Question 1

How often should I clean my pool?

Accepted Answer

In Florida, your pool needs to be cleaned every week. The heat, humidity, rain, and bugs make weekly service a must, not a luxury. Algae can take hold in days, and letting chemistry slip for two weeks means you're dealing with a green pool instead of a clear one. At Dynasty Pool Services, we come out every week on schedule to skim, brush, vacuum as needed, test your water, and balance your chemicals. Palmetto, Bradenton, Ellenton, Parrish, and Lakewood Ranch homeowners who skip weeks always end up spending more money fixing problems than they would have spent on consistent weekly service. Get a Free Estimate.

Question 2

How often should I test my pool water?

Accepted Answer

Test your water 1–2 times per week, especially in summer. Keep chlorine around 3 ppm and pH between 7.4–7.6 for best results.

Question 3

Why does my pool water look cloudy?

Accepted Answer

Cloudy water is almost always caused by one of three things: unbalanced chemistry, poor filtration, or both. In Florida, heavy rain can throw off your pH and alkalinity fast, and a clogged or dirty filter cannot clean the water properly even if your chemicals are right. If your pool looks hazy or dull, the first thing to check is your filter and your water chemistry. If you are not sure where to start, give us a call. We serve pool owners in Palmetto, Bradenton, Ellenton, and the surrounding areas and can usually diagnose and clear cloudy water within one to two visits. Get a Free Estimate.

Question 4

What causes algae in pools?

Accepted Answer

Warm temperatures + sunlight + low chlorine = algae growth. Keeping chlorine levels steady and brushing weekly stops algae before it starts.

Question 5

How often should I backwash or clean my filter?

Accepted Answer

When the pressure gauge is 8–10 psi above normal. For most pools, that’s about every 4 weeks depending on usage and debris. Need a professional?

Question 6

What’s the best way to prevent algae?

Accepted Answer

Maintain chlorine, circulate water daily, brush and vacuum weekly, and occasionally add an algaecide as backup.

Question 7

Why is my pool losing water?

Accepted Answer

Some water loss is normal. In Florida, you can expect to lose a quarter to a half inch of water per day just from evaporation, especially in summer. But if you are losing more than that, it could be a leak in your plumbing, equipment, or shell. A simple test is to fill a bucket with pool water, set it on a step, and mark both the water level inside the bucket and the pool water level on the outside. Then take bucket and set aside. After 24 hours, if the pool has lost more water than the bucket, you likely have a leak. We keep an eye on water levels during our weekly visits and will flag anything that looks unusual. Schedule a service visit.

Question 8

What should I do if my pool turns green?

Accepted Answer

Do not wait. The longer a green pool sits, the worse it gets and the more expensive it is to fix. Green water means algae has taken over, and algae spreads fast in Florida's heat. Our Green-to-Clean service is designed to handle exactly this situation. We shock the pool, brush and vacuum out the algae, rebalance the water chemistry, and make sure your system is circulating properly. Most pools are back to blue within a few visits. No contract required. If your pool in Palmetto, Bradenton, or the surrounding area has turned green, contact us and we will get it taken care of fast.

Question 9

How long should I run my pool pump each day?

Accepted Answer

In Florida, we recommend running your pump at least 8-10 hours per day during summer and no less than 6 hours in cooler months. Your pump keeps water circulating, which prevents algae growth and keeps your chemicals working properly. A pool with poor circulation will turn green even if the chemistry looks right on paper. If you have a variable speed pump, running it at a lower speed for the rest of a 24 hour period is more energy efficient and better for your water quality. This is one of the things we check every visit. See what's included in our Full Monthly Service.

Question 10

What’s the ideal pH level for a pool?

Accepted Answer

Between 7.4 and 7.6 is ideal. This range keeps swimmers comfortable and helps chlorine work efficiently.

Question 11

Why is my pool water foamy?

Accepted Answer

Foam can come from lotions, detergents, or cheap algaecides. Shock the pool and clean the filters to fix it.

Question 12

Can I use household bleach instead of pool chlorine?

Accepted Answer

Technically yes, but pool-grade chlorine is stronger and more stable. It also works faster. Stick with pool products for consistency and safety.

Question 13

Why are my pool steps, floor, or walls stained?

Accepted Answer

Stains can come from metals, algae, or even organic debris. Identify the type of stain before treating—metal removers and shock often do the trick.

Question 14

Should I brush my pool even if it looks clean?

Accepted Answer

YES ABSOLUTELY!  Algae and calcium can cling to walls even when invisible. A weekly brushing prevents buildup and keeps surfaces smooth. If your pool is  new construction or newly re-surfaced, brushing several times per week is vital for conditioning the plaster and to remove all the plaster dust.

Question 15

What is Pool Scaling?

Accepted Answer

Pool scaling is the white or gray chalky buildup you sometimes see on pool tiles, walls, steps, or equipment — especially around the waterline. It’s caused by high calcium hardness, high pH, or high alkalinity that lead to minerals (mostly calcium) coming out of solution and sticking to pool surfaces.

Question 16

How do I care for my pool after construction?

