Above Ground Pool Installation St Cloud

I have installed above-ground swimming pools in St Cloud for four decades. When I started installing pools, St Cloud was a lot smaller and simpler.

Since the late 1980s, when I installed my first pools in St. Cloud, a lot has changed. Then, there were only houses north of 192 between it and East Lake Toho, and then on the other side down Canoe Creek Rd as far as “The Manor”.

Working out of Orlando, A job in St. Cloud back then was considered “way out” of town. It was just an old redneck community east of Kissimmee with only a water tower and the famous Koffee Kup Kafe (which is now just called “The Cup”).

Now with a population of somewhere north of sixty-five thousand residents, “The Cloud” now extends with homes all the way to Narcoossee and has almost completely filled in the Old Canoe Creek corridor.

ABOVE GROUND POOLS IN ST CLOUD

During the entire time of my pool installing career, I have always had installations of above-ground pools in St. Cloud. Even during the years when business wasn’t great, I would get install jobs in “The Cloud”.

5 THINGS TO CONSIDER WITH INSTALLING AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL IN ST CLOUD

1 Groundwater/moisture

Most areas are pretty good in terms of the ground being nice and dry. I have had some issues in “The Manor” area, but that was usually when I was going semi-inground for the installation.

If you are considering putting your above-ground pool partially in the ground, think about how wet your yard gets from a big rainstorm. If you get any standing water at all that hangs around for more than a few hours, then you may not be able to sink your pool much.

2 Earth type

Most of Central Florida is sand-based, but if you live in a neighborhood, the developer may have brought in some harder earth to raise the area some.

Some newer neighborhoods in St. Cloud had some earth with a lot of hard clay trucked in. With those, the earth may be hard to work with in terms of making a nice flat pool bottom.

Any older areas of St. Cloud almost always have nice, easy to work with sand-based earth.

3 Earth Grade

Most of all St. Cloud is very flat. This is good for installing an AG pool.

When you look at where you want your pool and it’s fairly flat, then that is better and easier. A swimming pool has to be level, so if the yard has a slope, then the ground will have to be leveled.

4 Yard size

Older homes in St Cloud are on big enough lots to fit a decent-sized above-ground pool in the yard. And most of the newer homes have enough room too.

The original residential area of St Cloud, which is between 192 and East Lake Tohopekaliga has average-sized yards. The Manor has big lots ranging from one to five acres, so any size pool is good there.

Newer neighborhoods can have very small lots, so check your yard and measure before committing to a pool size.

5 Yard Access

If you are planning on having your above-ground pool installed professionally, then consider the access to where you want the pool.

Some installers only have a sod cutter machine to help prepare the earth, but others (like myself) have skid/steer machines. These bigger machines require bigger than standard walk-through gates for access.

My machine is very small at only 48” wide, but will not go through a standard gate.

If you have an older home in St Cloud, then chances are you have a wood fence. Typically, a section of wood fence can be taken down for wider access.

Newer neighborhoods often use vinyl fences. Vinyl fences are much more difficult to remove sections of. So, if you have a vinyl fence, check the width of your gates for machine access.

POOL STORES IN ST CLOUD

Pinch-A Penny St Cloud

For about 20 years, This pool store has been great for above-ground pools. They sold them, serviced them, and repaired them in the past.

This guy, James, owned this Pinch-a-Penny franchise for a really long time and he was a good guy. I have heard that he sold this store, so I’m not sure how good and trusting the new owner is, but that store has been great for many years.

Gator Pools and Spas

CONSIDERING ME FOR YOUR POOL INSTALLATION?

Here is my install price page

WANT TO HAVE A HOLE DUG FOR YOUR ABOVE GROUND POOL?

Here is my price page for digging a hole

Above Ground Pool Liner Installers in Orlando

Metal-walled above-ground swimming pools last longer than the liners that come with them. If your pool is in the Orlando area, it may be hard to find someone to replace it.

There aren’t many who install above-ground pool liners in Central Florida(or anywhere else for that matter). Here in Orlando, no one specializes in only changing above-ground liners. You’ll need to find an above-ground pool installer for this.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD LINER CHANGE AND A BAD ONE

It’s not that hard to change out the liner in an above-ground pool. There are a couple of techniques though that can make all the difference in the world.

