Every pool owner has seen it at some point: you come out in your swimsuit and towel, ready to dive in and cool off and, oh, no! Your pool water is murky and cloudy. There are tons of reasons why this might happen, and it’s important as a pool owner that you know how to figure out the problem and get rid of it fast. Follow these tips and tricks to diagnose and clear a cloudy pool, and to keep your water clean and fresh.
There are many reasons why your water might get murky, and the procedures for clearing a cloudy pool can depend on what caused the clouds in the first place. It could be algae growth. It could be problems with your filtration and circulation system. It could be a lack of sunlight—UV rays are important to your water. Use the following tricks to figure out what’s wrong and get it all straightened out again.
The first thing you should do any time you have issues with your water is to check out your water chemistry. Make sure that your free chlorine levels are between 1-3ppm, your pH is in the range of 7.2 and 7.6, alkalinity remains between 90 and 120 ppm, and the calcium hardness of the pool water ranges between 200 and 350ppm. If the water is outside of any of these ranges, you may have diagnosed your problem. Run your pool filtration for anywhere between 12 and 24 hours and then check again, making adjustments to the chemistry as needed.
If your pH is too high, you can use a chemical decreasing agent to bring it down. If the alkalinity is too high, pH chemicals can also be used to address the problem. When your calcium levels are too high, you might need to drain and replace some of your pool water and check the kind of chlorine you’re using. Some chlorine products have high levels of calcium, and using a lower-calcium product can help.
If your pool chemistry is in range, it could just be that you’ve got lots of dissolved solids and other miniscule debris throughout the water. Remove, backwash and clean your filter per the manufacturer’s guidelines, and run it again for a day or two straight. If your water still hasn’t cleared, you can apply a clarifying agent to remove all of this fine debris. You may have to use multiple doses, but always abide by the instructions on the container to make sure your chemistry stays balanced.
If you’re not sure how to address the issue, call Shasta Pools. We’ve been in business for fifty years and were the builders of the very first in-ground pool. We are experienced experts in pool remodeling and maintenance, and no matter what your problem is, we can help. Look over our pool service and repair options and give us a call for more information today!
