Visual Glossary

Pool & Lawn Care Glossary

Explore essential swimming pool, lawn care, and irrigation terminology through simple definitions, helpful illustrations, and practical explanations.

70 terms

B

Backwashing schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Backwashing

Backwashing cleans certain pool filters by reversing water flow through the filter medium and directing the dirty water to waste.

Water contains symbolic bromine disinfectant residual; a sample tube illustrates measuring that residual with a suitable test. Symbols do not show actual molecules or target concentrations.

Pool Water Chemistry

Bromine

Bromine is a halogen disinfectant used in some pools and hot tubs to help control disease-causing microorganisms.

C

Water vessel with dispersed Ca symbols representing dissolved calcium, rather than calcium deposits. Reported as ppm as calcium carbonate.

Pool Water Chemistry

Calcium Hardness

Calcium hardness measures dissolved calcium in pool water, usually reported as parts per million as calcium carbonate.

Cartridge Filter schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Cartridge Filter

A cartridge filter captures particles as water passes through replaceable pleated filter elements.

Paired colored symbols in pool water represent chloramine compounds, with an upward arrow showing that some can pass into air above water; not a molecular structure.

Pool Water Chemistry

Chloramines

Chloramines are compounds formed when chlorine reacts with nitrogen-containing contaminants in pool water.

Four pool sections highlight the floor, vertical wall, narrow waterline intersection, and water surface as distinct possible cleaning targets.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Cleaning Modes

Cleaning modes are selectable operating programs that determine a pool cleaner’s cleaning target or behavior.

Illustrative proportional bars: free chlorine 3 ppm, combined chlorine 1 ppm, total chlorine 4 ppm. Total minus free equals combined. Not target levels.

Pool Water Chemistry

Combined Chlorine

Combined chlorine is the portion of a total chlorine test result that is not free chlorine.

Concept diagram: Spring: active growth; Summer heat: growth slows; Fall: active growth.

Lawn & Soil Care

Cool-Season Grass

Cool-season grass is turfgrass adapted to relatively cool conditions, with strong growth commonly occurring in spring and fall.

Concept diagram: Hollow tine removes a plug; Opening remains in soil; Air and water enter opening.

Lawn & Soil Care

Core Aeration

Core aeration removes small plugs of soil from a lawn to create openings in compacted ground.

Concept comparison: sunlight reaches two water samples; fewer chlorine symbols remain without CYA than with CYA. Illustration of stabilization, not quantitative rates.

Pool Water Chemistry

Cyanuric Acid

Cyanuric acid is a pool-water stabilizer that slows the loss of chlorine caused by sunlight.

Cycle and soak is a watering method that divides a watering period into shorter applications separated by pauses for water to soak into the soil. Three watering applications alternate with two soak pauses.

Smart Irrigation

Cycle and Soak

Cycle and soak is a watering method that divides a watering period into shorter applications separated by pauses for water to soak into the soil.

D

Concept diagram: Tines reach thatch layer; Excess material is lifted; Soil remains underneath.

Lawn & Soil Care

Dethatching

Dethatching is the mechanical removal of excess thatch from a lawn.

Diatomaceous Earth Filter schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Diatomaceous Earth Filter

A diatomaceous earth filter uses a coating of fine diatomaceous earth powder on internal support elements to capture particles from pool water.

Drip irrigation delivers water slowly through emitters positioned near plants, on or below the soil surface. Emitters along a pipe feed conceptual wetted areas below the surface.

Smart Irrigation

Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation delivers water slowly through emitters positioned near plants, on or below the soil surface.

F

Illustrative proportional bars: free chlorine 3 ppm, combined chlorine 1 ppm, total chlorine 4 ppm. Total minus free equals combined. Not target levels.

Pool Water Chemistry

Free Chlorine

Free chlorine is the chlorine residual measured as available for disinfection rather than combined chlorine.

H

Head-to-head coverage is sprinkler spacing in which the spray from one head reaches the location of the adjacent head. Two circular patterns overlap; each head lies on the other pattern’s boundary.

Smart Irrigation

Head-to-Head Coverage

Head-to-head coverage is sprinkler spacing in which the spray from one head reaches the location of the adjacent head.