I bring this up because this is a job that occasionally a non-pool guy handyman type will attempt to do. And if he doesn’t have a lot of experience, this can be a bad idea.

Draining the pool, cutting out the old liner, and taking off the top part of the pool’s frame so the liner can be changed can be done by almost anyone. Putting the frame back together is also easy.

So, what’s the important part of a liner change in an above-ground pool?

THE FOUR MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO RIGHT WHEN CHANGING A LINER IN AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL

1 Re-doing the pool’s bottom

Sometimes the original pool bottom wasn’t done well. You may have been dealing with a bumpy pool floor or have rocks or debris that you’ve been feeling from day one.

And sometimes a nice smooth pool bottom gets some ruts from moles, develops some dips or valleys over time, or gets a lot of root growth.

Liner change time is the perfect (and only) opportunity to get your pool bottom smooth again (or for the first time).

Now, this is something a handyman can do, but will he? And how good of a job will he do? Usually not very as he doesn’t have a lot of experience with knowing what makes a smooth pool bottom and what doesn’t.

It seems easy, but you may be surprised at what people think “flat and smooth” is.

2 Properly setting the liner in place and securing it correctly to the wall

Above-ground pool liners will stretch more than most think, so they are forgiving to a point. But they do need to be set somewhat evenly to the wall.

If they aren’t, then you can have too much pull on one side and excess liner on the other. This can make the job look bad and take life from the liner.

Overlap-type liners require the correct amount of tension. Beaded liners need to go in the channel evenly. And all liners need to be properly secured to the top of the wall.

If a liner isn’t secured to the wall in the way it’s designed, then it can come down when you fill the pool. This can suck.

Again, this is not hard to do, but you need to have a level of experience to do it right.

3 Making the holes for the skimmer and return fitting

This is usually the most serious mistake with a poor liner change.

Above-ground pool liners typically only have two holes in them. And they are for the skimmer and return. New liners don’t come with precut openings, so they have to be cut in place.

This again is not that hard to do. But if done wrong, the pool will leak around the skimmer and/or return fitting. And nothing kills an above-ground pool more than a leaking skimmer or return that goes unnoticed or unfixed.

4 Having a wrinkle-free liner

This is the ultimate gauge of determining whether a liner change was done well or not.

Having a small wrinkle or two can sometimes be unavoidable even for me, but for the most part, the new liner shouldn’t have any wrinkles in it.

This can be the most challenging part for a low experienced person changing a liner.

Above ground pool liner replacement with some water in it

FINDING AN ABOVE-GROUND LINER INSTALLER IN ORLANDO

Since the people who know how to install AG pool liners also install above-ground pools, you will have a harder time finding someone to do it during the busy summer pool installation season.

So first off, if you can get this done during the late fall, winter, or early spring, do it.

Also, some will charge waaaay too much to change a liner. And the amount you pay doesn’t always reflect the experience of the guy or the quality of the job. Find out what you can reasonably expect to pay for someone to change your pool’s liner here

1 Do a Google search for “above-ground pool installers Orlando”

Finding a pool installer will be the same as finding a pool liner installer

2 Call some local pool stores

This is a long shot, but worth a try.

3 Ask anyone that you know who also has an above-ground pool

Word of mouth is sometimes the only way to find an experienced installer

4 Check FB marketplace or local online classifieds like Craigslist

Craigslist is almost dead, but it can still be useful for finding an above-ground pool guy.

5 Check any local retailer that sells above-ground pools

There aren’t many places locally to buy a pool in Orlando, but this can be a good resource for finding an installer.

Most retailers won’t give out an installer’s number as they want to keep them for their own installs, but if for just a liner change, they may do it.

6 Contact the one who installed your pool

This is how most find me to install their liner. If you initially bought your pool and have it installed, try to find the guy’s number who installed it.

If you can’t find anyone else, you can contact me and see if I can do it.

9 Professional Tips for Installing an Above Ground Pool in Orlando during the summer

Most of the over six thousand above-ground swimming pools that I have installed were done during the brutal summer months of Orlando.

Doing anything outside in Central Florida during the summer can be a challenge. And next to maybe putting on a new roof, installing an above-ground pool is among the toughest.

