom

10 mins

Remove organic matter before it sinks and consumes your chlorine.

Tools: Deep-bag leaf net

Brush Walls & Steps

15 mins

Algae forms invisible biofilms. Brushing breaks this film so chlorine can kill it.

Tools: Nylon/Wire hybrid brush
Pro Tip: Brush towards the main drain to help the filter catch the suspended debris.

Check Filter Pressure

1 min

Note the PSI. If it's 8-10 PSI over your clean baseline, backwash or clean the cartridges.

Tools: Visual check

Digital Toolkit

Most Used

Chemistry & LSI

Dosage calculator + LSI Balance check in one tool.

Heater ROI Calc

Compare Gas vs Electric Heat Pumps savings.

Chem Cost Calc

Estimate your monthly chemical spend.

Filter Assistant

Track PSI and schedule cleaning cycles.

Troubleshoot Like a Pro

Diagnose common Florida pool issues before calling for service.

Pool Symptom Solver

Select a problem to see the technician's checklist.

Select a symptom to begin diagnosis

Price Out Your Repair

Get honest, upfront estimates for common equipment fixes and replacements.

Pool Repair Cost Estimator

Transparency is key. Select your equipment below to view fair-market estimated costs for common repairs and replacements. Note: Prices are estimates and may vary based on specific brands, pool plumbing complexity, and local Florida market rates.

Estimated repair and replacement costs for pool pumps, motors, and capacitors.

Pool Pumps & Motors Repairs

Estimated parts & labor costs

  • Capacitor ReplacementFixes a humming motor that won't start spinning.
    $125 - $185
  • Pump Seal ReplacementFixes leaks under the pump to prevent bearing damage.
    $150 - $250
  • Motor Swap (Single Speed)Replaces the back electrical half; keeps the wet plumbing intact.
    $450 - $750
  • Full Variable Speed InstallComplete system upgrade. Drastically lowers energy bills.
    $1,600 - $2,200

Tech Tip

If your pump is over 7 years old and the motor dies, it is usually more cost-effective long-term to upgrade to a Variable Speed Pump (VSP) rather than swapping the motor.

Maintenance Guides

Step-by-step procedures for common tasks.

Storm Prep

Don't drain your pool! Follow this checklist to protect your equipment and water quality before a hurricane hits.

Read Checklist

Green-to-Clean

The "Shock" method explained. How to safely turn a swamp back into a swimming pool using liquid chlorine.

Read Guide

Safety Audit

Is your pool safe for kids? Check your drain covers (VGB act), fences, and latches against Florida code.

Start Audit
Critical Safety Warning

Florida Chemical Storage Guide

Florida garages routinely exceed 110°F. Storing pool chemicals incorrectly isn't just bad for the chemicals—it is a severe fire, explosion, and respiratory hazard.

The "Never Mix" Matrix

Liquid Chlorine + Muriatic Acid
Lethal Reaction

If these two mix, they instantly create Mustard Gas (Chlorine Gas). It is highly toxic and can cause permanent lung damage or death. Never store them on the same shelf or in the same bin. If one leaks onto the other, it will react.

Cal-Hypo Shock + Trichlor Tabs
Explosion Hazard

Mixing powdered shock (Calcium Hypochlorite) with pucks (Trichlor) causes a violent, explosive fire that cannot be put out with a standard fire extinguisher. Use dedicated scoops for each.

Chemical Profiles & Shelf Life

Liquid Chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite)

The safest, fastest-acting sanitizer, but highly susceptible to heat degradation.

Shelf Life (Florida) 3-5 Weeks
Heat Tolerance Very Poor
Where to storeCoolest, lowest place possible.
Chlorine Pucks (Trichlor)

Highly acidic, stabilized chlorine. Constantly off-gasses corrosive fumes.

Shelf Life 3-5 Years
Hazards Corrosive Gas
Where to storeWell-ventilated area. NEVER near metal tools or bikes.
Muriatic Acid

Used to lower pH and Alkalinity. Fumes will instantly rust stainless steel and damage lungs.

Shelf Life 5+ Years
Hazards Corrosive Liquid/Gas
Where to storeBottom shelf, plastic bin, FAR away from Chlorine.

Florida Seasonal Maintenance Roadmap

Florida pools behave differently. Our intense UV, heavy rains, and "winter" dry seasons require a specific strategy.

Dry Season (Nov - Apr)

Lower temps, less rain, high evaporation.

  • reduce pump runtime to 6-8 hours.
  • Monitor water level (evaporation is high).
  • Clean salt cells (calcium builds up in cold water).

Heat Season (May - Aug)

Intense UV, heavy swimmer load.

  • Increase pump runtime to 10+ hours.
  • Check Stabilizer (CYA) monthly. UV destroys chlorine.
  • Empty baskets daily (summer storms drop debris).

Storm Season (Sep - Oct)

Daily rains, phosphate spikes.

  • Drain excess water to keep skimmers working.
  • Test for Phosphates (rain brings fertilizer runoff).
  • Keep area clear of loose items (Hurricane prep).

Equipment Explainers

Salt Systems ExplainedVariable Speed PumpsAutomation BasicsHeat Pumps vs GasLED Lighting GuideOzone & UV Sanitizers

Ask a Pool Pro

The most common questions we get from Florida DIY homeowners.

In the heat of the Florida summer (May-September), you should run a single-speed pump for 10-12 hours a day. In the winter, you can reduce this to 6-8 hours. If you have a Variable Speed Pump (VSP), it's recommended to run it 24/7 on a very low RPM to maximize filtration while saving electricity.
During the dry season, a typical Florida pool can lose up to 1/4 inch of water per day just from evaporation. If you are losing more than an inch a week, you may have a leak. Try the 'Bucket Test' to compare evaporation vs. an active leak.
Absolutely not. You should never add chlorine (shock) and muriatic acid to the pool at the exact same time, and never mix them in the same bucket. Adding them together creates toxic gas and ruins the effectiveness of the chlorine. Wait at least 4 hours between adding acid and chlorine.
You should inspect your salt cell every 3 months. If you see white, flaky calcium scale bridging the titanium plates, it needs an acid wash. In Florida's hard water, most cells require cleaning every 6 months to prevent the 'Low Salt' error and premature cell death.
Fiberglass pools are slightly different than concrete/gunite. Keep your pH between 7.4-7.6, Alkalinity between 80-120 ppm, and Calcium Hardness a bit lower (200-400 ppm). You don't have to worry about the water leaching calcium from plaster, but you do need to protect the gel-coat finish.

Lost Your Owner's Manual?

We have digitized hundreds of manuals for Pentair, Hayward, Jandy, and more. Don't guess on error codes—get the official data.

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