• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Swim City

Swim-City. Swimming. Pool

  • Home
  • Swimming
  • Pool Care
  • About
  • Contact

Pool Care

How to Clear Cloudy Pool Water – Ultimate Guide

April 16, 2020 by swimcity

You might wake up one day and find your pool all cloudy. Do you want to swim in a pool like that? I doubt anyone is willing to jump into a mass of water if they can’t see the bottom of it. The process to get the water clean again will require some time and effort, and that’s where we step in. How to clear cloudy pool water?

In this article, we will explain the causes of your ‘milky’ pool and suggest some methods to deal with the unwanted situation, to fix the cloudy pool. Let’s bid the uninviting look goodbye!

how to clear cloudy pool water

Why is your pool cloudy?

It was all clear and beautiful yesterday. What happened?

In most cases, it gets cloudy slowly as days pass by. You might have noticed the cloudiness but brushed it off until it’s too visible to ignore. Sometimes, the issue occurs overnight. And we have three main reasons.

#The surrounding

There are so many sources of dirt and dust around us that we won’t be able to list them all: weather, construction, tree, people, algae, and a lot of trivial things.

#The filter

It’s the key factor in keeping your pool clean. Therefore, if you are experiencing a cloudy pool, the chance of your sand or cartridge filter having problems is high.

#The pool chemicals

We add chemicals to sanitize and balance the pool water, but an abundance of chemicals might cause cloudy pool issue.

What do they do to the pool?

There are some links between the reasons above. For example, the sanitizers can’t dissolve an excessive amount of solids, the filters have to take care of the rest. If the filtration system fails to do so, the solids will take over and deactivate the sanitizers.

While we are in the water, we add sweat, sunscreen, urine, and so much more. They deplete chlorine over time. Another culprit is the sun. The UV rays ruin the sanitizing ions and cause them to evaporate. That’s why we have to test the balance and add more sanitizers if needed.

The sanitizer also kills off the algae that we don’t want to touch at all. The more algae you have in your pool, the more chemicals you need and the less efficient they are in fighting off other contaminants.

Moreover, pH, alkalinity, calcium, and other indexes can also be the cause of the cloudiness, which means we will always need to balance the pool chemistry.

Luckily, cloudy water belongs to the simpler side when it comes to pool problems. However, the consequences are severe.

cloudy pool water
cloudy pool water

The issues following a cloudy pool

We can agree that a cloudy pool means the level of sanitizer is low, and bacteria have the ideal environment to grow. Swimmers will face dangerous contaminants and put their health at risk.

With many contaminants in the pool, your filtration equipment will be under pressure. The system will have to work extra hours and still fail to distribute the filtered water thoroughly.

The cloudy water might be the beginning of something worse: algae. It makes the experience with the pool yuck, of course, but the suspended debris can impair your sight as well. If someone or something falls into a pool full of algae and you can’t spot them immediately, it will be very dangerous.

Last but not least, you’re facing serious problems if the water chemistry is wrong.

  • High pH? Your pool is less acidic than it needs to be. It allows scales to form on the surface and in the plumbing, and they will make it difficult for the sanitizer and the filter to do their job.
  • High alkalinity? It means the water isn’t acidic, but high alkaline water still causes the metal to pit and vinyl to tear. The flakes will also clog the filters.
  • High chlorine? Skin irritation is the first threat. If you have a history of troubles with breathing, your lungs will be vulnerable too. As if it wasn’t bad enough, chlorine byproducts could be corrosive.

Now, you already know about the reasons and problems a cloudy pool water may bring. It’s the time to learn how to fix cloudy pool water. Keep reading!

How to clear cloudy pool water?

# Test the water

Since the chemistry balance is one of the main reasons for your cloudy pool, we can start from there.

There are two common options: a test kit and a set of test strips. The test strips allow you to measure the indexes mentioned above, while the test kit has a wider range of uses.

Still, we will focus on pH, chlorine, and alkaline concentration. If the water is more on the base side, we use hydrochloric acid or sodium hydrogen sulfate. If the acid level is high, sodium carbonate will balance it out. To maintain the chlorine level, don’t forget the chlorine stabilizer.

swimming pool maintenance guide# Deep cleaning

It will get dirt and debris off the pool surfaces, and you need a good start like that before anything else. Vacuum the remnants out of your pool, and vacuum to waste if you’re dealing with algae.