Why? Because the summer in Orlando is no joke.

When installing an above-ground pool in Orlando during the hot summer months, you should start very early to beat the heat, have some shade if you can, and be very aware of the potential of strong afternoon thunderstorms.

TWO THINGS TO BE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN INSTALLING AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL DURING THE SUMMER IN ORLANDO

1 Brutal heat

Coming from a guy who has worked outside for most of his adult working life, I can say that no matter who you are, it’s uncomfortably hot outside when hot in Orlando.

I have been outside in Phoenix, Arizona when it was about 112 degrees Fahrenheit and that was hot. I remember walking there and being in a semi-panic to find some shade. That was intense direct heat.

Orlando rarely gets over 100°F, but we have something that the low desert doesn’t have. Humidity! And adding high humidity to temperatures of the mid-nineties will zap you of energy and block your ability to think well.

This is not to say areas of Texas(and other states) don’t get it as bad as Orlando does, but it’s about as bad as it gets when having to do hard work AND think about it what you are doing.

2 Afternoon thunderstorms

Afternoon thunderstorms are somewhat unique to Central Florida. They occur because the sun heats up the earth and causes a temperature difference with the sky.

Temperature differences cause wind, so the wind forms from the Gulf of Mexico
and starts moving inland. At the same time, wind forms over the Atlantic Ocean (other side of the state) and it starts moving inland.

When these two breezes meet, they can make some very nasty thunderstorms. And the battleground where these sea breezes collide is often over the Orlando area.

And don’t be fooled by the name “thunderstorms”. There can be plenty of lightning with these storms, which is fun(sarcasm for scary) when working outside on a pool.

LIGHTING AND HEAVY RAIN ISN’T THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH INSTALLING AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL DURING THESE AFTERNOON ORLANDO STORMS

One of the most challenging stages of installing an above-ground swimming pool is rolling out and securing the pool’s wall. And until the pool is nearly completed, the wall is vulnerable to falling down.

I have some very good, tried and true techniques for keeping the pool wall secured while finishing the inside so we can get the liner in and then complete the frame assembly. But there isn’t anything that you can do if one of these afternoon storms comes. Its wind will BLOW THE WALL DOWN REGARDLESS!

And depending on where you are at with the installation, the wall blowing down can be catastrophic.

WHEN IS IT SUMMER IN ORLANDO?

Central Florida is hot, but when does “hot” start and end? The answer is different every single year. For me, the summer season starts when temperatures consistently hit 90°F and above.

Temps in O-Town can hit 90 as early as late April and last almost daily as long as into October. Usually though, most summers will start in early May and last into late September.

We get wind in spring (which brings its own issues) but it goes away when it starts getting very hot.

So, if it’s over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, there’s a relative humidity of about 80, and you’ve noticed that it rains angrily every early/mid-afternoon for about twenty minutes, then it’s summer in Orlando.

9 TIPS FOR INSTALLING AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL DURING THE SUMMER IN ORLANDO

1 Start early in the morning

I call it “beating the heat” and “heating up with the earth”.

Starting nice and early can be the difference between getting the job done quick and spending days on it. Remember that the most intense sun is between 10 am and 2 pm.

Also, know that those afternoon storms can come as early as between noon and 1 pm, so having as many hours before that happens can be key.

2 Rent a sod cutter

Grass must be removed to successfully and properly install an above-ground pool. Period. Removing the grass with just a shovel is tough in any temperature. During the summer heat/humidity though, it’s pure torture.

Do yourself the best favor ever. Rent a sod cutter. If you’re not sure that it’s worth it, then get started with busting that sod out of your pool site with only a shovel.

After 20 minutes and removing about two square feet of grass, you’ll realize that this is sage advice.

3 Have some shade

If you have some shady-type trees (like oaks) nearby, then that is good. If not, get an umbrella or something so you have a refuge from the direct sun.

And when you feel overheated, get under that shade and stay there as long as it takes.

4 Wear a hat

Don’t underestimate the value of shading your head. A hat can make all the difference in the world. Believe me. I’ve had new help not bring a hat to work and nearly fall out after just a few hours in direct sunlight.

5 Divide the project into two stages – Groundwork and pool assembly

Doing the groundwork for installing an above-ground pool is half of the overall job. Treat it as such.

