Pool Maintenance Troubleshooting Tips

When pool water is cloudy, your property suffers, making a bad impression on swimmers and sunbathers.

Use clarifiers to remove particles and clarify water.

Find the reason for cloudiness:

1. Check the filtration system, and replace filters as needed.
2. Test pH and total alkalinity, and adjust if necessary with alkalinity boosters . Adjust pH with pH up soda ash or pH down dry acid.
3. If total alkalinity and pH are correct, shock pool water with shock quick pouch or non-chlorine shock treatment and run the pump on a longer cycle.

Stinging eyes or skin irritation typically happen when the pool water's pH is out of proper range.

Treat eye or skin irritating pool conditions:

1. Test pH and adjust pH up with soda ash or pH down with dry acid .
2. Test pH and total alkalinity, and adjust if necessary with alkalinity boosters . Adjust pH with pH up soda ash or pH down dry acid.
3. If pH is correct, shock pool water with shock quick pouch or non-chlorine shock treatment and run the pump on a longer cycle.

A clean pool will smell clean. A strong chlorine smell in pool water indicates chloramines are present. This means there is not enough “free chlorine” available to fight germs and oxidize organic materials, such as sweat and body oils.

Eliminate chlorine odor:

1. Test pH and adjust using pH up soda ash or pH down dry acid .
2. Shock pool water with shock quick pouch or non-chlorine shock treatment and run the pump on a longer cycle.

A very common type of algae that causes the water to look blue/green will bloom when conditions are right and sanitizers are low.

If you notice blue/green water conditions, take these steps:

1. Test pH and adjust using pH up soda ash or pH down dry acid.
2. Use clarifier and vacuum any fallout to avoid staining.

Green algae commonly grows along the walls or bottom of a swimming pool, or you may notice greenish material floating in the pool water. Avoid this unsightly condition by ensuring you have adequate levels of free chlorine .

To help control green algae:

1. Brush algae off surfaces with a pool brush.
2. Test pH and adjust using with pH up soda ash or pH down dry acid .
3. Shock pool water with shock quick pouch or non-chlorine shock treatment using three times the normal shock dosage.
4. Run the pump on a longer cycle.
5. Treat with green algaecide.

Mustard algae or brown algae can be difficult for pool caretakers to remove and will require a special algaecide. Often resembling pollen, dirt, or sand, mustard algae is a yellow/brown color and appears in the shaded side of the pool along the walls and floor.

To help control brown or mustard algae:

1. Brush algae off surfaces with a pool brush.
2. Test pH and adjust using with pH up soda ash or pH down dry acid.
3. Shock pool water with shock quick pouch or non-chlorine shock treatment using three times the normal shock dosage.
4. Run the pump on a longer cycle.
5. Treat with mustard algaecide.

Black algae appears as black spots on the plaster of affected pools and can be difficult to remove. Note: These tips and the recommended black algaecide are only for unpainted concrete pools.

To help control black algae:

1. Brush pool surfaces with wire algae brush.
2. Test pH and adjust using with pH up soda ash or pH down dry acid.
3. Shock pool water with shock quick pouch or non-chlorine shock treatment using three times the normal shock dosage.
4. Run the pump on a longer cycle.
5. Treat with black algaecide and use algaecide 60% concentrate.