I

Concept diagram: Water arrives at surface; Water crosses into soil; Runoff stays on surface.

Lawn & Soil Care

Infiltration

Infiltration is the entry of water from the ground surface into the soil.

A controller panel takes schedule or sensor inputs and sends a control signal to a valve. The water supply pipe passes through the valve, not the controller.

Smart Irrigation

Irrigation Controller

An irrigation controller is a device that directs when an irrigation system waters and how long it runs.

A circular illustrative spray reach surrounds a smaller rectangular mapped target. An arrow from the device marks reach as a distance.

Smart Irrigation

Irrigation Coverage Area

Irrigation coverage area is the surface over which an irrigation device or system can apply water under specified conditions.

A pipe fills a container marked 2 US gallons while a timer reads 20 seconds. The calculation converts that measured volume and time to 6 gallons per minute.

Smart Irrigation

Irrigation Flow Rate

Irrigation flow rate is the volume of water passing a point in an irrigation system per unit time, commonly measured in gallons per minute or liters per minute.

An overhead yard diagram contains a shaded rectangular area, a separate narrow line, and a separate point, representing three mapping choices.

Smart Irrigation

Irrigation Mapping

Irrigation mapping is the definition of locations or boundaries that an irrigation system uses to direct watering.

A pressure gauge connects to a supply pipe before a sprinkler. A flow arrow follows the pipe, while separate labels distinguish pressure from flow rate.

Smart Irrigation

Irrigation Water Pressure

Irrigation water pressure is the force per unit area exerted by water within an irrigation supply or device.

A controller sends separate signals to valves A and B. Valve A supplies two sprinklers; valve B supplies two emitters. Each valve operates its outlets as a group.

Smart Irrigation

Irrigation Zone

An irrigation zone is a defined area managed as one watering section, with its own watering settings.

M

A unit panel states one micrometer equals 0.001 millimeter. Two enlarged particles illustrate relative size without asserting filter capture percentages.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Micron Rating

A micron rating states a particle-size level associated with a filter’s ability to capture particles, expressed in micrometers (μm).

O

A robot approaches a circular obstacle. A dashed straight reference line ends before the obstacle, while a curved route passes around it.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Obstacle Avoidance

Obstacle avoidance is a robot’s adjustment of its movement to reduce the chance of colliding with an object in its path.

Concept diagram: Existing lawn has thin gaps; Seed reaches exposed soil; New seedlings fill gaps.

Lawn & Soil Care

Overseeding

Overseeding means sowing grass seed into an existing lawn to increase turf density or introduce suitable grass varieties.

Electron transfer from a material to an oxidizer: the material loses electrons and is oxidized. Symbols are conceptual, not a molecular reaction mechanism.

Pool Water Chemistry

Oxidation

Oxidation is a chemical process involving loss of electrons; in pool care, oxidizers react with certain contaminants.

P

One enlarged purple marker in a water field represents one part of substance per million parts of mixture; approximately one milligram per liter in dilute water. Not a literal particle count.

Pool Water Chemistry

Parts Per Million

Parts per million expresses a small concentration as one part of a substance per million parts of the mixture.

A top-down pool outline contains a back-and-forth route, beginning at a marked start point and ending with an arrow.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Path Planning

Path planning is the process of selecting a route for a robot to follow within its operating environment.

Purple symbols represent dissolved phosphate nutrients near a stylized algae cell in water. Nutrient presence alone does not establish algae growth or treatment need.

Pool Water Chemistry

Phosphates

Phosphates are phosphorus-containing compounds that can serve as nutrients for algae in pool water.

Debris-bearing water enters an open basket from above. Debris remains inside while arrows show water passing outward across the basket media.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Pool Cleaner Filter Basket

A pool cleaner filter basket is an onboard collection component that retains debris while allowing water to pass through its filter media.

Pool Filtration schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Pool Filtration

Pool filtration removes suspended particles by passing water through a filter medium.

An irregular pool boundary and one obstacle on the left are represented by a matching outline and obstacle on a grid on the right.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Pool Mapping

Pool mapping is the creation of a representation of a pool’s shape or features for a robot to use during navigation or cleaning.