Thinking you’re just gonna knock out the grass removal and ground leveling and then get to installing the pool is the wrong way to go. Respect that ground prep by considering it a job all by itself.

Earn the right to assemble the actual pool by first completing the big job of getting the ground ready. “This is the way”. (Mandalorian proverb)

6 Have as many people help you roll the pool wall in position as you can get

Getting the wall in the track and keeping it there will be a special challenge. Having extra hands will make things much easier.

6A Don’t mix alcohol consumption with rolling out and securing the wall.

You may have to understand this the hard way. lol

7 If you can, roll the wall out during the morning hours

I know this will mean that your installation is going to take at least two days. But if you roll the wall out on day one and it’s around noontime, then you are at risk of dealing with an Orlando afternoon thunderstorm before you can get the wall fully secured. And that can be bad.

8 Take plenty of breaks and drink plenty of water

Sure, sure. You already know this. Everybody knows this.

The problem here is that installing an above-ground pool takes more thinking than you think. lol. And when you are thinking, you may not be taking breaks or drinking enough water. Don’t make me say “I told you so”.

9 Be patient and take it easy

Intense heat and high humidity will limit your patience and energy for handling things not going well. Knowing this going in may help keep your marriage.

I don’t know your expectations, but know also that these above-ground swimming pools are NOT SWISS WATCHES! Don’t try to be too much of a perfectionist because these kits won’t stand for that.

Do as good a job as you can with this project, but get it together and get it done. At some point, you’re going to arrive at this attitude. You’ll have no choice.

My Orlando installation price sheet

Site prep-only price sheet for Orlando

Replacing the Pump and Filter of an Above Ground Pool in Orlando

All above-ground swimming pools have at least a pump and a filter that is used to help keep the water clean and healthy. They don’t last as long as the pool does though, so they will need replacing at some point.

Replacing a pump and/or filter for an above-ground pool in Orlando usually requires buying them first online. Replacing this equipment can usually be done by the pool owner, which is good as it may be hard to find someone to do the job.

IN MOST CASES, THE PUMP NEEDS REPLACING BEFORE THE FILTER

All pool pumps are run by electricity. The pump (which is what moves the water) has an electric motor attached to it. And it’s the electric motor that is the first thing to go.

There is a difference between inground pool pumps and above-ground ones. One of the differences is that with an inground pump, you can always change out just the motor as it can always easily be detached from the pump.

Some above-ground pool pumps don’t easily detach from the motor. This means it’s often easier and more cost-effective to replace the entire pump instead of just the pump’s motor.

Orlando has several pool supply stores that will replace pump motors, but most won’t replace the motors for above-ground pool pumps because they are problematic with taking them apart.

ABOVE-GROUND PUMPS AND FILTERS USUALLY COME TOGETHER AS A SINGLE PACK.

Inground pumps and filters are completely separate components. This is good when having to repair or replace them.

Above-ground pumps and filters come together, usually fit onto a specific platform/base, and are connected together with a specific fitting. This makes it more difficult to just replace the pump, which is usually what needs replacing first.

These unique and specific ways that above-ground equipment fits together are the reason why most regular pool stores won’t work on them. They only have universal fittings and connectors in stock which cannot be used on some AG equipment.

WHO CAN YOU CALL TO REPLACE ABOVE-GROUND POOL EQUIPMENT IN ORLANDO?

In Orlando and surrounding areas, it can be difficult to find someone to come out and work on your above-ground pool equipment. This is because (as mentioned above) above-ground stuff is often not universal and requires specific parts that pool stores and pool service companies don’t carry.

The other factor is the cost to have a service person come out. With inground pools, people are expected to pay more for having their pools worked on because they cost a lot more.

Above-ground pool owners will have one-tenth to one-quarter of the cost for their pool project, which makes it harder to justify the potentially high expense of having someone come out and work on it.

There are just a couple of stores in the Orlando area that will work on above-ground pool equipment, but the vast majority of them will not.

I’m not sure if any Leslie’s pool stores will work on AG pool pumps/filters as they are all corporate-owned. If you live near Mount Dora or St Cloud, there are two Pinch-A-Pennys there that sell and service above grounds.

