Honeydew Pools
 Swimming Pool construction and Pool Services
since 1986

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A Guide to some common swimming pool problems


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 FOLLOW THE SUGGESTED TREATMENT….

 

SYMPTOM: Cloudy water. Water appears murky or turbid due to suspended matter.

Causes:

  1. Algae
  2. Calcium level too high
  3. Backwashing too frequently
  4. Inefficient filter
  5. Plugged or channeled filter
  6. Precipitating calcium compounds
  7. Incorrect pH levels
  8. Incorrect Total Alkalinity
  9. Too high TDS (total dissolved solids) content

Fix:

  1. Inspect filtration system
  2. Adjust and maintain the pH, Total Alkalinity and Free Chlorine to proper levels
  3. Maintain a consistent level of 1.0 - 1.5 ppm Free Chlorine

 

SYMPTOM: Algae - Green, cloudy water or 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 contain bacteria.

Causes:

  1. Insufficient Free Chlorine residual
  2. Not following regular pool maintenance, including testing and sanitizing.

Fix:

  1. Super-Chlorinate
  2. Check pH and adjust, if necessary, to pH 7.2 - 7.8
  3. Brush spots to remove clinging algae
  4. Maintain a consistent level of 1.0 - 1.5 ppm Free Chlorine

 

SYMPTOM: Eye burns and Chlorine-like odors.

Causes:

  1. Improper pH
  2. Total Chlorine too high

Fix:

  1. Super-Chlorinate
  2. Adjust pH to proper 7.2 - 7.8 range
  3. Adjust and maintain the pH, Total Alkalinity and Free Chlorine to proper levels

 

SYMPTOM: Stains. Usually brownish stains on pool surface.

Causes:

  1. Corrosion of pool’s metal hardware due to low pH
  2. High pH
  3. High Alkalinity
  4. Dissolved metals

Fix:

  1. Adjust pH to 7.2 - 7.8
  2. Adjust Total Alkalinity
  3. Check with your pool chemical dealer about using chelating materials or consider acid washing your pool

 

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

Causes:

  1. Algae
  2. Calcification
  3. Hair
  4. Suntan lotion
  5. Improper pH
  6. Improper Total Alkalinity

Fix:

  1. Adjust and maintain the pH, Total Alkalinity and Free Chlorine to proper levels
  2. Perform filter maintenance and change sand if needed

 

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

Causes:

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

Fix:

  1. Read product labels carefully, and obey dosage instructions
  2. Discard water, as necessary
  3. Super-Chlorinate
  4. Adjust pH, Total Alkalinity, and Free Chlorine residual to proper ranges
  5. Maintain those proper levels

 

SYMPTOM: Scale. White, gray, or brownish deposits on pool walls and floor.

Causes:

  1. Calcium Carbonate deposits caused by excessively hard water
  2. Accumulation of dissolved solids

Fix:

  1. Adjust pH to 7.2 - 7.8
  2. Adjust Total Alkalinity
  3. Check with your pool chemical dealer about using chelating materials or consider acid washing your pool

 

SYMPTOM: Colored Water A. 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

Fix:

  1. Adjust pH to 7.2 - 7.8
  2. Run filter continuously and backwash as required
  3. Vacuum settled material to waste
  4. Ask your authorized pool dealer about use of alum for faster clean-up results

 

SYMPTOM: Colored Water B. Water in an established pool turns various colors.

Causes:

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

Fix:

  1. Clean pool of leaves or other debris
  2. Super-Chlorinate
  3. Adjust the Free Chlorine residual, the pH and Total Alkalinity to proper levels
  4. Maintain those levels

 

SYMPTOM: Total Dissolved Solids. (Measures of all dissolved materials). Erratic pool behavior, scaling, staining, reduced Chlorine efficiency.

Cause:

  1. Insufficient fresh water added to pool

Fix:

  1. Discard "old" pool water by setting filter on waste
  2. Adjust the Free Chlorine residual, the pH and Total Alkalinity to proper levels
  3. Maintain those proper levels

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