Pool Care Blog

Tips, Guides & Expert Advice

Practical pool care knowledge from a team with 20 years of experience in Ellis County.

Clear backyard pool used to estimate pool volume
Pool CalculatorsMay 7, 2026·4 min read

How to Measure Your Pool's Volume in 5 Minutes (Even on a Freeform Pool)

Knowing your pool's true gallon count is the foundation of every chemistry decision you make. Here's how to measure it in 5 minutes — even if your pool isn't a perfect rectangle.

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Clean backyard pool for weekly chlorine dosing guidance
ChlorineMay 7, 2026·5 min read

How Much Chlorine Should I Actually Add to My Pool Every Week?

A straight answer on weekly chlorine dosing for North Texas pools — including why the dose on the back of the bucket is almost never the dose your pool actually needs.

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Texas backyard pool used for pool shock guidance
Pool ShockMay 7, 2026·5 min read

When (and How) to Shock Your Pool — the Right Way for Texas Pools

Most pool owners shock too often and at the wrong dose. Here's when shocking actually helps, when it doesn't, and how to do it correctly for a North Texas pool.

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Bright backyard pool for safe pH adjustment guidance
pHMay 7, 2026·5 min read

How to Safely Lower Pool pH with Muriatic Acid (Ellis County Pool Owner's Guide)

Muriatic acid is the most powerful — and most dangerous — chemical most pool owners handle. Here's how to dose it correctly, how to handle it safely, and when to skip it altogether.

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Clear pool water used for raising pool pH guidance
pHMay 7, 2026·4 min read

Raising Pool pH Without Wrecking Your Alkalinity

Adding pH up is simple — but most homeowners accidentally crank their alkalinity into the stratosphere doing it. Here's how to raise pH the right way for a North Texas pool.

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Backyard pool scene for total alkalinity guidance
AlkalinityMay 7, 2026·4 min read

Why Total Alkalinity Is the Most Ignored Number in Your Pool

Total alkalinity controls how stable your pH is. Most homeowners ignore it until it bites them. Here's how to get it right with baking soda — and what happens if you don't.

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Sunny backyard pool for cyanuric acid stabilizer guidance
CYAMay 7, 2026·5 min read

How CYA Protects Your Chlorine — and How to Tell When You've Added Too Much

CYA (stabilizer) is the difference between chlorine that lasts 8 hours and chlorine that lasts 8 days. Here's how to manage it — and how to spot when it's already too high.

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Pool steps and tile used for calcium hardness guidance
Calcium HardnessMay 7, 2026·4 min read

Why Calcium Hardness Matters More Than You Think (Plaster, Pebble, and Vinyl Pools)

Calcium hardness is the slow killer of pool surfaces. Too low and your plaster dissolves. Too high and you get scale on tile and inside your salt cell. Here's how to keep it in the right range.

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Texas backyard pool used for salt water pool guidance
Salt SystemsMay 7, 2026·5 min read

Maintaining Salt Levels in a Texas Salt Water Pool

Salt water pools are easier to live with — until the salt level drifts. Here's how to keep your salt right, what level your generator actually needs, and how to extend the life of an expensive salt cell.

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Backyard pool used for pool chemical order guidance
Water BalanceMay 7, 2026·5 min read

The Right Order to Add Chemicals to Your Pool (Most Homeowners Get This Wrong)

The order matters. Adding chlorine before alkalinity, or muriatic acid before pH adjuster, will undo half your work. Here's the right sequence — and why every step depends on the one before it.

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Everything You Need to Know About Pentair Pool Filters
Pool EquipmentApril 28, 2025·10 min read

Everything You Need to Know About Pentair Pool Filters

Pentair makes some of the most popular pool filters on the market. But which one is right for your pool? How long should they last? And what about Hayward? Here is everything you need to know.

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How to Clean a Green Pool in 7 Steps
Pool MaintenanceApril 22, 2025·7 min read

How to Clean a Green Pool in 7 Steps

Walked outside to find your pool looking like a swamp? Here are the 7 steps to bring a green pool back to crystal clear — and when it makes sense to call in a pro instead.

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Pool Care 101: A Complete Guide for First-Time Pool Owners
Pool MaintenanceApril 15, 2025·8 min read

Pool Care 101: A Complete Guide for First-Time Pool Owners

Congratulations on your new pool. Now what? Here is everything a first-time pool owner needs to know — from water chemistry basics to maintenance schedules and when to call in a professional.

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Have a Pool Question?

We have been taking care of pools for 20 years. Call us or schedule a free 10-panel water analysis — we are happy to help.