Accepted Answer

A newly plastered or resurfaced pool needs very specific care in the first 28 days or you risk damaging the finish permanently. Plaster dust needs to be brushed off at least three times a week to prevent scaling and uneven curing. Water chemistry needs to be tested and adjusted frequently because a new surface dramatically affects pH and calcium levels. This is exactly what our Start-Up Service is designed for. We visit 6 to 10 times over 30 days, brush the walls and floors, balance your water, vacuum and add salt if needed, and set up your pool and equipment the right way from day one. Skipping proper startup is one of the most common and costly mistakes new pool owners make in Florida.

Question 17

What happens if you don’t brush your pool often after construction?

Accepted Answer

If you don’t brush often enough:
Plaster dust hardens on the surface – leaving rough, chalky spots or permanent scale.
Uneven color or streaking can appear as minerals settle instead of being brushed away.
Chemical balance becomes unstable because plaster dust raises pH and consumes chlorine.
Filtration and circulation suffer as the fine dust clogs filters and settles in corners.
Surface life shortens – long-term durability and appearance are compromised.

Question 18

Why is my pool water green after shocking?

Accepted Answer

If it’s still green, metals like copper may be reacting with chlorine. Add a metal remover and keep filtering—it’ll clear up.

Question 19

How do I clear up cloudy water after a storm?

Accepted Answer

Remove all debris.  Use a commercial vacuum to remove small and large debris. Run your pump 24 hours straight, shock the pool with liquid chlorine and clean your filter. Storms dump organics and debris that need to be filtered out.

Question 20

How can I tell if my pool filter is working properly?

Accepted Answer

Check that water is flowing strong, pressure stays consistent, and the return jets are pushing clean, clear water.  Call Dynasty Pool Services if you need additional help.

Question 21

Why is my pool water losing chlorine so fast?

Accepted Answer

Sunlight breaks down chlorine. Use stabilizer (cyanuric acid) and add chlorine later in the day to help it last longer

Question 22

What’s the Difference Between Trichlor Tabs and Cyanuric Acid?

Accepted Answer

Trichlor tablets and cyanuric acid (CYA) are related, but they’re not the same thing — even though they both affect your pool’s chlorine. Trichlor tabs are a two-in-one product that provides both chlorine and stabilizer, while cyanuric acid alone simply shields chlorine from sunlight. Using trichlor tabs exclusively for long periods can drive stabilizer levels too high. If your stabilizer levels are already high, switch from trichlor tabs to liquid chlorine for a while — that’ll keep your pool sanitized without raising CYA further.

Question 23

How often should I shock my pool?

Accepted Answer

Once a week in summer, or after heavy rain, parties, or algae outbreaks.

Question 24

Can too much chlorine be a bad thing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. High chlorine can irritate skin and eyes, and damage liners. Keep it below 5 ppm for safe swimming.

Question 25

Why does my pool smell like chlorine?  Did I add too much?

Accepted Answer

Ironically, that “chlorine smell” means there’s not enough free chlorine. Shock the pool to eliminate chloramines, and that smell.

Question 26

Do I need to run my pump at night?

Accepted Answer

It’s smart to run it during off-peak hours or overnight after shocking, to circulate chemicals evenly.  If you have a variable speed pump, save some energy and run at a lower speed.  Running continuously and varying speeds is better for the longevity of your pump rather than turning it off and having to "prime" the pump each time you start up.

Question 27

How do I balance pool water?

Accepted Answer

Start with pH, then alkalinity, then chlorine. Those three levels are the foundation of healthy, clear water.  Others like stabilizer and calcium hardness would be next to check.

Question 28

How can I keep my pool crystal clear all year?

Accepted Answer

Test and balance weekly, brush regularly, clean your filter monthly.

Question 29

Do saltwater pools need maintenance too?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and this is one of the biggest misconceptions we run into. A saltwater pool still needs weekly cleaning, water testing, and chemical balancing. The salt cell generates chlorine, but it does not eliminate the need for pH adjustments, alkalinity balancing, calcium hardness checks, or regular brushing. Salt cells also need to be cleaned and inspected regularly or they stop working efficiently. We service saltwater pools across Bradenton and Palmetto all the time. If anything, saltwater pools require more attention to equipment than traditional chlorine pools. Learn about our Salt Cell Cleaning service.

Question 30

Is it okay to swim right after adding chemicals?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what was added. For routine chemical balancing, you generally want to wait at least 15 to 30 minutes with the pump running before swimming. If we shocked your pool, you should wait until chlorine levels drop back to a safe range, which is usually 24 hours. We always note what was added in your service report after every visit, so you will know exactly what went in and when it is safe to get back in the water.

Question 31

What’s the easiest way to keep my pool perfect without the hassle?

Accepted Answer

Hire someone you can actually count on. At Dynasty Pool Services, we show up every week on schedule, handle all the testing, cleaning, and chemical balancing, and send you a report after every visit so you always know what was done. No surprises, no chasing anyone down. Just show up to a clean pool. Get a free estimate here.

Frequently asked questions