Pool steps with a hand rail and pavers in Clearwater, FL
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New Pool Owner Help in Clearwater, FL

check_circlePool School at Your Own Pool
check_circleLicensed Pool Contractor CPC1460480
check_circleNo Contracts
check_circleOpen Seven Days, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

You closed on the house, the pool came with it, and nobody left instructions. There's a row of equipment you've never touched, valves with no labels, a timer set by someone else, and a shelf of bottles you're not sure you need.

Get a Free Estimatenorth_east callCall (727) 205-0566
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Dog Days comes out, looks the pool over, and walks you through it at your own equipment pad: what each piece does, what it needs from you, and what to watch for. One customer called it pool school. Afterward, you can take care of it yourself or add it to our weekly route. Either is fine.

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Call call(727) 205-0566 and tell us about the house and the pool.

historyOwner-run since 1995
request_quotePrice before any work starts
handshakeNo contracts, ever
verifiedFlorida Certified Pool Contractor CPC1460480
starGoogle rating
petsDog- and cat-friendly
schoolWhat You'll Learn

What every new pool owner needs to know

Larry's motto is work smart, not hard. Once you own the pool, you're part of the system: the person looking after it, the pump and filter, and the water chemistry all depend on each other. You need to understand all three, at least enough to know when something's off.

Pool house with a mural beside a pool
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Your equipment: what each piece does

We explain where the water goes after it leaves the pool, and what the pump, filter, timer, valves, and any heater, salt system, or automatic cleaner do along the way. We show how to turn things on and off safely, how to read the filter's pressure gauge, and which valves you should leave alone.

  • check_circlePump, filter, timer, and valves at your pad
  • check_circleHeater, salt system, and cleaner if you have them
  • check_circleHow to shut things off safely
Child swimming in a clear pool
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checklist

Your routine: the small habits that matter

Keeping the water level at least halfway up the tile. Emptying the skimmer and pump baskets. Running the pump long enough, in daylight. Putting settings back after you heat the spa or run a water feature. None of it is hard, and most of it takes minutes.

  • check_circleWater level, baskets, and run time
  • check_circleSetting things back after a party or a spa night
  • check_circleKeeping yard debris and runoff out of the water
Mosaic tile under clear water
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Your water: when to worry

You don't need a chemistry degree. You need to know what clear, balanced water looks like, the early signs of trouble, and when to call. We'll also tell you straight what the previous owner's equipment is worth keeping and what's close to the end.

  • check_circleWhat healthy water looks like
  • check_circleEarly signs: a haze, slick walls, a chlorine smell
  • check_circleAn honest look at the equipment's condition
routeThe Process

How a new-owner visit works

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1. Call us after you move in

Tell us about the pool and when you're around. If the house has been empty, or the pool turned green since the sale, mention it.

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2. We look the pool over

The water, the equipment, and anything that needs attention before you start.

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3. The walk-through

At your equipment pad, with your questions answered as they come up.

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4. You hear what it needs

If a part is failing or the water needs a clean-up, you'll hear the cost before any work.

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5. Your choice from here

Take it from here yourself, or put the pool on our weekly route. Either way, you'll know your pool.

Float ring on clear pool water
checklistWhat's Included

What the walk-through covers

What we cover depends on your pool and equipment. It typically includes:

TopicWhat you'll learn
check_circlePump and timerHow to turn it on and off, and how long it should run
check_circleFilterWhat the pressure gauge tells you and when the filter needs attention
check_circleValvesWhich ones switch the pool and spa, and which to leave alone
check_circleSkimmers and basketsHow to empty them, and why low water hurts the pump
check_circleHeater, salt system, cleanerWhat yours does and what it needs, if you have one
check_circleWater levelWhere it should sit, and what to do after heavy rain
check_circleWarning signsWhat to watch for, and when to call
check_circleEquipment conditionWhat looks healthy and what may need work soon
Hibiscus flower floating on clear water
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What a new-owner visit doesn't include:

  • remove_circleWe don't cover above-ground or vinyl pools, or freestanding hot tubs.
sellPricing

How a new-owner visit is priced

Call, and Larry will tell you what the visit involves for your pool. What changes the price:

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The pool's condition:A pool that's green or has been sitting needs a clean-up first.

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Equipment that needs work:Every repair is priced before it's done, and none of it happens without your OK.

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If you start weekly service, the estimate for it is free. There are no hidden fees.

reviewsReviews

New pool owners we've helped

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★★★★★

Pool school

“My boyfriend and I recently moved into a home with a pool and didn’t have much experience with caring for the pool. He came out and conducted “pool school” with us.”

Tara Shepard, Google review, June 2020
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★★★★★

First-time owners, more comfortable

“We are first time pool owners and Larry came out and helped to test/treat the water, clean the pool and explain to us how to maintain it in the future. He was very thorough and answered any questions we had.”

Lydia Sixta, Google review, December 2024
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★★★★★

Learning, with help

“As someone trying to learn and stay on top of pool maintenance, his help made a stressful situation feel manageable, and I’m incredibly grateful.”

Tricia Ward, Google review, June 2026
Screened oval pool
helpFAQs

New pool owner questions

?I've never owned a pool. How much work is it?expand_more
A few minutes on a regular basis if you do it yourself: baskets, water level, a look at the water, plus regular testing and balancing. Or none, if it's on a weekly route.
?Do I have to sign up for weekly service?expand_more
No. Some owners learn their pool and look after it themselves. If you'd rather hand it off, weekly service has no contract.
?The pool was fine at the showing, and now it's cloudy. What happened?expand_more
Pools change fast once nobody's tending them, especially if the pump was switched off or the timer reset during the move. Call before it turns green.
?What do new owners commonly get wrong?expand_more
Changing the pump or spa settings and not resetting them, letting the water drop below the middle of the tile, and adding chemicals without a test. All three are easy to avoid once you know.
?Can you tell me if the equipment is in good shape?expand_more
Yes. We'll tell you what looks healthy and what may need work soon.
?We haven't closed yet. Can you look at the pool before we buy?expand_more
That's a separate visit. See Home-Buyer Pool Inspection.
?What if the pool is green when we move in?expand_more
Then it needs a clean-up first. Once it's clear, we'll walk you through the equipment. Green Pool Clean-Up has the details.
?Can I call you with questions later?expand_more
Yes. That's what the phone is for, seven days a week.
→ Related
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mailContact

Call or request a quote

Tell us about your pool, and we'll get back to you. For anything urgent, like an overflowing pool or a pump that won't prime, call instead.

  • callPhone:(727) 205-0566
  • scheduleHours:Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • location_onBased in:Clearwater, FL 33761
  • verifiedLicense:Florida Certified Pool Contractor CPC1460480, licensed and insured
dog days
edit_note Get a Free Estimate

Pool overflowing or a pump running dry? Call (727) 205-0566 instead of using the form.