Continuous pH scale from 0 to 14, acidic at the low end, neutral at 7 at approximately 25°C, basic at the high end. One unit is a tenfold change in hydrogen-ion activity.

Pool Water Chemistry

Pool pH

Pool pH measures how acidic or basic pool water is. It affects disinfectant performance and water balance.

Pool Pump schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Pool Pump

A pool pump moves water through the pool’s circulation and filtration system using a motor-driven impeller.

Two illustrative product containers compare chlorine shock products with nonchlorine oxidizers. Nonchlorine oxidizer is not a sanitizer; actual product label determines use.

Pool Water Chemistry

Pool Shock

Pool shock is a treatment intended to oxidize contaminants, often using a chlorine product, rather than a single chemical ingredient.

Side section of a wall-mounted skimmer: surface water enters over the hinged weir, passes into the debris basket, and exits below toward the pump.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Pool Skimmer

A pool skimmer is a component of a swimming pool’s circulation system that draws in surface water and collects floating debris, such as leaves and insects, before the water continues through the filtration system.

Pool Vacuum schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Pool Vacuum

A pool vacuum uses water flow to collect debris from submerged pool surfaces.

Precipitation rate is the depth of water applied to an irrigated area per unit of time, commonly expressed in inches per hour. A collection example converts 0.25 inch over 15 minutes to 1 inch per hour.

Smart Irrigation

Precipitation Rate

Precipitation rate is the depth of water applied to an irrigated area per unit of time, commonly expressed in inches per hour.

Pump Strainer Basket schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Pump Strainer Basket

A pump strainer basket is a removable perforated basket in the pump’s strainer housing that intercepts larger debris before it reaches the impeller.

R

Rain falls on a sensor. A dashed signal line connects the sensor to a controller, which pauses scheduled watering.

Smart Irrigation

Rain Sensor

A rain sensor is a device that detects rainfall and can temporarily interrupt automatic irrigation.

Return Jet schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Return Jet

A return jet is a fitting that directs treated water from the circulation system back into the pool.

Robotic Pool Cleaner schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Robotic Pool Cleaner

A robotic pool cleaner is a powered device that moves around a pool and collects debris in its own filter or debris container.

A floating collector straddles the water surface. Floating debris approaches an intake, a basket sits inside, and a separate arrow indicates water leaving the collector.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Robotic Pool Skimmer

A robotic pool skimmer is a powered floating device that collects debris from the pool’s water surface in an onboard container.

Three boxes show sensing, estimating position or direction, and controlling movement. A feedback arrow returns movement information to the next sensing step.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Robot Navigation

Robot navigation is the process a robot uses to determine where it is and guide its movement through an environment.

Concept diagram: Grass grows above surface; Roots branch through soil; Root zone surrounds roots.

Lawn & Soil Care

Root Zone

The root zone is the part of the soil occupied by a plant’s roots, where roots take up water and nutrients.

S

Salt water flows through a cell with electrode plates supplied by electric power, and chlorine is generated. Simplified process, not an electrical wiring diagram.

Pool Water Chemistry

Saltwater Chlorination

Saltwater chlorination uses an electrolytic cell to generate chlorine from dissolved salt in pool water.

Sand Filter schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Sand Filter

A sand filter captures suspended particles as pool water passes through a bed of specified filter sand.

Qualitative saturation-index axis with zero at equilibrium, negative toward calcium carbonate dissolution and positive toward deposition. Not a safe-water or general corrosion scale.

Pool Water Chemistry

Saturation Index

A pool saturation index estimates whether water tends to deposit or dissolve calcium carbonate under specified conditions.

Skimmer Basket schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Skimmer Basket

A skimmer basket is a removable perforated container inside a wall-mounted pool skimmer that catches larger floating debris before water flows toward the pump.

Skimmer Weir schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Skimmer Weir

A skimmer weir is a movable flap at a wall-mounted skimmer opening that helps draw water from near the pool surface.

Two overlapping circles represent improving soil properties and supplying plant nutrients. The shared area shows that some materials can serve both functions.

Lawn & Soil Care

Soil Amendment

A soil amendment is a material used to improve soil properties, such as structure, water retention or pH.