If you have an independent pool store near you, then give them a try. You never know. Also, try a few pool service companies that service your area of Orlando. It’s a long shot, but you may find a good guy just starting out and willing to work on your pool.

Above-ground pool guys like me usually won’t do service calls on pool equipment. This is almost certain during the busy summer season.

During the off-season though, I have been known to take on an equipment repair or replacement if close to me, easier to do, and I need the work.

So, if it’s between October and March and you are in Orlando, you can text me to see if I am interested.

IT’S USUALLY BEST TO FIND THE EXACT REPLACEMENT PUMP OR FILTER ONLINE

Under normal repair conditions, you call a service company or store and they come out with the parts and do the job completely. All you have to do here is come up with the money to pay them.
When repairing or replacing an above-ground pool pump or filter, it’s not as simple.

Even if you find someone to do the job for you, they will most likely want you to buy the parts beforehand and have them there. I will ask you to send me pics of what you have so I know what to tell you to buy.

This is what I require when doing a repair. And I do this because I cannot get the specific parts any sooner or cheaper than the pool owner can. So, to save on what I charge, I have the pool owner get the stuff.

Sometimes you can get what you need locally from a pool store. This is great, but you will pay more for it.

MOST CAN REPLACE THEIR OWN PUMP AND/OR FILTER

It’s usually much easier to replace above-ground pool equipment in comparison to inground stuff. And in many cases, the pool owner has no choice since they can’t find anyone to do it OR it costs too much to have someone come out.

If your pool only has the 6ft plastic flex hoses, then it will be easier to replace things. If PVC hard piped, then it will be slightly harder, but still not bad.

If you find this article and are doing a replacement yourself, feel free to send me a text with a pic of what you are working on. I will take a quick look and text you back with something to help you with the job.

Finding Parts for an Above Ground Pool in Orlando

Are you looking for parts for your existing above-ground swimming pool in Orlando? Odds are that you won’t find them.

Since the vast majority of above-ground pools are bought online, there is no official inventory of parts available in Orlando. You will have to find them online.

WHAT ABOVE-GROUND PARTS PEOPLE ARE USUALLY LOOKING FOR

Metal-walled above-ground pools are made of either a steel or aluminum wall and then a frame made of many parts.

The frames can be made of a mix of steel, aluminum, and resin parts. Usually, parts made of steel that rust are the ones people are looking to replace.

Some resin parts will break or crack over time too and need replacing.

The most common parts people are looking for are:

1 Top rails
2 Top stabilizer bars (under the top rails)
3 Top connector plates (under the top rails)
4 Top caps

Metal top rail piece for and above ground swimming

Many of these parts can now be found online.

IF LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT WALL ONLY. FIGURE ON GETTING A WHOLE NEW POOL

Manufacturers don’t like selling replacement walls. This is because it is very problematic to just replace the wall and leave the existing frame.

In the now 37 years that I have worked on above-ground pools, I have only successfully replaced two walls with existing frames. Unless your pool is almost new (less than two years old and has a warranty issue with the wall), don’t bother trying to just replace your wall.

Of course, you can try if you want. Some will always try. Then most will wind up getting a new wall AND frame after either finding out how much a wall costs OR attempting to remove their old wall while still keeping the frame in good shape.

IF YOU HAVE A WILBAR-MADE ABOVE-GROUND POOL, YOU MAY BE IN LUCK FINDING PARTS FOR IT IN ORLANDO

The website that sells most of the online parts for Wilbar pools is inyopools.com. They are an online-only store but have a warehouse located in Longwood where they keep an inventory of AG parts.

Under normal conditions, you would contact Inyo and purchase the parts you need and they would ship them to you. If you are local though, you may be able to swing by their warehouse and physically pick them up. Maybe.

IF YOUR POOL WAS PURCHASED LOCALLY FROM UNIQUE POOLS, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET PARTS, BUT PROBABLY NOT

In the last five years or so, Unique has been selling the same model pools from the same manufacturer. This is a good thing if you bought from them in the last five years as they may be able to get parts.

Most likely though, you will have to get them from the company that manufactured the pool directly.

If you bought your pool from Unique some years ago, then there’s almost no chance that you can get parts through them. You can call them though and know for sure. In the past, they have sold Doughboys, Wilbars, and the now defunct Swim N Play pools, so it will be hard to say what you have.

