Editorial
Pool care, explained
Straight answers for pool owners. How the equipment works, what actually matters when you buy it, and the habits that keep water clear so you spend more time in the pool than fixing it.
Best Time to Run a Pool Pump: Day or Night?
Find the best time to run your pool pump. Compare daytime, nighttime and split schedules based on pool use, electricity rates, weather and water care.
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Pool Pump Flow Rate Explained: GPM, GPH and What Your Pool Needs
GPM, GPH, turnover and actual system flow explained from the pump's perspective. Why horsepower does not determine GPM, how pump curves work, and how to find your real flow rate.
Variable-Speed vs Single-Speed Pool Pump: Which Is Better?
Compare variable-speed and single-speed pool pumps for energy use, cost, noise, control, runtime and long-term value. Includes a decision framework for choosing or replacing.
What Size Pool Pump Do I Need? Pool Pump Sizing Explained
How to size a pool pump correctly: pool volume, required flow, system resistance, filter compatibility, pump curves, and why HP alone does not determine the right pump.
Pool Filter Valve Positions Explained: Filter, Backwash, Rinse, Waste and Recirculate
What each multiport valve position does, where the water goes, whether the pump should be on or off, and when to use each setting - with manufacturer-confirmed procedures and flow paths.
When Should You Replace a Pool Filter Cartridge?
How to tell whether your pool filter cartridge needs cleaning or replacing. Signs of a worn cartridge, a practical decision flow, typical lifespan, and how to make the next one last longer.
How Much Sand Does a Pool Filter Need? Tank Size Chart
The exact amount of filter sand is set by your filter model, not by tank diameter or pool size. Here is how manufacturers specify it, a table of verified model examples, and how to find the right number for your filter.
How to Backwash a Pool Sand Filter Without Making the Water Worse
A safe, manufacturer-aware backwash and rinse sequence for a pool sand filter. When to do it, when to stop, why the rinse step matters, and what to do if pressure stays high, without blind timers or universal rules.
Pool Filter Flow Rate Explained: GPM, GPH and Turnover
GPM, GPH and turnover in plain terms, plus the distinction most articles skip: calculated required flow, rated pump flow, actual system flow and filter flow specs are four different numbers, not one.
Cartridge vs Sand Pool Filter: Which Is Better for Your Pool?
The real differences between cartridge and sand pool filters, with model-specific evidence, the maintenance trade-off most comparisons gloss over, and a conditional answer based on your pool.
How to Choose the Right Pool Filter Size for Your Pool
Pool filter sizing is a system-matching problem, not just a gallons chart. Learn the five-step method: pool volume, turnover, required flow, pump matching, and manufacturer limits.
Cartridge, Sand, or DE: Which Pool Filter Type Fits You
The three main filter types explained in plain terms, with the trade-offs that actually matter when you choose.
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Our selection criteria, how we handle affiliate links, and what our recommendations do and do not claim.