Pool Water FAQ

Most swimming pool water problems are the result of one or more of the following:

1. No free available chlorine.
2. Poor water circulation.
3. Not using test kits, or not reading them correctly.
4. Lack of proper pool maintenance, which includes periodic super-chlorination and fresh water replacement.

CHECK THE SYMPTOMS LISTED BELOW, THEN APPLY THE SUGGESTED SOLUTION

PROBLEM: Cloudy water. Water appears murky.

Causes:

1. Algae
2. Too high a hardness level
3. Too frequent backwashing
4. Inefficient filter
5. Improper pH
6. Improper total alkalinity
7. Too high a total dissolved solids content

Remedies:

1. Inspect filtration system
2. Adjust you pH and total alkalinity to proper levels, as well as the free available chlorine
3. Add Flocculent
4. Maintain a consistent 1.0 - 1.5 ppm free chlorine level

PROBLEM: Algae. Green, cloudy water, dark green or black spots on pool walls. Algae is not only unsightly, but it makes surfaces slippery. Algae can clog pumps and filters, and may harbour bacteria.

Causes:

1. Insufficient free-chlorine residual
2. Not following routine pool maintenance, including testing and sanitizing.

Remedies:

1. Super-chlorinate
2. Add Algaecide
3. Check pH (Correct PH: 7.2 - 7.8)
4. Brush spots with pool brush to remove clinging algae
5. Maintain a minimum chlorine residual of 1.0 to 1.5 ppm

PROBLEM: Eye burns and chlorine-like odours.

Causes:

1. Improper PH
2. Not enough Free Chlorine (Read the Chlorine guide which will explain that chlorine odour is a symptom of not enough free chlorine in the water).

Remedies:

1. Super-chlorinate
2. Ensure you are using a test kit that detects free Chlorine.
3. Adjust pH to correct 7.2 - 7.8 range
4. Maintain proper levels of pH, total alkalinity, and free chlorine residual

PROBLEM: Stains. Usually brown stains on pool surface.

Causes:

1. Corrosion of pool’s metal hardware due to low PH
2. High pH
3. High alkalinity

Remedies:

1. Adjust pH to 7.2 - 7.8
2. Adjust total alkalinity

PROBLEM: Clogged Filter. Water flow through your filter is impeded, resulting in increase in system pressure.

Causes:

1. Algae
2. Hair clogged in skimmers
3. Suntan lotion
4. Improper PH
5. Improper total alkalinity

Remedies:

1. Check the  proper pH and total alkalinity, adjust them to proper levels
2. Add Algaecide
3. Clear Skimmers
4. Backwash filter (if applicable)
5. Maintain proper levels for PH and total alkalinity

PROBLEM: Foaming. When your pool water looks like soap bubbles.

Causes:

1. Too high a concentration of algaecide
2. Organic debris in water

Remedies:

1. Read product labels carefully, and obey dosage instructions
2. Super-chlorinate
3. Check PH, total alkalinity, and free chlorine.

PROBLEM: Scale. white, gray, or brownish deposits on pool surface or heater coils.

Causes:

1. Calcium carbonate deposits caused by excessively hard water

Remedies:

1. Adjust pH to 7.2 - 7.8
2. Adjust total alkalinity

PROBLEM: Coloured Water in a newly filled pool turns blue, brown, or black when first treated chemically.

Causes:

1. Chlorine turns unseen copper, iron, or manganese in the water into unwanted and highly-visible compounds
2. Water velocity in circulatory system too high

Remedies:

1. Adjust pH to 7.8
2. Run filter continuously and backwash as required
3. Vacuum settled material to waste

PROBLEM: Coloured Water in already filled pool turns various colours.

Causes:

1. Leaves, other organic debris in water
2. Algae

Remedies:

1. Clean pool of leaves or other debris
2. Super-chlorinate
3. Add algaecide

Check the free chlorine, PH and total alkalinity