Opening & Closing

A pH reading of 7.8 right before you shut down for winter isn’t a problem—it’s a warning. That number tells you the water’s alkalinity buffering is working, but the moment freezing temps hit and you stop circulating, you’re about to trap chemistry inside a dormant system where it can’t respond. This is the post about … Read more

A pool store clerk once told a customer standing in front of me: “Just crack open that cover and dump a bucket of shock in there—your chlorine will handle the rest.” That advice fails the moment you test for it. The water stays green, the customer comes back furious, and nobody bothers to explain why … Read more