There are a few differences when it comes to winterizing above- vs. inground pools. Above ground pool winterization usually involves less hassle, time, and expense than the process for winterizing an inground pool. All the lines on an above ground pool are easy to access, making draining easier. Plus, above ground pools are typically smaller, meaning cleaning is quicker, and chemicals cost less.

Swim spas are like hybrid hot tubs and pools. They have the heating and jets of a hot tub, but they’re slightly longer because they’re made for swimming and exercise. A jet provides a continuous current that acts like a water treadmill. You can swim the length of a full-size pool without going anywhere.

It’s fair to be concerned about handling pool lights or wiring in a pool filled with water. But fortunately, pool lights and swimming pools are designed to make it easy and safe to replace the lights without needing to drain the water. Instead, you can turn off the electricity to the pool as a safety precaution, unscrew the pool fixture, pull it up and out to the side of the pool, then change the bulb.

No, shock and chlorine are not the same thing, though they are related and both are used for pool maintenance. Regular chlorine, often in the form of tablets, is a sanitizer used for routine, day-to-day maintenance to keep a steady chlorine level. Pool shock, however, is a highly concentrated dose of chlorine used periodically for a more intense cleaning. It rapidly raises chlorine levels to fix issues like cloudy water or algae growth and also eliminates chloramines, which are byproducts of regular chlorination. Because their purposes and concentrations differ, they are not interchangeable, and proper pool care typically requires using both.