What Would Make A Pool Cloudy
Storms or increased rainfall can affect your pool. So can too much sunlight, which can heat up the pool, allowing more bacteria to grow. The sun’s ultraviolet rays can break down a pool’s chlorine, resulting in lower levels of this chemical. Even having a lot of people over to swim might lead to a cloudy pool.
You Didnt Use Flocculants Or Clarifiers
If you still cant see the bottom after shocking your pool, you may need to add a clarifier or flocculant the next day to remove the dead algae.
Flocculant binds to small particle impurities in the water, causing them to clump together and fall to the bottom of the pool. On the other hand, Clarifier is a maintenance product used to restore shine to slightly cloudy water. They both bind microparticles into larger particles, however the particles created by clarifiers are removed by the filtration system whereas flocculants require extra time and effort to vacuuming particles that have dropped to the pool floor.
How do you prevent your pool from turning green or cloudy again?
The answer is.
Reasons Why Your Pool Is Still Green Or Cloudy After Shocking
Nothing beats going for a dip in your pool on a beautiful summer day. You go to your backyard only to be greeted with a pool that looks like its been on a week-long bender.
Thats right. Youve got a green pool! 🙁
Unfortunately this is a scenario that occurs more often than not. Previously we have talked aboutHow to Fix a Green Pool where we covered the following steps to clear up your water.
Note: If you want to quickly clear sweat and urine contamination and swim on the same day, consider using OxyFresh, a non-chlorine shock treatment that makes your pool swim-ready in as little as 15 minutes!
But for some reason sometimes the pool is still green or cloudy even after shocking. Why?!
First of all, dont worry, sometimes pools turn green after shocking. But provided you have added enough shock to your pool, here are the most common reasons why you pool is still green and how you can fix it:
Don’t Miss: How To Test Water For Bacteria At Home
Total Available Chlorine Vs Free Available Chlorine
As pool water warms in summer, more chlorine is needed to prevent your pool water from becoming cloudy. If theres at least a 0.3 ppm difference between your Total Available Chlorine and Free Available Chlorine levels, treat your pool with pool shock. If FAC levels are above 2.0 ppm , we recommend using a non-chlorine shock like Leslies Fresh N Clear, which is an oxidizer with a built-in clarifier. It works by breaking up organic contaminants that bind to the chlorine and prevent it from doing its job. If FAC levels are below 2.0 ppm, keep reading…
Remove Foreign Particles Scrub And Vacuum The Pool
The environment and weather may also be the cause of cloudy water. To fix and prevent cloudy water, follow all of the best practices below.
- Foreign particles, small and large, may find their way into the water, especially during spring. Body oil and sunscreen from swimmers also washes off in the water and accumulates in the pool, causing cloudiness. You can use nets to remove visible particles, and you may have to use a pool clarifier to clear up the water when cloudiness persists. Also, I prefer using pool flocculant and vacuuming the pool to do away with fine particles that cannot be removed by leaf net or clarifier.
- Algae also causes cloudiness in its early growth stages. To remove algae, scrub and clean the pool using a large leaf net and vacuum: Then do a pool shock to get rid of any remaining algae. Control the amounts of pH, chlorine, TA, phosphate, and other pool sanitizers to prevent algae growth.
- Free chlorine depletes more quickly in full sunlight, but if trees and buildings are next to your pool, direct sun will be blocked. If your pool is in direct sunlight, consider using a chlorine stabilizer and a pool cover when not using the pool.
- Rain also contributes to cloudy water because it dilutes and therefore reduces free chlorine levels. All you have to do is test the chemicals, pay close attention to the chlorine levels, and adjust them as appropriate.
Read Also: Gas Hot Water Heaters At Home Depot
How To Clear Cloudy Swimming Pool Water
Owning a swimming pool comes with many challenges that pool owners have to deal with from time to time. For instance, when you have a pool party at your home, you may realize that your pool water has become cloudy and dirty. This condition is caused by improper levels of chlorine, imbalance in PH, alkalinity that is out of balance, faulty filters, debris and algae infestation. If you want to clear cloudy water in your pool, remove foreign particles and algae from the water, replace the filter and balance the water chemistry. However, if your cloudy water has a combined chlorine reading of above 0.5 ppm, you will need to shock your pool first.
The Easiest Way To Fix Cloudy Pool Water
There is one last way of fixing cloudy pool water that is easier and more effective than any other method. Just call The Pool Butler. Well clean your pool, test your water, and add any chemicals necessary to get your pool sparkling clean. If you want to keep your pool clean, we offer regular maintenance packages that will guarantee your pool is always ready for a swim. Contact us today to learn how to keep your pool crystal clear.
