1
Identify
What kind of pool did you get?
The surface changes how you brush it, what chemistry it likes, and what to watch for. Pick yours to begin your profile.
2
Measure
Find your pool's volume
Almost every dose you'll ever add depends on gallons. Get this number once and it lives on your profile forever.
Not sure? Run the Pool Volume Calculator →
3
Investigate
Figure out what you inherited
This is detective work. Walk to the equipment pad and find out what's actually there — type, make, model, serial, and age. Snap a photo of every label as you go.
Sanitizer
Pump
Your pump type sets your options in the Pump Runtime Planner →
Filter
Heater
Automation / control system
Cleaner
Water features & spa
Check what you have — these are exactly where mystery valves hide.
Age & baseline
Don't skip these
4
Decode
Map your valves
For someone inheriting a pool, figuring out what these valves actually do is the single biggest job — and the one that intimidates people most. Slow down and get this right; it pays off every day you own the pool.
⚠️ Photograph every valve position before you touch anything. If you get lost, that photo is your undo button.
5
Test
Take your baseline chemistry
Get a real test kit, then log your starting numbers here. Unlike gallons or equipment, chemistry changes — so we date-stamp it. Tap any calculator to turn a reading into an exact dose.
6
Maintain
Learn the five core skills
These turn upkeep from a mystery into a five-minute rhythm.
7
Learn
Go deeper, one part at a time
You've decoded your pool. Now the Know Your Pool video series walks you through every part on camera — watch in order, or jump to whatever you're standing in front of.
See the Know Your Pool series ↓