Concept diagram: Loose soil: more pore space; Traffic compresses particles; Compacted soil: fewer pores.

Lawn & Soil Care

Soil Compaction

Soil compaction is the pressing together of soil particles, reducing the pore space that holds air and carries water.

A probe sits in root-zone soil. A dashed information line connects it to the controller, which checks a threshold before allowing or blocking watering.

Smart Irrigation

Soil Moisture Sensor

A soil moisture sensor measures moisture conditions in the soil and can provide information to an irrigation controller.

Concept diagram: Below 7: acidic; 7: neutral; Above 7: alkaline.

Lawn & Soil Care

Soil pH

Soil pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a soil is.

Concept diagram: Sand: largest particles; Silt: intermediate particles; Clay: smallest particles.

Lawn & Soil Care

Soil Texture

Soil texture describes the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay particles in a soil.

A sprinkler head is the outlet assembly that distributes irrigation water over an area through a nozzle. A labeled pop-up head shows the nozzle, riser, and supply pipe.

Smart Irrigation

Sprinkler Head

A sprinkler head is the outlet assembly that distributes irrigation water over an area through a nozzle.

T

Concept diagram: Green grass shoots; Interwoven thatch layer; Mineral soil below.

Lawn & Soil Care

Thatch

Thatch is a layer of living and dead grass stems, roots, and related plant material between green shoots and the soil surface.

pH increases to the right. The same acid addition moves pH left from the teal before point to the purple after point: a larger decrease with less buffering and a smaller decrease with more buffering. Conceptual, not a numeric prediction.

Pool Water Chemistry

Total Alkalinity

Total alkalinity measures the capacity of pool water to neutralize added acid and resist changes in pH.

Illustrative proportional bars: free chlorine 3 ppm, combined chlorine 1 ppm, total chlorine 4 ppm. Total minus free equals combined. Not target levels.

Pool Water Chemistry

Total Chlorine

Total chlorine is the measured sum of free chlorine and combined chlorine in a water sample.

U

A sensor inside a water-filled area sends a sound pulse toward a boundary, with a second arrow returning as an echo. The two paths are offset for readability.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Ultrasonic Sensing

Ultrasonic sensing uses high-frequency sound to detect features or estimate distance, often by timing a transmitted pulse and its returning echo.

V

Variable-Speed Pump schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Variable-Speed Pump

A variable-speed pool pump can run its motor at different speeds to suit different circulation tasks.

W

A side section shows the same conceptual cleaner on the pool floor and rotated against a wall. A curved arrow indicates the change toward upward travel.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Wall Climbing

Wall climbing is a pool cleaner’s ability to move up or along a pool wall while maintaining enough attachment and traction to travel.

Water Circulation schematic with components and arrows showing the water path.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Water Circulation

Water circulation is the movement of pool water through collection points, pumping and treatment equipment, and back into the pool.

An equivalent water layer sits above a soil layer, with a vertical bracket measuring applied depth. An example relates 0.25 inch over 16 square feet to about 2.5 US gallons.

Smart Irrigation

Watering Depth

Watering depth is the amount of applied water expressed as an equivalent layer over an area, usually in inches or millimeters.

Three connected schedule fields show selected days, start time and duration. A note explains that weather rules can adjust the plan.

Smart Irrigation

Watering Schedule

A watering schedule is a plan that specifies when irrigation runs and how long each watering event lasts.

Front view of a pool wall with a highlighted band at the water surface. A cleaner straddles the band, with a horizontal movement arrow above it.

Pool Equipment & Cleaning

Waterline Cleaning

Waterline cleaning is the removal of buildup from the pool wall at or near the water surface.

Two illustrative meter readings of 1,000 and 1,020 US gallons give an interval total of 20 gallons. The readings are not an IrriSense app display.

Smart Irrigation

Water Usage Tracking

Water usage tracking is the recording and review of water volume used over a defined period or watering event.

Sun and weather information plus landscape settings feed a controller panel. It estimates changing landscape need and adjusts the watering schedule.

Smart Irrigation

Weather-Based Irrigation

Weather-based irrigation adjusts watering schedules using weather information and landscape conditions.

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