Symptoms

Possible Causes

Remedies

A. Cloudy Water

1. pH too high
2. Algae
3. Poor circulation
4. Total alkalinity too high
5. Undissolved chemical residue (discontinue use of calcium hypochlorite based chlorine)
6. Swimmer wastes (buildup of water soluble organic wastes)

1. Lower with pH Decreaser.
2. See “Algae” for proper procedure.
3. Inspect filtration system.
4. Lower with pH Decreaser or Muriatic Acid, or partially drain pool and refill with fresh water
5. Switch to a fully soluble chlorine product.
6. Remove buildup with a shock treatment product.
7. Use clarifying product.

B.  Colored Water

1. Chlorine changes unwanted minerals in your water into highly visible compounds.
2. Algae

1. Use an iron removing product to remove metal deposits and discoloration.  Run filter 24 hours a day until condition clears.  To aid in this process add appropriate clarifier.
2. For algae, see below.

C.   Algae

1. Insufficient free chlorine residual
2. Daily maintenance program is insufficient.

1. Superchlorinate or add non-chlorine shock product.
2. Adjust pH to 7.2 – 7.8 range.
3. Brush pool walls to expose algae.
4. Add the proper algaecide product to remove algae.
5. Vacuum dead algae next day.
6. To prevent algae, maintain a chlorine residual of 1.0 – 3.0 ppm as well as periodical additions of appropriate algaecide.  **Consult your pool professional on best algaecide for your problem**

D.  Stains

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

1. Adjust pH to 7.2 – 7.8.
2. Adjust total alkalinity
3. Lower pH with pH Decreaser or Muriatic Acid or  partially drain pool and refill with fresh water.
4. Treat pool with stain control product.

E.  Scale
(mineral deposits accumulation on pool’s surface, plumbing,  filters and heater)  

1. Mineral deposits caused by hard water
2. Accumulation of dissolved minerals

1. Contact your professional pool dealer for the correct action to be taken.
2. Adjust pH to 7.2 – 7.8
3. Adjust total alkalinity
4. Treat with chelating/sequestering agent.

F.  Poor Filtration
(circulation impeded resulting in increased pressure)

1. Restricted water flow caused by algae, swimmer wastes, and/or water imbalance.
2. Calcification
3. Suntan lotions
4. Clogged or dirty filter

1. Treat problem as outlined earlier.
2. Adjust pool’s water balance:  pH, total alkalinity and hardness.
3. Clean filter
4. Backwash filter

G.  Eye Irritation/
Chlorine Odor

1. Improper pH
2. Chloramines

1. Adjust pH to 7.2 - 7.8.
2. Remove buildup with shock treatment product.

H.  Foaming

1. High doses of  algaecides
2. Buildup of soluble organic debris

1. Will dissipate with  time, or remove water as necessary
2. Remove build-up with shock treatment product.

I.  Can’t hold or get a proper chlorine reading

1. Filter isn’t running long enough if using an automatic chlorinator.
2. Initial chlorine demand was high.
3. Stabilizer level is low.
4. Heavy pool use
5. Old chlorine test reagents

1. Run filter each day for longer duration.
2. Add chlorine product and retest.  Repeat process until a reading is established.
3. Add stabilizer.
4. Remove buildup with shock treatment product.
5. Replace test reagents (should be replaced annually).