IF YOUR POOL WAS BOUGHT LOCALLY BY A PINCH-A-PENNY STORE, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET PARTS FROM THEM, BUT PROBABLY NOT

Pinch A Penny has sold the same models of Wilbar pools for years, which is great. They may have some above-ground pool parts available through their warehousing system.

If you have the original paperwork or email of the purchase, that may help them see if they have what you are looking for.

Most likely though, Pinch will tell you to contact Wilbar, the manufacturer.

IF YOUR POOL WAS BOUGHT LOCALLY FROM A LESLIE’S POOL STORE, THEN YOU WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE TO GET PARTS ELSEWHERE

To my knowledge, Leslie’s pool stores are all corporate owned and they don’t deal with above-ground pool parts at all. Things may have changed though now that we are in the post-coved era, so check with them first.

WHERE TO FIND ABOVE-GROUND POOL PARTS ONLINE

There are a couple of websites that sell Wilbar pool parts. Wilbar made a deal with inyopools.com to provide and sell all of their replacement parts, however, some other sites have them available also.

The two websites that I know of that sell Wilbar parts are inyopools.com and recwarehouse.com

Inyo pools is good in that you can call them and they will help you identify which pool model you have.

The second most popular above-ground pool manufacturer is Doughboy. Other than through them, it’s almost impossible to find replacement parts. So, if your existing pool is Doughboy-made, somehow get ahold of them, and good luck.

Above-ground pool parts are in no way interchangeable. YOU MUST HAVE THE EXACT PARTS FOR YOUR MODEL OR THEY WON’T FIT

HOW TO FIND OUT WHO MADE YOUR POOL AND WHICH MODEL IT IS

Broken plastic top connector for an above ground pool

It may not be easy to determine who made your pool and which model it is. Even though the umbrellas of Wilbar and Doughboy make up 90% of all above-ground pools, there are a lot of different models and some obscure makers.

This is what I recommend:

1 Find your original paperwork or purchase email

This is by far the best way to know what you have. And even with this, it may still be hard as receipts can be unclear with names.

If you do find your purchase info and still can’t make out what you have, then contact the retailer. They may have a record of your purchase and/or someone there that can help by remembering what they sold the year you bought from them.

2 Check inyopools.com

This website has the biggest selection of above-ground pool parts. Plus they will help you through emails if you need it.

3 Join my Facebook group “Above ground swimming pools group”

This is not me trying to promote my group. In truth, this group is too big and takes up too much of my time. But with 400+K members, it’s the biggest group about above-ground pools online.

Posting pics of your pool there may find someone who can identify your specific model.

IF YOU STILL HAVE TROUBLE FINDING OUT WHAT YOU HAVE, YOU CAN CONTACT ME. I’LL TAKE A QUICK LOOK AND SEE IF I CAN HELP

Chemically Starting Up your Above Ground Pool in Orlando

So you got an above-ground pool, had it installed, and filled it with water. Now what? You know a pool needs chemicals, but which and how much?

Chemically starting up a new above-ground swimming pool in Central Florida is easy if you filled it with municipal(city) water as it’s already balanced. With that, you only have to shock it and maybe adjust the PH.

If you filled your new pool with your well, then depending on the quality of your water, you may want to take a sample of the pool’s water to a pool store. They can analyze it and tell you what to add for your start-up.

BASIC ABOVE-GROUND POOL WATER CHEMISTRY 101, VERY BASIC

This article is not about swimming pool chemistry. It’s about telling you what to add to your brand-new pool for the first time. Even though it’s not necessary, some understanding can help.

1 Pool water needs to be sanitized

In the water business, they like to use the word “sanitize” instead of kill. To help you understand, know that this fancy word means “kill”,

You’ll want to kill all the things in swimming pool water that can hurt humans, so when starting up a pool, it must be sanitized or “shocked” so you know everything is dead before you go swimming.

This is what shocking a pool does.

2 The pool water’s PH needs to be in range

Every single thing has its own PH. A chair, a dog’s skin, a tree leaf, coffee, pool water, humans, etc.

If the swimming pool’s PH is not in the middle range, then it can irritate human swimmers. In reality, it’s somewhat rare for a pool’s PH to irritate human skin, the main reason to have proper PH in a pool is so the sanitizer/oxidizer (chlorine) can work well.

