Hello, all! I'm a new pool owner and so very excited to be here and maintaining my pool.
Before I purchased my home, the pool was maintained by a local non-store business that provided all of the upkeep, chemicals, etc. When I moved in, I notified them that I wouldn't be using their ongoing services, but that I'd have them open the pool and give me a rundown on the system and how it's maintained.
They are coming out sometime in the next week to open the pool and give me that instruction, but they also said they'd like to sell me the chemicals, since they are cheaper than local pool stores and the chemicals are better quality than the chemicals I'd find at Menard's, Walmart, etc. They also said they'd sell me a "getting started" setup that has the top skimmer, a quality pole, a vacuum, hose, etc. They said the equipment I have now isn't great quality and will break on me. For example, they said my pole is cheap aluminum and will bend if I use it underwater.
So, I suppose I have a couple questions.
1. Is there such a thing as "quality" chemicals—should I be using a certain brand or distributor? Or am I fine just picking up all of my chemicals at Menard's, since it's right down the road?
2. Is there a recommended brand of pool equipment?
3. Are there tools that will be sold to me that I just don't need or are gimmicks? Maybe a list of startup tools that I definitely should have?
Thanks!
Before I purchased my home, the pool was maintained by a local non-store business that provided all of the upkeep, chemicals, etc. When I moved in, I notified them that I wouldn't be using their ongoing services, but that I'd have them open the pool and give me a rundown on the system and how it's maintained.
They are coming out sometime in the next week to open the pool and give me that instruction, but they also said they'd like to sell me the chemicals, since they are cheaper than local pool stores and the chemicals are better quality than the chemicals I'd find at Menard's, Walmart, etc. They also said they'd sell me a "getting started" setup that has the top skimmer, a quality pole, a vacuum, hose, etc. They said the equipment I have now isn't great quality and will break on me. For example, they said my pole is cheap aluminum and will bend if I use it underwater.
So, I suppose I have a couple questions.
1. Is there such a thing as "quality" chemicals—should I be using a certain brand or distributor? Or am I fine just picking up all of my chemicals at Menard's, since it's right down the road?
2. Is there a recommended brand of pool equipment?
3. Are there tools that will be sold to me that I just don't need or are gimmicks? Maybe a list of startup tools that I definitely should have?
Thanks!