Pool Problem Remedies – Florida Coast Above Ground Pools https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com Above Ground Pool Specialists Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:55:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Swimming Pool Part Myth Busters https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/swimming-pool-part-myth-busters/ https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/swimming-pool-part-myth-busters/#respond Thu, 11 Mar 2021 20:46:56 +0000 https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/?p=3572 .flex_column.av-av_one_half-79ff81c021393065cee878051452f6a6{ -webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px; -moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px; border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px; }
Above Ground Pool Repair Myths

Pool Repair Myths Busted

When it comes to above ground pools and pool parts, there are a lot of know-it-alls out there. While most of these people are well-meaning, all too many have been fed inaccurate information that they now treat as gospel. Even worse, their incorrect assumptions might lead them to pass bad advice on to you. Of coarse many of the common issue we see also apply to inground pools too. So, before you make a DIY mess out of your summer fun, let’s discuss some of the biggest myths about pool parts we encounter every day.

When you replace your motor, you can skip changing the shaft seal

Replacing a motor can get real expensive real fast. For that reason, pool owners will often look at the extra $20 – $30 required to replace the motor shaft seal and decide to skip the whole process. However, if you reuse your old seal, you’ll not only void the warranty of your brand new motor, but you run the risk the two parts won’t properly mate. It’s just a few more dollars. You’ll thank yourself in the end!

Horsepower doesn’t matter for replacement motors

This is a big one. Sure, it’s true that you can change your pump motor to either a higher or lower horsepower, but it’s not true that doing so won’t have consequences. You see, your diffuser and pump impeller are directly impacted by your motor’s horsepower. If you don’t ensure that all these components match up, you’ll be buying another new motor to replace the one you just accidentally burned out.

You can lube your O-rings with Vaseline

Vaseline seems to be every DIY pool repair man’s go-to when lubing up O-rings. However, “petroleum jelly,” as it’s more commonly known, actually breaks down rubber. Instead, you want to use lubricants that are water, silicone, or Teflon-based. They make lube specific for swimming pool seals and o-rings. It’s available at most any pool store and probably even Walmart.

You can trust your pressure gauge

We’ve had customers who have wasted entire days checking every piece of pool equipment to explain a high or low pressure reading. In most cases, they come to find out that it’s the gauge itself that is faulty. To avoid feeling this way, turn your pump off first and see if the needle returns to zero. If it doesn’t, that should be the first replacement part you buy. These things go bad all of the time and they are only about $10 at any pool store.

All O-rings are created equal

Even a tiny difference in thickness, shape, or diameter can ruin a seal and cause a piece of expensive pool equipment to fail. Don’t try to guess when it comes to O-rings. Make sure you’re getting the exact type and size specified by the company that created the part in question.

Conclusion

In the end, not every DIY dad is capable of doing pool work themselves. While we’re all for saving money whenever possible, we suggest you try to recognize when a repair or replacement might be out of your depth. The internet is a great resource for “How To Guides.” Still, in the end, sometimes the wisest man is the one who calls a professional.

If you like what you read check us out at http://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/

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Solar Pool Covers, What Are They?

Solar pool covers are an inexpensive way to extend your swimming season by keeping your pool water warmer longer. These pool covers are made from a lightweight plastic material that looks very similar to bubble wrap. It’s the thousands of small bubbles in the cover that keeps it floating on the pool water’s surface. Use one of these solar covers on your pool and you’ll likely be able to add a couple of months to your swim season every year.

Who Would Use One?

Solar pool covers sometimes called solar blankets, are used by anyone with an above ground pool or inground pool. It doesn’t matter the type of pool as it’s function is to keep pool water warm. If you can elevate the water temperature of your pool by 10-15°F then you’ll be able to swim longer into the fall and still be comfortable, even in Central Florida.

