Pool service questions, answered

SLM Pool Services is a local pool cleaning and pool repair company serving Coral Springs, Parkland and nearby cities in Broward and south Palm Beach County.

10+ years of hands-on experience cleaning, balancing and repairing South Florida pools.

Yes. Licensed & insured.

5.0 stars on Google from 15 reviews, every one of them five stars. You can read them on our Google listing.

Send the five-field form on any page, or call or text us. We send a free proposal with your price and service day before anything starts.

Yes. Add up to three photos to the quote form, or text them to us. Photos help most with green pools and equipment problems.

Coral Springs, Parkland, Coconut Creek, Margate, Tamarac, North Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach and Lighthouse Point. Use the ZIP checker on our service areas page for an instant answer.

Yes. Screened and open pools, salt and chlorine systems, and attached spas are all part of our regular work.

That depends on the plan you choose. Your quote spells out which chemicals are included and what counts as extra, so there are no surprises on the bill.

It depends on pool size, a screen enclosure, tree cover, a spa and whether chemicals are included. Text a photo or fill out the form and we'll price your pool, not an average one.

No. We just need access to the pool and equipment, usually a gate code or an unlocked side gate.

Light rain doesn't stop service. In lightning or a named storm we reschedule for safety and let you know the new day.

Ask when you request a quote. In Broward's climate we recommend weekly, and we'll tell you honestly if your pool can hold up on a longer schedule.

We read the filter pressure on every visit. A full filter cleaning is a separate job, done when the pressure says it's due, and we let you know before it gets there.

Long enough to finish every step on the list. Time on site depends on size, debris and the water, so a screened pool in winter goes faster than an open one after a storm.

Most take several days, depending on how dark the water is, the filter type and the weather. Send a photo and we'll give you a realistic timeline before we start.

Usually not. Draining in South Florida carries real risk, because high groundwater can push an empty pool out of the ground. Most green pools clear chemically.

No. Algae can shelter bacteria, and murky water hides the bottom, which is a drowning risk. Stay out until the water is clear and balanced.

Rain dilutes the chlorine and washes in debris, pollen and phosphates. If the power went out, the pump stopped filtering too. A few hot days later, algae takes over.

Dead algae and fine particles hang in the water until the filter catches them. That's normal in the middle of a cleanup. A clean filter and steady circulation clear it; more shock usually doesn't.

Yes. Spa recovery is part of this service. Depending on the water we shock it or drain and refill it, clean the filter and balance it so it's safe to use again.

Yes. Most cleanup customers move straight onto weekly service, so the pool never gets back to that point.

It depends on how long the pool has gone without service, its size, a spa and the debris in the water. Text a photo of the pool and we'll price it from what we see.

Then it needs a green pool cleanup rather than a one-time clean. Send a photo and we'll tell you which job it is before we quote.

Yes. Tell us the photo date and the showing schedule when you book, and we'll plan the clean around them.

Yes, once it's safe to work. Storm debris and runoff can take more than one visit, and we check the equipment for damage while we're there.

No. A cleaning includes an equipment look-over with notes, but it isn't a formal inspection. Ask us if you need a written pool inspection for a sale.

Yes, and many customers do. Your first clean becomes the baseline for your route.

It depends on the filter type and how much debris the pool gets. We watch the pressure every week and clean it when it's due, instead of guessing by the calendar.

When the pleats are torn, flattened or won't come clean anymore. We'll show you a photo before recommending a replacement.

You can, and it helps between cleanings. A full cleaning also checks the O-rings, gauge and tank, which is where small problems show up first.

Yes, backwashing is how a sand filter cleans itself. If backwashing no longer brings the pressure down, the sand is likely worn out and needs replacing.

A high reading on a clean filter usually points elsewhere: a stuck gauge, a partly closed valve or a restriction in the return line. We check those before blaming the filter.

A dirty, torn or undersized filter is a common cause. Low chlorine or high pH can also cloud water, so we check the chemistry and the filter together.

Often it's a failed capacitor or a seized motor. Turn it off to protect the motor and call us; it's usually a quick diagnosis.

Repair it if the motor is sound and the fix is a part like a capacitor, seal or bearings. Replace it if it keeps failing or it's an old single-speed pump, since a variable-speed pump costs far less to run.

Yes. Leaks at the pad usually come from a pump seal, a cracked fitting or a loose union. We find the source and repair or replace the part.

Air is getting in on the suction side. Common causes are a worn lid O-ring, a low water level, or a cracked fitting or valve before the pump.

Ask us about variable-speed pumps when you request your proposal. We'll tell you whether your current pump is worth repairing.

Common causes are low flow from a dirty filter, a tripped switch or a failed sensor. Heat pumps also struggle on cold nights. We check flow and power first, since those are the cheaper fixes.

Low chlorine while the generator runs high, a warning light that won't clear, or heavy scale on the plates. Sometimes a cleaning fixes it; if the cell is worn out, it needs replacing.

Sparingly. Each wash removes a little plaster, so we recommend it only when stains won't respond to other treatments.

It can be, with planning. High groundwater can lift an empty pool, so we watch the forecast, check the hydrostatic relief and keep the pool empty as briefly as the job allows.

Draining, washing and refilling usually spans more than one day, mostly because of the refill. Your timeline depends on pool size, water pressure at the house and the weather.

Sometimes, but iron and copper stains often come off better with a targeted stain treatment that doesn't require draining. We test the stain before recommending either.

No. That needs resurfacing, which is a different job.

Once the new water is balanced. The start-up chemistry matters on a freshly washed surface, and we'll tell you when the pool is ready.

Yes. Send the number of pools, their size and the visit schedule you need, and we'll send a written proposal.

It depends on size, bather load and season. A busy pool in summer usually needs more than one visit a week; we recommend a schedule after seeing the pool and how it's used.

Yes. Chemistry readings go to the contact you choose, so the manager and board see the same record.

Yes. Equipment checks are part of each visit, and anything that needs repair goes to your contact first.

Yes. Spas run hotter and turn faster than pools, so they go on the same schedule with their own testing and balancing.