Learn How to Correct Common Pool Water Problems
If you are experiencing problems with your swimming pool water and not sure what to do, this handy chart will help! This chart can help you identify the possible cause of the problem and suggest a solution. If you don't see your problem listed here, please contact the experts at your local Pinch A Penny store who are ready to help with any pool problems you may have.
My Pool Water is Cloudy, Smoky or Hazy
Possible Cause
|
Solution
|
| Poor circulation or filtration. |
Back-wash and clean pool filter. Clean skimmer baskets and pump strainer basket. Filter may need chemical cleaning. |
| Improper water balance. |
Test pH, Total Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness. Adjust if necessary. |
| High Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and/or Calcium Hardness. |
If one or both are high, TDS over 3,000 ppm or Calcium Hardness over 400 ppm, drain off 1/3 to 1/2 of your pool water and replace with fresh water. Then adjust chemical balance. |
| Excess organic waste. |
Use liquid chlorine to shock your pool according to the product's instructions. |
| High Total Alkalinity. |
Add Muriatic Acid or Suncoast® pH Minus according to product's instructions. |
| Low sanitizer level. |
Add chlorine to bring it to its proper range. |
My Pool Water is Green
My Pool Has Yellow or Green Dust on its Floor and Walls
Possible Cause
|
Solution
|
| Mustard algae. |
Add Suncoast® All In One Algaecide and shock your pool according to the product's instructions. |
My Pool Has Black Spots on its Floor and Walls
Possible Cause
|
Solution
|
| Black algae, a very resistant, hard-to-kill variety which appears as small, black dots or blotches that are pin-head to quarter-sized on the walls and bottom of the pool. |
Use Suncoast® Super Black Algaecide according to product's instructions. |
My Pool Has Pink Slime
Possible Cause
|
Solution
|
| Pink Slime is a form of bacteria with a pinkish center that’s surrounded by a flat gelatinous mass. This bacteria can usually be tracked to some swimmer who has recently visited a coastal area where this type of growth is common. |
Use liquid chlorine to shock your pool according to the product's instructions. It is recommended to follow up with Suncoast® All In One Algaecide if there is visible algae. |
My Pool Water is Sudsy
Possible Cause
|
Solution
|
| Overuse of some types of algaecides. |
Discontinue use of current algaecide and switch to a high-quality, non-foaming one such as Suncoast® All In One Algaecide. You may want to replace some of the pool water with fresh water and/or use Suncoast® Stop Foam. |
The Pool Water is Making our Eyes Burn
Possible Cause
|
Solution
|
| Low or high pH. |
Check pH and adjust to 7.4 - 7.6 range. |
| Excessive organic waste. |
Use liquid chlorine to shock your pool according to the product's instructions. |
| Too much sanitizer. |
Check automatic chlorinator setting. |
The Pool Makes Blonde Hair Turn Green
Possible Cause
|
Solution
|
| Usually occurs in natural blondes or blonde children between the ages of 6 and 13, because of the amount of time they spend in the water. Also, certain forms of copper at concentrations of 1 or 2 ppm, like those found in some algaecides, can turn hair green. |
If the problem is due to reaction with a copper, consider a special shampoo. Shampoos, like those containing aloe vera or anti-chlorine shampoos, are available to neutralize the chlorine reaction. If copper is your problem, add a sequestering agent to disable the copper minerals in water. |
The Chlorine Test Turned Orange
Possible Cause
|
Solution
|
| Pool water has a very high chlorine content, above 4 ppm. |
Discontinue using chlorine until chlorine returns to normal, or use a chlorine neutralizer. |
The pH Test Looks Purple or Blue
Possible Cause
|
Solution
|
| Very high chlorine content. |
Neutralize chlorine and retest. |
The pH Always Tests too High
Possible Cause
|
Solution
|
| High Total Alkalinity. |
Add Muriatic Acid regularly. |
The pH Always Tests too Low
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