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Pool Repairs & Troubleshooting

Most pool repairs start with a symptom and a guess, and the guess is usually expensive. A pump that will not prime gets a new pump when it needed a two-dollar o-ring. A pool that is "leaking" is often just evaporating.

Every troubleshooting guide here runs cheapest-and-most-likely first, so you rule things out in the order that saves you money.

Something wrong right now? Work through it in two or three questions

18 guides in this section

What you will find here

  • Symptom-first diagnostic trees, not parts-first guesswork
  • The cheap failures that mimic expensive ones
  • Real tests you can run with a bucket, a hose and a pressure gauge
  • Honest stop signs for when the job needs a licensed pro

Topics

TroubleshootingLeaksPumpsHeatersDIY Repairs

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 repairs guides

Everything published on repairs, newest first.

A pool brush on an aluminum pole resting on a gray plaster pool floor, a clean stripe swept through a dusting of fine white powder behind it
Troubleshooting

DE in the Pool: Why a DE Filter Leaks Powder

A puff after recharging is normal. Powder that keeps coming is often too much DE, not a torn grid. What the makers say, where it gets in, and the fix.

9 minUpdated Sep 18, 2026
A fan of pale sand grains spread across the speckled white floor of a pool, the lower wall and a line of palms out of focus behind
Troubleshooting

Sand in the Pool: Why a Sand Filter Blows Sand

A cracked lateral is the usual answer, but not the only one. How to tell filter sand from plaster grit, what the makers' troubleshooting says, and the fix.

9 minUpdated Sep 28, 2026
A pool heater with its service panel open showing the burner tray
Troubleshooting

Pool Heater Not Heating? Diagnose It in Order

Most heater faults are flow problems, gas supply problems or a dirty sensor. Here's the order to check things, and where to stop and call a pro.

6 minUpdated Sep 12, 2026

Common repairs questions

How do I know if my pool is leaking or just evaporating?

Run a bucket test. Set a weighted bucket on a step, fill it to match the pool level, mark both, and compare after 24 hours with the pump running normally. If the pool drops noticeably more than the bucket, you have a leak. Evaporation affects both equally.

Why is my pool pump losing prime?

Almost always air getting in on the suction side: a low water level, a dry or cracked pump lid o-ring, a loose lid, a clogged skimmer or pump basket, or a leaking suction-side valve or union. Pressure-side leaks drip water; suction-side leaks pull air and kill prime.

Is a pool leak covered by homeowners insurance?

The leak itself usually is not — insurers treat it as maintenance. Sudden resulting damage sometimes is, for example if a burst line undermines a patio. Document the date you noticed it, keep the plumber invoice, and ask before you dig.

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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