If you already have or are thinking of investing in a pool heater you’ll definitely need to get a solar pool cover for your pool. The solar cover will keep that heat you’ve paid for in your water and not let it escape into the air each night. Think of a solar blanket as a lid on your coffee cup, with one the coffee stays warm, without one the coffee cools of much quicker. The addition of a solar cover when heating your pool with natural gas, LP or heat pump can reduce heating costs by up to 70%.

Pool covers are not just for heat retention, in other parts of the country many people use a pool cover for other reasons besides keeping water warm or keeping out debris. In these locations residents by law have to conserve water and limit their consumption. The solar pool cover does an excellent job of reducing water loss due to evaporation. By covering the entire water’s surface with a pool cover evaporation is reduced by 90%.

How To Use A Solar Pool Cover

First you must purchase a solar pool cover that’s closest in size to your swimming pool. If your pool cover is larger than your pool simply take a scissors or razor knife and trim the cover to fit. Use your pool as usual and allow the powerful Florida sunshine to beat down on the water all day long. In the evening cover your swimming pool with the solar cover, this will hold the heat in the water preventing it from evaporating into the air each night. If you use the cover regularly you will begin to see the water temperature rise each day and allow use of your pool longer into the year.

There are a few ways to make using your solar cover easy and I’ve included some examples of different ideas below.  For many people the use of a solar cover reel is a way to keep you cover clean and conveniently located. For others the use of hooks around the pool makes solar cover access and storage a simple task.

If you have questions about solar pool covers or above ground pools check us out online at http://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/

Solar Pool Cover Storage Ideas

Solar pool cover hooks for Florida above ground pools.
Solar pool cover reels for Florida inground pools.
DYI solar pool cover reel for Florida above ground pools.

]]> https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/solar-pool-covers-who-needs-em/feed/ 0 My Above Ground Pool Liner Doesn’t Fit https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/my-above-ground-pool-liner-doesnt-fit/ https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/my-above-ground-pool-liner-doesnt-fit/#respond Sun, 21 Feb 2021 18:03:23 +0000 http://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/?p=3486

Above Ground Pool Liner Fitment Problems


As I said before, it’s often the jobs we take on that give me ideas and inspiration for the blogs I write. As you know, many people take on the repair of their above ground pool but end up quitting in aggravation. The incredibly hot August temperatures in Florida only intensify the problems and frustrations. In this case the home owner in Palm Bay was convinced there was a problem with the pool liner because it just didn’t fit correctly. There are many factors that can cause this dilemma and most are not the liner’s fault.


You’ve Heard It Before, Size Matters


I know you’ve heard it before and I’m saying it again. Measure your pool before you order a new above ground pool liner. This is one of the biggest and easiest problems to avoid. Ordering the wrong size liner for your pool is very common and only due to being lazy. It only takes about 2 minutes to properly measure the pool but takes a week to correct the problem and this doesn’t take into account the cost of returning your pool liner. Double check the pool size even if you think you already know it.


Round ’er Up


As I stated in the beginning of this blog, there are many reasons for an above ground pool liner not to fit correctly but I’m going to concentrate on what happened to this pool in particular. Here was a classic example of the pool simply being out of round. What this means is the pool is more egg shaped than actually round. When this happens the pool is longer in one direction than the other.

This occurs from poor installation where the installers didn’t ensure the pool was actually round during assembly. If you start with a misshapen frame everything else fits poorly and the job can become a nightmare. If you didn’t build the pool it’s not your fault so all you can do is deal with it. Besides, there are ways to successfully install a round pool liner in an egg shaped pool.


Making It Work


If you are really adventurous or bored you could completely disassemble the pool and put it back together correctly, this way your new pool liner will fit like a glove. But if your like our Palm Bay home owner you change your liner in the summer, so a job like that isn’t happening in August. The best way is solve this problem is to hire a professional to do the job.

