Pool Care For Dummies

Crystal-clear advice for maintaining a crystal-clear swimming pool

Keeping a swimming pool ready for use requires some chemistry know-how, an understanding of how pool mechanics work, and some time spent doing good old-fashioned cleaning work. Pool Care For Dummies offers a reliable, comprehensive resource for building the knowledge that lets you turn pool maintenance into a do-it-yourself task. Written by a certified swimming pool professional who started taking care of pools when she was 5 years old, this book helps you separate the good advice from the bad as you learn to build an upkeep schedule, figure out what chemicals you actually need and which are less-than-magical potions, and fix the common problems that plague all pool owners. With so much trustworthy pool care advice in one place, you can finally cut back on time spent searching for swimming pool advice and more time splashing with your friends and family!

• Learn how pools work and get the tools you need to keep your pool running
• Test your water and maintain a safe swimming environment
• Care for your and balance your above-ground or in-ground pool
• Know what to do when unexpected problems arise

Private pool owners who need to know what’s what in the water will love this clear and complete Dummies guide.

Kristine Blanchard started working with swimming pools when she was just 5 years old. Her professional pool care career started when she was a teenager. Now over a decade into her career as a pool pro, she’s serviced pools in the field, performing pool openings, closings, weekly maintenance, and repairs on all types of pool equipment. She’s also worked in a pool supply store where she’s shared her knowledge in classes for new pool owners and employees.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting to Know Your Pool 5

Chapter 1: Welcome! You Now Work for a Pool! 7

Chapter 2: Choosing the Right Kind of Pool 17

Chapter 3: The Machinery That Makes Your Pool Work 31

Chapter 4: Common Problems on Pool Parts 63

Chapter 5: Staying Safe, Having Fun: Pool Safety 103

Part 2: Hiring Yourself as a Pool Pro 113

Chapter 6: Opening Your Pool for the Season 115

Chapter 7: Time to Get Cleaning! 139

Chapter 8: Winterizing Your Pool 161

Part 3: Becoming a Chemist (Well, Sort Of) 201

Chapter 9: The Perfect Balance 203

Chapter 10: Step 1 to a Clean Pool: Sanitation 241

Chapter 11: Steps 2 and 3 to a Clean Pool: Oxidation and Algae Prevention 267

Chapter 12: Solving the Problems in Your Pool Water 279

Part 4: The Part of Tens 325

Chapter 13: (Almost) Ten Tools You Didn’t Know You Needed 327

Chapter 14: Ten Pool Products to Stock Up on in Spring 335

Chapter 15: Ten Nightmare Mishaps and How to Handle Them 343

Index 353

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.