Expert Advice, Inspiration & Tips for Pool Owners

Pool Articles & Expert Advice – Page 3

From seasonal prep guides and safety tips to renovation ideas and equipment troubleshooting, our team shares what they know so you can get the most out of your pool.

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Poolside table with water test kit, towel, keys, and sunglasses beside a backyard pool

Seasonal Care

Vacation Pool Checklist: What to Do Before You Leave Town

Use this vacation pool checklist before you leave town so your water, equipment, safety barriers, and service plan are ready while you are away.

Sandra Petrovic

Aug 3, 20267 min read

Illuminated pool steps and control box beside a backyard pool at dusk

Service & Repairs

Pool Lighting Upgrades: LEDs, Automation, and Night Swimming Safety

A practical guide to pool lighting upgrades, including LED fixtures, smart automation, cost ranges, and night swimming safety for DMV homeowners.

Robert Moore

Jul 31, 20268 min read

Dense privacy landscaping with ornamental grasses and shrubs surrounding an inground pool and stone deck

Build & Design

Privacy Landscaping for Pool Owners: Fences, Hedges, and More

Pool privacy landscaping ideas for DMV homeowners, including fences, hedges, mixed screens, shade structures, and planning tips that work around pool safety rules.

Sandra Petrovic

Jul 29, 20268 min read

Covered outdoor kitchen with a stone island and grill beside an inground pool in a landscaped backyard at dusk

Build & Design

Outdoor Kitchen and Pool Combinations: What to Know Before You Build

Outdoor kitchen pool design works best when layout, utilities, permits, shade, materials, and budget are planned with the pool from the start.

Amanda Kerns

Jul 27, 20267 min read

Taut blue-gray mesh pool safety cover with frost and fallen leaves, spring strap anchored to a stone deck

Seasonal Care

Mesh vs. Solid Pool Covers: Which Is Better for DMV Winters?

Mesh vs. solid pool covers for Virginia, Maryland, and DC winters: how each handles snow, debris, safety, and algae, plus real costs and how to choose.

Sandra Petrovic

Jul 25, 20265 min read

Pool equipment pad with black valves, a pump, and a filter beside an inground pool in a landscaped backyard

Service & Repairs

How to Troubleshoot Common Pool Equipment Problems

Use this pool equipment troubleshooting guide to check pumps, filters, heaters, leaks, and controls before you call for repair.

Robert Moore

Jul 24, 202611 min read

Safety

Best Pool Safety Covers: What to Know Before You Buy

Not all pool covers are safety covers. Learn what makes a cover meet ASTM F1346, how automatic and manual safety covers compare, and what pool owners in Virginia, Maryland, and DC should know before buying.

Sandra Petrovic

Jul 21, 20266 min read

Pool clarifier bottle, test kit, and skimmer net on stone coping beside an inground pool under a shade umbrella

Pool Maintenance

How to Keep Pool Water Clear During a DMV Heat Wave

Keep pool water clear during a DMV heat wave with practical testing, filtration, cleaning, and storm-recovery steps for hot summer weather.

Sandra Petrovic

Jul 20, 20266 min read

Folded dark-green mesh pool safety cover with stainless springs and brass deck anchors on a travertine pool deck

Seasonal Care

When to Order Your Winter Safety Cover in the DMV (Why Mid-July Matters)

Custom winter safety covers are measured, fabricated, and delivered to order — and lead times stretch fast once fall order queues build. Here's the DMV ordering timeline that has your cover ready by closing day.

Sandra Petrovic

Jul 18, 20265 min read

Wooden pergola shading an outdoor lounge area beside an inground pool in a landscaped backyard

Build & Design

Pergolas, Shade Structures, and Cabanas: Making the Most of Your Pool Area

Compare pool shade structures like pergolas, pavilions, cabanas, umbrellas, and shade sails so your DMV pool area stays comfortable, usable, and well planned.

Robert Moore

Jul 17, 202610 min read

Safety

Pool Safety for Dogs: Entry Ramps, Barriers, and Supervision Tips

A practical guide to pool safety for dogs, including safe entry and exit, supervision, barriers, water care, and after-swim routines for pet-owning pool families.

Sandra Petrovic

Jul 15, 202610 min read

Inground pool with hazy, milky blue water, steps and handrail fading into the cloudy shallow end

Pool Maintenance

Cloudy Pool After Shock: Why It Happens and How to Fix It Fast

Shocked your pool and now the water is cloudy? Learn why it happens, how long shock takes to clear, and the fastest safe way back to clear water.

Sandra Petrovic

Jul 13, 20267 min read