Pool care and repair guides from RMD Pool Service
Salt Water Pool vs Chlorine: What North Texas Owners Should Compare
Salt water pool vs chlorine is less about “no chlorine” and more about how chlorine is made and managed. Salt systems generate chlorine from dissolved salt; traditional pools add chlorine as liquid, tablets, or shock. Owners in Allen, Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Murphy,...
Pool Stabilizer Explained: CYA Ranges, Sun Protection, and Fixes
Pool stabilizer (cyanuric acid, or CYA) is the sunscreen for outdoor chlorine. Without enough stabilizer, DFW sun burns off free chlorine in a few hours and the pool seems to drink shock. With too much stabilizer, test strips can look strong while algae still wins....
How to Raise Alkalinity in Pool Water Without the pH Roller Coaster
Learning how to raise alkalinity in pool water stops the pH roller coaster that stings eyes, stresses surfaces, and wastes chlorine. Total alkalinity is the buffer that holds pH steady when rain, swimmers, or acid additions try to shove it around. Homeowners in Allen,...
Liquid Chlorine for Pools: Dosing, Safety, and When It Beats Tablets
Liquid chlorine for pools — sodium hypochlorite — raises free chlorine quickly without adding cyanuric acid. That matters when tablets have already elevated stabilizer, or when you need a decisive shock after a Collin County storm. Homeowners across Allen, Plano,...
Pool Skimmer Basket Care: Emptying, Cracks, and Pump Protection
Your pool skimmer basket is a small plastic part that prevents expensive pump damage. When oak tassels, sweetgum balls, and storm trash pack it solid, suction drops and debris migrates toward the impeller. Emptying and inspecting the skimmer basket is the...
Above Ground Pool Maintenance: Weekly Habits That Protect the Liner
Above ground pool maintenance follows the same chemistry rules as inground care, with extra attention to liners, soft-sided structure, and smaller filter systems that clog faster. Owners across Allen, Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Murphy, Wylie, Sachse, Parker, Lucas,...
Lower pH in Pool Water Safely: Causes, Acid Use, and Retesting
Knowing how to lower pH in pool water keeps scale, cloudy water, and reduced chlorine efficiency in check. High pH is common in North Texas when alkalinity runs high, aeration is strong, or fill water pushes the reading up. This guide covers safe acid use, why pH...
How can I keep my pool safe for pets?
Keep your pool safe for pets by maintaining free chlorine 1–3 ppm, rinsing pets after swimming, providing fresh drinking water poolside, teaching exit ramp or stair use, and skimming fur promptly to protect filtration. Pet dander and oils increase chlorine demand —...
Why does my pool water irritate the eyes?
Pool water irritates eyes primarily because of chloramines, pH above 7.8, or combined chlorine above 0.2 ppm — not because chlorine is too high. Improper pH makes chlorine more aggressive on mucous membranes even at normal sanitizer levels. Balance pH to 7.2–7.6 and...
How do I know if my pool filter is too old?
Over time your pool filter will show signs of age-reduced flow, persistent clogs, longer filtration cycles, rising chemical demand, or visible media breakdown; you should monitor pressure gauge trends, inspect cartridges or sand for wear, and note repeated backwashing...
What causes my pool to turn green after heavy rainfall?
pool water often turns green after heavy rainfall because the rain dilutes your sanitizer and alters pH, while runoff and debris introduce nutrients and phosphates that fuel rapid algae growth; reduced chlorine levels, overwhelmed filters, and warmer temperatures...
How do I prepare my pool for a vacation?
vacation planning should include preparing your pool: you should balance chemicals, shock and test the water, clean filters, remove debris, set the pump on a timer, lower water slightly if heavy rain is expected, and cover the pool to limit contamination. Arrange for...