FeaturedEquipment
Pool Pump Sizing: Why Bigger Is Almost Always Wrong
How to size a pool pump properly using turnover and head, why oversized pumps are the industry default, and what variable speed changes.
9 min readUpdated Sep 24, 2026
Pool Equipment Explained
The equipment pad is where the money is. Size a pump wrong and you pay for it every month; pick the wrong filter and you fight the water all season.
We explain what each piece of equipment does, how to size and select it for your specific pool, and which upgrades pay for themselves versus which ones are just nice to own.
18 guides in this section
What you will find here
- Sizing math for pumps, filters and heaters — with worked examples
- Sand vs cartridge vs DE, settled honestly
- What variable speed really saves, in dollars per season
- Automation, lighting and salt systems without the sales pitch
Start here
The guide that covers the whole subject
If you only read one page in this section, make it this one. Everything else here builds on it.
All equipment guides
Everything published on equipment, newest first.
Guide
Tablet Chlorinators: Inline vs Offline, Setup and Safety
How inline and offline tablet chlorinators work, where they go in the plumbing, what the dial means, and the two mistakes that ruin heaters or start fires.
12 minUpdated Sep 26, 2026
Guide
Variable-Speed Pool Pump Conversion: Is It Worth It?
What switching from a single-speed pump really saves, what federal rules now let you buy, and when a new motor beats a whole new pump.
11 minUpdated Sep 26, 2026
How-to
How to Replace a Pool Pump
Whether you need a whole pump or just the motor, the port size that catches people out, and the two mistakes that turn a two-hour job into a plumbing repair.
7 minUpdated Sep 14, 2026
Explainer
Pool Booster Pumps: What They Cost and How They Die
A pressure cleaner needs a second pump running just for it. What it adds to the bill, the wiring rule that decides its life, and how a dying one sounds.
6 minUpdated Sep 13, 2026
Guide
Pool Timers: How to Set One, and When Not to Use One at All
Setting a mechanical pool timer properly, what the fireman's switch does, what fails first, and why a variable-speed pump usually should not be on one.
6 minUpdated Sep 6, 2026
Guide
Automatic Pool Covers: Cost, How They Work, and What Breaks
What automatic pool covers cost, how the tracks, ropes and drum work, what the makers' warranties cover, what wears out, and when one is a safety cover.
15 minUpdated Oct 4, 2026
Comparison
Pool Cleaners Compared: Suction vs Pressure vs Robotic
How suction, pressure and robotic pool cleaners really differ on debris, running cost and what they do to your filter. Plus which one fits which pool.
9 minUpdated Sep 13, 2026
Guide
Pool Filter Sizing: What Size Filter Do You Actually Need?
How to size a pool filter to your pump rather than your pool, what square footage buys you, and why oversizing a filter is nothing like oversizing a pump.
6 minUpdated Sep 5, 2026
Guide
Pool Plumbing Basics: How Water Moves Through a Pool
The circulation loop from skimmer to return, why suction and pressure leaks look nothing alike, and the equipment order that protects your heater.
5 minUpdated Sep 5, 2026
Guide
Pool Skimmers: How They Work and the Right Water Level
Every part of a pool skimmer explained, why water level decides whether it works at all, and what the equalizer line at the bottom is really for.
6 minUpdated Sep 5, 2026
Guide
Pool Valve Actuators: How They Work and How to Fix One
What a pool valve actuator does, how to set the travel and cams so it stops in the right place, and how to tell a dead actuator from a dead relay.
5 minUpdated Sep 5, 2026
Guide
Pool Valves: Multiport, Diverter, Ball and Check
What every valve on a pool does, which handle position means what, and the one move that destroys a multiport valve — plus how to spot one failing.
7 minUpdated Sep 13, 2026
Guide
Pool Lighting: LED Conversion, Color and Costs
Why LED conversion pays for itself, what color systems actually give you, and the electrical rules that make this a licensed job.
6 minUpdated Sep 12, 2026
Guide
Pool Automation: What's Worth Wiring In
What pool automation actually controls, when it earns its cost, and the features that turn out to be a login you never use.
6 minUpdated May 8, 2026
Comparison
Pool Heaters Compared: Gas, Heat Pump, Solar and Electric
Which heater suits which climate and use pattern, how to size one properly, and where the marketing numbers fall apart.
7 minUpdated Sep 24, 2026
Explainer
Saltwater Pools: How Salt Chlorine Generators Actually Work
A salt pool is still a chlorine pool. What the cell does, what it costs to run, when to replace it, and the myths worth ignoring.
6 minUpdated Jul 31, 2026
Comparison
Sand vs Cartridge vs DE Pool Filters: An Honest Comparison
What each filter type actually catches, what it costs to run, and which one suits which pool. No brand preference, no hedging.
6 minUpdated Sep 13, 2026
Common equipment questions
Are variable-speed pool pumps worth it?
For any pool run more than a few months a year, yes. A variable-speed pump run long and slow typically cuts pump energy use by 60–80% versus a single-speed pump, which for most owners is $300–$900 a season. And since 2021, federal rules have effectively required variable speed on new inground pumps above 0.711 hydraulic horsepower, so most replacements are variable speed anyway.
Which pool filter type is best?
Cartridge filters are the best default for most residential pools: they filter finer than sand, waste no water backwashing, and are simple to service. Sand is cheapest and most forgiving. DE filters give the clearest water but need the most attention and are restricted in some areas.
How do I know what size pool heater I need?
Size on surface area and the temperature rise you want. A rough working rule for gas heaters is 1.5 BTU per hour per square foot of surface per degree of rise, then add margin for wind exposure and no cover. Heat pumps are sized differently because their output falls as the air gets colder.
The Skimmer
One short email with the seasonal jobs that matter, the fixes worth doing yourself, and the gear that earned its price.
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