I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear but different types of pool liners require different techniques to make them fit correctly. I’m not trying to make this sound like it’s magic or a lost art, it’s just too hard to explain to someone who’s never done it before. The options and limitations to correct the problems are different for oval pools versus rounds, and different for overlap liners versus beaded liners. Pool floor shape, cove size and other factors all play a role in how well a liner fits in any given pool.

It’s simply trial and error over an accumulation of time that you figure out what works best. But if hiring a professional isn’t an option be prepared to just get in there and try yourself. Do a little experimenting to get the best results you can. If it doesn’t work out the worst that can happen is you get wrinkles in the liner. They may not look good but wrinkles don’t leak and that’s what matters most.

If you have questions above your above ground pool or are interested in getting one for your backyard, check out our selection of quality above ground pools at http://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/clearance


]]> https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/my-above-ground-pool-liner-doesnt-fit/feed/ 0 Nutgrass Growing Through Pool Liner https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/nutgrass-growing-through-pool-liner/ https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/nutgrass-growing-through-pool-liner/#respond Sat, 20 Feb 2021 22:17:05 +0000 http://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/?p=3477


Problem


Nutgrass Killer For Above Ground Pools

Answer


What Is Nutgrass?


Nutgrass, also known as nutsedge is a perennial grass-like weed that seeks out the moist poorly drained sections of your yard or garden and grows faster in hot weather than our lawns do. It’s leaves are grass-like and yellow-green, while the spiky head is purple or yellow. It’s a tough weed to control because it grows from tiny tubers or nutlets that form on roots that can grow 8-14 inches deep in the soil. Pull out the roots and some tubers will stay behind to grow again. Individual nutsedge plants may eventually form patches in your yard of 10 feet or more in diameter.

What makes this a big deal to above ground pool owners is that this weed will grow right up through your liner and cause leaks. Even worse is the fact it will grow through practically anything you lay on the ground to stop it, and I’m not exaggerating when I say this either. I’ve seen nutgrass grow through practically everything including weed barrier, plastic sheeting, Gorilla Pads, Styro-Foam, plywood ,vermiculite, roofing paper and more. This stuff will grow through asphalt so you know your pool liner is no match for it. If you live in Florida or the deep south, there is a really good chance nutgrass may be lurking in your backyard.


How Do I Stop Nutgrass From Growing Through My Pool Liner?


One of the most frequent questions people ask about installing their own pool is whether they must remove the grass on the ground first. The answer is always yes and for many reasons. I will get into some of the others in another blog post, but removing the grass with a sod cutter first will remove the majority of the nutsedge in your pool area and reduce the odds of you having this pesky weed growing up through your new pool liner.

Once your ground is level and the pool wall and frame are constructed, now would be time to treat the ground. An application of a quality nutgrass killer just before installing the pool liner is recommended if you suspect nutgrass in your yard. Only someone totally reckless would know about the problem weed and chance not spending a few more dollars to protect their brand new pool liner from impending disaster.

Once the weed starts growing through the liner it’s too late, from here on out all you can do is kill each individual new plant and patch your liner. There’s no telling how many patches you’ll be making but you’d best get some liquid poison, a syringe and a patch kit. You may get lucky and only have a few blades to deal with but I’ve seen pools with hundreds.

If you find yourself with too many nutgrass blades to contend with, you’re best to just pull out the pool liner, toss it and buy another. This happens all the time here in Central Florida and most people have no idea how troublesome this weed can be. I’ve seen it everywhere from Palm Bay to Orlando and even up the coast.  Now that you know about it’s time to make sure this problem doesn’t happen to you.

NOTE: Pool liner manufacturers do not warranty nutrass damage nor do any pool installers that I’m aware of. Odds are you won’t get it but a healthy dose of proper nutrass killer will likely ensure you won’t. In my years of doing swimming pool installs I treated the ground on every job. Even in doing this I still would see 1%-2% of the pools develop some degree of grass growing through. If you suspect you may have a nutgrass problem,or just want to play it safe, do not skip out on treating the ground as the cost of doing so can get expensive.


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