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Pool Playbooks

Actionable workflows for the jobs you repeat all season.

First Time Pool Owner? Start Here

We've created guided learning paths for people who inherited a pool or are building a new one. Follow a curated curriculum instead of feeling overwhelmed by all the playbooks.

View First-Timers Guide

21 playbooksTry "algae", "startup", or "scale"

Pool Inventory & Equipment ID

Identify what equipment you have and understand what it does. Essential for inherited pools.

When to use: Bought a house with a pool and need to understand what equipment you have.

#beginner#education#equipment

Pool Chemistry 101

Understand the WHY behind every chemical adjustment. The foundation of pool care.

When to use: First-time pool owner who needs to understand FC/CYA, pH/TA, and water balance basics.

#beginner#education#chemistry

Weekly Maintenance Routine

The consistent habits that keep pools crystal clear. Prevention beats crisis management.

When to use: Need to establish a sustainable maintenance routine that prevents problems.

#beginner#maintenance#routine

SLAM (Shock Level And Maintain)

Deep-clean your pool when algae blooms or FC demand spikes beyond normal correction.

When to use: Water is cloudy or green, FC drops fast, CC is elevated.

#algae#sanitation#crisis

Clear Cloudy Water

Recover sparkle after heavy storms, parties, or early algae activity without over-shocking.

When to use: Water looks dull or hazy but not fully green; FC may be near minimum.

#clarity#maintenance

Spring Opening Checklist

Bring a closed pool online safely with balancing steps and early maintenance tasks.

When to use: Pool opening after winter closing or extended downtime.

#seasonal#startup

Winter Closing Checklist

Protect your pool through the off-season with nutrient control, equipment prep, and freeze safeguards.

When to use: Preparing to close pool for winter conditions.

#seasonal#winter

New Plaster Startup

Protect fresh plaster with tightly controlled chemistry and brushing cadence.

When to use: Pool has been recently resurfaced or newly plastered.

#startup#plaster

Scale Prevention Routine

Stay ahead of scale by managing CSI, brushing, and periodic descaling tasks.

When to use: High CH fill water or salt pools running in warm climates.

#scale#preventive

Smart Shopping for Pool Chemicals

Save $1,000+ per year buying identical chemicals at grocery and hardware stores instead of pool stores.

When to use: Spending too much on pool chemicals or being misled by pool store marketing.

#shopping#savings#education

Using Your Taylor Test Kit

Master the Taylor K-2006 test kit with step-by-step guidance that descalates the overwhelming complexity for first-time users.

When to use: New pool owner intimidated by the Taylor test kit or unsure how to get accurate readings.

#testing#beginner#education#accuracy

Test Strips: Pros, Cons & When to Use Them

Understand the tradeoffs between test strips and liquid test kits so you can make informed decisions about pool testing.

When to use: Deciding whether test strips are sufficient for your pool, or considering upgrading to a liquid test kit.

#testing#beginner#education#accuracy

Winterizing In-Floor Cleaning Systems

Protect pop-up heads, water distribution valves, and booster pumps from freeze damage with proper blow-out and antifreeze procedures.

When to use: Pool has in-floor cleaning system (A&A, Paramount, Caretaker) and needs winterization for cold climate.

#winter#equipment#seasonal

Winterizing Pool Heaters

Comprehensive winterization for gas, electric, heat pump, solar, and hybrid heaters - prevent $1,500-$4,000 freeze damage.

When to use: Pool heater needs winterization to prevent freeze damage to heat exchanger or heating elements.

#winter#heater#equipment#seasonal

Winterization by Region

Climate-specific winterization strategies by USDA zone - drain depth conventions, skimmer protection methods, and regional best practices.

When to use: Need to understand which winterization method is appropriate for your specific climate and freeze risk.

#winter#seasonal#regional#climate

First 30 Days - Establishing Your Baseline

Build a reliable baseline chemistry profile and learn your pool's behavior in the critical first month of ownership.

When to use: Just inherited a pool or completed startup and need to establish consistent chemistry patterns before problems arise.

#beginner#startup#baseline#education

Choosing Your Sanitizer - Salt vs Chlorine

Make an informed decision between manual chlorine, salt water generator, or other sanitizers based on your situation, not marketing hype.

When to use: Deciding on sanitizer type for new pool construction, major renovation, or converting existing pool.

#planning#equipment#education#decision

Emergency Troubleshooting - Equipment Failures

Quick diagnostics and temporary fixes for common equipment emergencies: pump won't start, suspected leaks, and heater issues.

When to use: Equipment suddenly stops working or you notice unusual behavior that could cause damage if ignored.

#crisis#equipment#troubleshooting#emergency

Essential vs Nice-to-Have Equipment

Budget-conscious equipment guidance: what you truly need, what you can add later, and what's pure marketing.

When to use: Building new pool or renovating and need to prioritize equipment spending without falling for unnecessary upsells.

#planning#equipment#budget#education

Design Decisions That Affect Maintenance

Pre-construction planning guide: how design choices today impact your maintenance burden for the next 30 years.

When to use: In the design/planning phase of new pool construction and want to optimize for low maintenance and easy chemistry management.

#planning#construction#design#education

Rain Dilution Calculator

Estimate how rainfall affects your pool chemistry. Calculate parameter drops from rain dilution.

When to use: Heavy rain added water to your pool and you want to know how it affected your chemistry.

#tool#calculator#weather#dilution