# Shock it

For the stubborn contaminants, you might need a harsh solution. A huge dose of chlorine will shock your pool and eliminate all of the little invaders like bacteria, organic wastes, and algae.

# Check on your filter

You should backwash the filters every few months. Why do we put this suggestion after deep cleaning and shocking the water? If you run the filters after completing those steps, the sanitizer will also go through the circulation system, and the clean water will reach farther corners of the pool.

# Utilize the bottom drains

If your above ground pool uses no bottom drain, there’s a trick: hook your vacuum cleaner up and center it on the pool bottom before turning it upside down. This way, the vacuum head will suck the water from the bottom of your pool and finish what the skimmer can’t do.

# Pool floc

They usually come in a powdered form. You will dissolve them in water and spread them all over the surface. They will draw the particles in the water closer and clump together on the bottom.

During this time, your filter pump should be resting and let the pool floc collect the debris. After 48 hours, you can use the vacuum to get the clusters out of your pool.

# Pool clarifier

Although its function is to pull tiny particles into clumps, it’s not the same thing. With the pool clarifier, the filter will remove them from your pool instead of the vacuum. Thus, it’s known as a preventative method to keep the water clear.

# Maintenance

It’s always better to stop the problems before they affect you badly rather than trying to fix it. A pool maintenance plan is necessary if you want your pool to be in its best shape.

  • Testing the chemical levels and keeping them balanced
  • Shocking the pool periodically
  • Making sure there is no giant clump troubling your filtration system
  • Removing the debris and vacuuming the pool regularly

Final Verdict

Now you know what causes the cloudiness in the pool, the damage it does, and how to clear a cloudy pool. It will take some time and cost quite some money, but you will find it worthwhile when your pool is crystal clear again! If you have any question, feel free to ask us Swim-City

Filed Under: Pool Care

Swimming Pool Maintenance Tips for Beginners

February 27, 2020 by swimcity

Are you new to swimming pool and have no idea about swimming pool maintenance? The article below about swimming pool maintenance for beginners will help you to take care of your pool the right way.

—-

Regular swimming pool maintenance is an absolute must if you want to have a consistently crystal clear swimming pool that you can enjoy all season, or year round. There are some pool maintenance jobs that need to be done every day, and other tasks that should be done weekly. There are also some seasonal maintenance checks.

All of these pool maintenance jobs, when done regularly will ensure you can have a fully functioning and fun swimming pool when you require it. You can find all the tools and equipment you need to maintain your pool in many online stores.

swimming pool maintenance

Equipment for maintaining swimming pools help keep the pool clean and clear. Pool manufacturers recommend the regular use of specific tools to keep the water safe for swimming. Without proper maintenance, swimming pools can become dirty or contaminated. Sometimes this can happen very quickly.

Some of the things you’ll need to keep the pool clean include a pool filter, vacuum, and skimmer. Chlorine tablets prevent the growth of algae that can turn the water cloudy or greenish. To maintain an in-ground swimming pool, you will also need some pumice stones and brushes to clean the tiles.

Daily Swimming Pool Maintenance Tasks

  1. Run the pool filter at least 8 hours a day, or as recommended by the manufacturer. It is best, however, to keep the filter running 24 hours a day.
  2. Use a pool skimmer to remove floating leaves and debris. Empty your skimmer baskets and clear them of leaves and debris.
  3. Add chlorine to the pool daily. You can use a chlorine floater with chlorine tablets inside. You can also place slow-dissolving chlorine tablets in the skimmers or filter once a week.

Weekly Tasks – Swimming Pool Maintenance

  1. Vacuum the pool to remove dirt from the bottom. Pool vacuums come in automatic or manual models.
  2. Use a brush or pumice stone to scrub the tiles along the waterline. This is where deposits tend to form.
  3. Swimming pool maintenance experts recommend adding a dose of Algae Preventative to discourage the growth of algae.
  4. Use a pool cover if the pool will not be used for an extended period of time.