Also Check: Water Filters At Lowe’s
Guide To Clearing Cloudy Water
Heres a guide to solve some of the most common causes of cloudy water and what you can do to address them. But youll see that sometimes its better to see the overall game plan for how to get rid of cloudy pool water, so lets asess the situation step by step.
Analyze your current situation. What event might have caused your pool water to turn cloudy? Was there rainfall, did you add any chemicals or did you have a party?
Now you can show people how much of a pool pro you are now.
Test Your Water Frequently
It’s good to test your pool every week. This will ensure many things that your chlorine levels aren’t getting too high, that the water isn’t becoming too hard or soft and that the acidity stays at a reasonable level. Monitoring your levels won’t necessarily fix all of your problems, but it’s a great preventative measure that will give you the information to fix a problem if it does arise. You’ll better understand why your pool is cloudy and what to do to fix it.
Your pool’s pH levels should stay around neutral about 7.2- 7.8. The closer to 0 your pH levels are, the more acidic they will be, and as levels get closer to 14, your water will become gradually more basic. You’ll need to add acid to keep the pH neutral for low levels, and for levels on the high side, you can use sodium carbonate to bring the acidity down. Stay in that neutral zone to keep your water clear.
Recommended Reading: Point Of Use Electric Water Heater
What About After A Rain
Rain water brings dirt, mud, dust, and other contaminants that contain phosphate, which breeds algae. With the presence of phosphate, the water will start to become cloudy even before the algae begins to grow. If you know a storm or shower is about to come, make sure there is ample chlorine to counter the dilution that rain water will bring, and have the filter running during the rain.
Dont Let Cloudy Pool Water Be A Danger To Your Swimmers
If you think swimming in cloudy pool water isnt serious, think again. Allowing swimmers into your pool when the water is cloudy can pose a serious risk according to the CDC . Keeping your pool water clean and clear can prevent sickness and even save a life.
There are three main reasons why the CDC has flagged cloudy pool water as a public health risk. Cloudy water increases the risk of drowning, getting a UTI and catching a stomach bug.
Recommended Reading: Ge Washer Water Inlet Valve
Why Is Your Pool Still Cloudy After Shock Treatment
Having your friends over for a pool party is great fun. Afterwards, you will put some chlorine in the pool to shock it. After the pool shock, you could be surprised with a cloudy pool, instead of clean and clear water.
Cloudy pool water after shock treatment is usually just a reaction to the shock treatment that causes the water to become cloudy. Adding a massive amount of chlorine to a pool with unbalanced chemicals or high in minerals may cause a chain reaction if the chemicals are out of balance.
The reason that you have a pool cloudy after shock can be attributed to a number of different factors.
High Levels Of Contamination
A high bather load, animals in the pool, and stormy weather can all bring high levels of contaminants into the water. When this happens, its hard for your filter to keep up. Bather waste, such as sweat, body oils, lotions, and cosmetics, will quickly overwhelm and gum up your pool filter. This is why its so important for swimmers to take a shower before entering the water! Add in the amount of pollen, dirt, hair, organic debris, and other pollution brought in by wind, rain, and water-loving pets, and you have quite a mess on your hands! Another source of high water contamination is a layer of fresh plaster. Fresh plaster can dust up for the first 6-12 months after its applied.
You May Like: Best Home Water Filter System
Cause #: Imbalanced Pool Chemicals
If, like me, you didnt pay attention in your school chemistry lessons, it could just be a chemical imbalance in the water.
Having too much of one chemical or not enough of another is your fast-track ticket a cloudy pool, so checking your pool chemistry for high pH, total alkalinity and chlorine levels is always a good place to start. Balance is key.
Got a cloudy pool after opening? If youve peeled back that pool cover after a long winter only to find a mist of cloud has found itself into your pool, it means you didnt winterize correctly. In that case, youd need to go through the same steps of testing and balancing Im about to go over.
Is Your pH Level Right?
The best pH level for your pool water is somewhere between 7.2 and 7.6 on the pH scale, which happens to be slightly alkaline.
Your water wont turn cloudy simply because your pH level is outside of this range, but it will prevent your pool chemicals from doing their job properly, causing particles to linger which will eventually lead to a cloudy pool.
