# PoolTested

> Pool and hot tub guides: variable-speed pumps, sand, cartridge and DE filters, heaters and heat pumps, saltwater chlorinators, test kits, covers and spa care, for owners and rental operators.

PoolTested publishes pool and spa equipment reviews, buying guides and reader discount codes. Every review states who the product suits, the current price from the brand's own store, and any active reader code.

## Key pages
- [Reviews](https://pooltested.com/reviews): every product we recommend
- [Buying guides](https://pooltested.com/guides): how to choose
- [Glossary](https://pooltested.com/glossary): pool and spa equipment terms defined
- [How we test](https://pooltested.com/testing-methodology)

## Topics
- [Pumps & filters](https://pooltested.com/category/pumps-filters): Variable-speed and single-speed pumps, sand, cartridge and DE filters, valves and media.
- [Heating](https://pooltested.com/category/heating): Gas heaters, heat pumps, solar heating and solar covers.
- [Water chemistry](https://pooltested.com/category/water-chemistry): Saltwater chlorinators, test kits, sanitizers, feeders, UV and ozone.
- [Cleaning & covers](https://pooltested.com/category/cleaning-covers): Manual vacuums, brushes, skimmers, poles, solar, winter and safety covers, alarms.
- [Hot tubs & spas](https://pooltested.com/category/hot-tubs): Inflatable and hard-shell hot tubs, covers, filters and spa chemistry.
- [Lights & accessories](https://pooltested.com/category/accessories): Pool lights, ladders, steps, handrails, water features and poolside accessories.
- [Automation & parts](https://pooltested.com/category/automation-parts): Pool automation systems, plumbing fittings, repair parts and installation basics.
- [Commercial & rental pools](https://pooltested.com/category/commercial-rental): Maintenance equipment, monitoring and safety for service companies, HOAs and vacation rental operators.

## Buying guides
- [How to Calculate Pool Gallons for Pumps, Heaters and Chemicals](https://pooltested.com/guides/how-to-calculate-pool-gallons): Pool volume in gallons is surface area × average depth × 7.5 for rectangular pools, and diameter × diameter × average depth × 5.9 for round pools. Average depth is the shallow and deep end added and divided by two. A 16 × 32 ft pool averaging 5 ft holds about 19,200 gallons. Every pump, filter, heater, salt cell and chemical dose is sized from this number.
- [Inflatable vs Hard-Shell Hot Tubs: Cost, Heat and Lifespan](https://pooltested.com/guides/inflatable-vs-hard-shell-hot-tub): Inflatable hot tubs cost a fraction of hard-shell spas, run on a standard 120-volt outlet and pack away, but heat slowly (often about 2 to 3°F per hour), usually cannot heat while the bubbles run, and last a few seasons. Hard-shell spas heat faster, hold heat better, have real hydrotherapy jets and last many years, but need a dedicated 240-volt circuit and a solid pad. Both need the same water care.
- [Pool Cover Types Compared: Solar, Winter, Safety and Automatic](https://pooltested.com/guides/pool-cover-types-compared): Solar covers float on the water to cut evaporation and add heat, but are not safety covers. Winter covers keep debris out in the off-season. Safety covers, mesh or solid, are anchored to the deck and built to the ASTM F1346 standard to hold weight and prevent a child from slipping under. Automatic covers combine heat retention and safety at the push of a button, at the highest cost.
- [Pool Heat Pump vs Gas Heater: Cost, Speed and Climate](https://pooltested.com/guides/pool-heat-pump-vs-gas-heater): Heat pumps move heat from the air into the water, so they cost much less to run but heat slowly and lose output when the air is cool, generally below about 50°F. Gas heaters burn natural gas or propane, heat fast in any weather and suit occasional use or spas, but cost more per hour. In most climates, a solar cover is the cheapest first step because most heat leaves through the surface.
- [Pool Test Kits: Strips vs Drop Kits vs Digital Testers](https://pooltested.com/guides/pool-test-kit-guide): Test strips are quick for spot checks but less precise. Liquid drop kits, especially those using an FAS-DPD titration for chlorine, give accurate free and combined chlorine readings and are what most experienced owners rely on. Digital photometers remove color guessing. Test free chlorine and pH several times a week, and alkalinity, calcium hardness and cyanuric acid less often.
- [Saltwater Pool Systems: How Salt Chlorine Generators Work](https://pooltested.com/guides/saltwater-pool-system-guide): A saltwater pool is a chlorine pool: a salt cell turns dissolved salt into chlorine, so you buy salt instead of chlorine tablets. Choose a cell rated for more gallons than your pool holds, often 1.5 to 2 times, keep salt in the maker's range (often about 3,000 to 3,500 ppm), and expect to replace the cell every few years. Salt pools tend to drift up in pH, so test and adjust regularly.
- [Sand vs Cartridge vs DE Pool Filters Compared](https://pooltested.com/guides/sand-vs-cartridge-vs-de-pool-filter): Sand filters are cheap and simple, filter to about 20 to 40 microns and are cleaned by backwashing. Cartridge filters catch finer particles (about 10 to 20 microns), use no backwash water and are hosed off by hand. Diatomaceous earth (DE) filters give the finest filtration, down to about 3 to 5 microns, but need DE powder added after each backwash and careful handling.
- [Variable-Speed Pool Pumps: Sizing, Savings and Settings](https://pooltested.com/guides/variable-speed-pool-pump-guide): A variable-speed pump saves energy because power use drops sharply as speed drops, so running longer at low speed moves the same water for far less electricity. Size it to turn your pool over in about 6 to 8 hours, keep flow within your filter's rating, and match voltage and plumbing size. In the US, federal efficiency rules mean most replacement in-ground filtration pumps are now variable speed.

Contact: info@pooltested.com