3 Pool water needs to be clear

It is unsafe for a swimming pool to not be clear. You should be able to very clearly see the deepest part of the bottom.

Anything in the water that is causing an unclear pool needs to be addressed either chemically or manually taken out.

These are the only three things that have to be accomplished when chemically starting up a swimming pool.

You can add a hundred more scenarios and issues to confuse this process, but this is all you need initially.

SO, TO CHEMICALLY START UP A SWIMMING POOL, YOU NEED TO SHOCK IT AND ADJUST THE PH.

THE POOL SHOULD BE CLEAR BEFORE ANYONE GOES SWIMMING

If you filled your pool with city water, then it should be clear even before you shock it. This is because it already has some level of sanitizer(Orlando municipal water uses chlorine) and the PH is in range.

If you filled with your well and it’s colored or cloudy, then you will have to wait for the water to clear up from shocking it, adjusting the PH, and adding anything else needed to remove excess metals to oxidize what’s in the water making it cloudy.

Depending on how bad your well water is, this can take a few days.

SOME ABOVE-GROUND POOL PACKAGES COME WITH A CHEMICAL START-UP KIT. DON’T EXPECT MUCH

There is nothing standard when a retailer puts together a chemical start-up kit. I have seen kits that have all kinds of unnecessary chemicals with them.

All of them will have some kind of a shock though, and that’s good. In some cases, that is all you’ll use in the kit.

Just don’t think that everything you need is in one of these kits. They aren’t extensive, they are only basic and you rarely get much with one, so don’t rely on it.

DID YOUR POOL COME WITH A SALT CHLORINE GENERATOR (SALT POOL)? YEAH, YOU’LL STILL WANT TO SHOCK THE POOL AT START-UP

People have all kinds of ideas about what a salt pool is. And they can be sold all kinds of ideas of what a salt pool is by websites and salesmen.

A salt chlorine generator (which is what makes your pool a salt pool) only does one thing – it makes a small amount of fresh chlorine all day and introduces it into the pool.

A SCG cannot shock the pool though, so you will have to shock your salt pool initially just like a non-salt pool just to make sure the water is safe to swim in.

USING A TEST KIT/STRIPS

Your new above-ground pool will most likely come with a maintenance kit which will have a test kit included.

It won’t be much, but it should do the two things you need it to. And that is to check the chlorine level and PH.

The strips are very easy to use and so is the drop kit type. Just follow the directions and learn how to read them. It’s not hard.

Regardless of what the readings are on your newly filled pool’s water, I recommend shocking the pool initially no matter what.

HOW MUCH CHEMICAL SHOULD YOU ADD TO YOUR POOL?

This is not an easy question to answer here as there are different-sized pools and each chemical requires different amounts per gallon of water.

Since we are only talking about starting up the pool though, you’ll only need to know how much chlorine is needed and maybe adjust the PH

When using liquid chlorine, one gallon will shock 10,000 gallons of water. So if you have a 24’ round pool with 14,000 gallons, then pour in two gallons ( or just a full 2.5-gallon yellow jug).

You don’t have to be precise, but it’s better to add more than recommended instead of not enough. The shock effect doesn’t last long, so you can add more and it’s ok.

When using granular shock, one pound will shock 10,000 gallons of water, so follow the same routine as with liquid. Shock a little more than you need if you want.

WARNING: When using granular shock, dilute completely in a bucket of water before pouring it into the pool. The granular can damage the liner if not diluted.

To adjust the PH, determine how many gallons of water are in your pool and follow the directions on the product label. There are a few different chemicals used to raise and lower PH.

NOTE: Don’t get too tripped up on getting the PH perfectly in range. It doesn’t matter as much as you think. Enjoy your new pool and go swimming.

WHEN IN DOUBT, TAKE A WATER SAMPLE TO A POOL STORE

This is the advice I give everyone just starting out with pool water chemistry. You’ve got a new pool and you want to enjoy it.

Learn pool chemistry as you go but initially let the pool store do the work. You will eventually learn what is needed and what isn’t with your pool. You don’t have to figure it all out on day one.

Orlando Above Ground Pool Installations

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