Pool Basics

Evaporation drops a pool’s water level slowly and evenly, usually a small amount every day, faster in hot, dry or windy weather. A real leak tends to lose water faster than weather alone can explain, keeps dropping even when the pool isn’t running, or shows up alongside wet spots, soggy ground or a rising water … Read more

Pools lose water without any leak mainly through evaporation, splash-out from swimmers, and backwashing the filter. On a hot, windy, or low-humidity day, an uncovered pool can lose a noticeable inch or more a week from evaporation alone — no cracked pipe or liner tear required. Is it normal for a pool to lose water? … Read more

Turnover rate is the amount of time it takes a pool’s pump and filter to circulate a volume of water equal to the entire pool once. A shorter turnover time means water passes through the filter and gets treated more often, which generally supports clearer, better-sanitized water. What does “one turnover” actually mean? One turnover … Read more

A skimmer sits at the waterline and pulls in water from the surface, catching leaves, bugs and floating debris before they sink. A main drain sits on the pool floor and pulls water from the bottom, helping circulate the whole body of water and drain the pool when needed. Most pools use both together. What … Read more

A swimming pool circulates water by pulling it in through skimmers and a main drain, pushing it through a pump and filter to strain out debris, sometimes warming it, and sending it back through return jets. This loop runs on a schedule so every gallon passes through the filter regularly, which is what keeps the … Read more