Measuring your pools pH level is pretty straightforward using a decent test kit, so make sure you do that weekly to stay on top of any sudden changes.
If youre looking for a reliable pool test kit, I recommend this one:
- 7-IN-1 TEST STRIPS: Tests the most critical…
- AQUACHEK ACCURACY: Using medical industry…
- EASY TO USE: No more messy drops Just dip the…
Is Your Chlorine Level Right?
Is Your Alkalinity Level Too High?
Is Your Calcium Hardness Too High?
Clean The Pool Filtration And Circulation Systems
A poor water-circulation system can also be a big problem. If your water cannot circulate properly, it will become stagnant and cloudy. To fix this problem:
- Ensure that the return fittings are turned to point down, which enables the water at the bottom of the pool to circulate properly. However, the circulation system will largely depend on how the pool was built.
- Make sure you are using the right pump size to adequately clean the water.
- Make sure the filtration system is running long enough. A filter should run 24/7 for the water to remain clean all the time. However, for home pools that are not busy, at least 8 -10 hours a day might suffice.
- Remove particles that may be blocking your filter. Your filter system continuously cleans the water, and if it does not function properly, the water becomes dirty, cloudy, and may even develop algae. Large particles are fond of blocking filtration systems, especially diatomaceous earth and cartridge pool filters.
- Ensure that you regularly clean, backwash, or replace the D.E and cartridge filter medium as appropriate. Cartridge filters usually last 2,000 hours and should be replaced every 1-2 years, depending on usage.
You May Like: Who Can Fill My Pool Up With Water
Skim Brush And Vacuum Your Pool
Remove large debris with a heavy-duty skimmer. Brush your walls well with a stiff pool brush, then vacuum manually.
Do not use an automatic pool cleaner. It wont properly suck up finer debris. Then vacuum your pool. But if you think youve got an algae problem, be sure to check out our guide on how to get rid of pool algae here first.
Why Is My Pool Water Cloudy After Opening A Pool
Depending on how carefully you closed the pool for the winter, at the beginning of summer, you may see algae and cloudy water.
The main cause is usually imbalanced chemicals. If your water is free of algae, all you need to do is test for all the chemicals and adjust. Starting with the pH, then the chlorine, and then other chemicals after that.
If the water still appears cloudy after adjusting all the chemicals, you can try using either a water clarifier to remove the debris through the filter or use a pool flocculant and then vacuum to remove any particles.
Don’t Miss: Indoor Water Park In Indiana
Reasons For Cloudy Pool Water
Chlorine is an essential tool for ridding your pool of contamination, but it should not be your ride or die. You will need to have a treatment strategy beyond chlorine and a method of clearing your pool of exterior contaminants. Ultimately, cloudy pool water boils down to culprits in one of these categories.
Can Too Much Chlorine Cause Cloudy Pool Water
Is your pool water looking a little dishwater-esque?
It happens to even the savviest of pool owners, so dont hit the panic button yet.
It is not unusual to have cloudy water with high chlorine levels in the pool. But while it is possible to have both cloudy water AND high chlorine levels in the pool, the cause of cloudiness is NOT because of high chlorine levels rather, your pools cloudy water is caused by some other underlying issues such as water balance, filtration, algae, or water mold issues. The very first step you need to take in fixing cloudy water is to test your pool water. Once you have your results from your test strip or test kit, read on.
Total chlorine is high & free chlorine is low
If your total chlorine level is high, but your free chlorine is low, that means most of the chlorine you have in your pool is already combined into something called chloramines combined chlorine is not available to sanitize your water. As a result, you may not have enough active chlorine to keep the water clear. So, this is a situation where your total chlorine is high and your water is cloudy, but its not the high chlorine thats causing the cloudiness its the low free available chlorine level thats actually making your water murky. In this case, youll need to shock your pool to get rid of the combined chlorine and keep the pool clear.
What if my total chlorine and free chlorine levels are both high?
So, what now? How do I fix a cloudy pool?
· If You See Algae
Read Also: Water Heater Tankless Vs Tank
How To Know If Your Chlorine Is Imbalanced
The wider the range between free and total chlorine, the more combined chlorine is present in the water. Combined chlorine should always read below 0.5 ppm or just 0 ppm, if possible. This means you should test chlorine levels on a daily basis and adjust it as appropriate before there’s excess chloramine, especially during the summer when it’s hot and the pool is used heavily.
Safe pH Level for Swimming
The correct level of pH in a swimming pool should be between 7.4 and 7.8, with 7.6 being the ideal level.