Maintaining Your Pool Equipment

Check your pool maintenance equipment regularly to make sure they are in good working condition and to correct small problems before they get worse. Clean out the swimming pool’s skimmer basket and empty the contents into a trash bag.

Open and clean out the pump strainer basket. After cleaning the skimmer and strainer basket, check the filter and see if it also needs cleaning. You may also have to replace the filter. It’s important to check the condition of the machinery and pool equipment on a monthly basis.

Testing The Water of The Swimming Pool

You should test the swimming pool water every two to three weeks. The water’s pH level should be between 7.2 and 7.9 to keep it clean and clear and safe for users of the swimming pool.

Water test strips will show the levels of chlorine and pH level in the pool. Free available chlorine level should be at 1.0-3.0 ppm. If the chemical levels are not maintained, algae can grow. This can lead to water that appears cloudy, green, black or brown.

It is vital to follow these basic pool maintenance tasks to keep your pool ready for swimming. Proper and regular maintenance is the only way to keep your swimming pool crystal clear.

swimming pool maintenance tip

Swimming Pool Chemicals Beginner’s Guide

Maintaining the proper water chemistry of your swimming pool is just as important (if not even more) as keeping it clean of visible dirt, leaves, and other debris. If you are in the process of buying your first swimming pool, this article will help you understanding what chemicals go into your swimming pool and why. The right balance of chemicals keeps your pool water safe and clean for swimmers.

There are several pool chemicals used to maintain the proper water chemistry of your swimming pool, including sanitizers, algaecides, shocks, balancers and stabilizers. The right combination of them can result in a clean water, but it’s important to use them the proper way. an imbalance can have negative impact on the health of swimmers, and can also harm your filtering, pumping, and heating system.

It’s not enough for your pool to look crystal clear.  The pH level must also be maintained between 7.4 and 7.6.  Lower or higher pH levels can lead to eye and skin irritation as well as corrosion to the filter system.

Sanitizers

Chlorine is the most popular swimming pool chemical used to kill pathogens in the water.  It can be purchased in the form of tablets, liquid or powder.  Chlorine is added to the water as calcium hypochlorite (a solid) or sodium hypochlorite (a liquid).  The compound reacts with water to form a variety of chemicals, including hypochlorous acid.  Hypochlorous acid sanitizes the pool by killing bacteria and other pathogens.

Chlorine can be added directly to the water using a chemical feeder.  Chlorine tablets can also be placed in skimmer boxes to provide a steady supply of chlorine.

Bromine is another type of swimming pool chemical used as a sanitizer.  It is similar to chlorine but has a less penetrating smell.

Algaecides

Algae make your pool water look cloudy, green or brown.  Algaecides destroy and prevent algae from growing.  This swimming pool chemical can be purchased in tablet or liquid form.

swimming pool maintenance guideShocks

Shocks are high doses of swimming pool chemicals.  They are normally used after your pool has been active for a significant amount of time.  Shocks are also used periodically throughout the swimming season to disinfect the pool, kill algae, clear out organic matter and get rid of chloramines which irritate the skin and eyes.

Balancers

Balancers are swimming pool chemicals that increase or reduce the pH level to maintain the proper acidity and alkalinity of the pool.  Soda ash, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate are used to raise the pH level.  Muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate lower the pH level and make the water more acidic.

Stabilizers

Stabilizers are important in swimming pools that use a chlorine-based sanitization system.  These swimming pool chemicals enhance the effectiveness of chlorine and help to make the chlorine levels last that bit longer before requiring top ups.

Many companies now offer swimming pool chemical kits that include all products you will need to keep your pool clean.  Special kits can also be purchased for the treatments you will need at the start and end of the pool season.  One of the best ways to buy your swimming pool chemicals is to buy in bulk online from leading pool supply companies.  Usually you can get some great deals, with free shipping thrown in and you will have enough chemicals to get you right through the swimming season, and then some.

Swimming Pool Maintenance – Last Saying

Hope that these swimming pool maintenance for beginners tips above will help you to get what to do with your pool. Try to pay a little attention to your pool everyday or at least every week and then you will have a great pool to enjoy. If you have any question about taking of swimming pool, feel free to ask Swim-City by leaving a comment below.

Filed Under: Pool Care

Copyright © 2023 - Swim-City