What Does A Freshwater Swimming Pool Mean
Freshwater swimming pool is the term used by the swimming pool industry to distinguish between a conventional and a saltwater pool. Of all the water on earth, less than 3% is freshwater. Every time you add stabiliser or sunblock or chlorine or hydrogen peroxide, youre adding to the dissolved solids.
Clogged Dirty Pool Pumps And Filters
Filter maintenance is another factor that contributes to cloudy pool water in an inground pool or an above ground pool.
If your pool filter system is clogged up or your pump isnt performing well, it can cause cloudy water. And to keep your water looking crystal clear, you should run your filtration system at least eight hours a day.
The takeaway: When your filter isnt clean whether you have a cartridge filter, a sand filter, or a diatomaceous earth filter — the water filtered through it wont be distributed well by the pressure side of the circulation system. So, keeping your filter and pump clean, maintained, and in good working order will help you avoid cloudy pool water.
How To Shock Chlorinate A Swimming Pool
First, start by testing your pool water to make sure the chemistry is in balance. Remember, regular shocking will remove the dead chlorine from your pool and kill off most algae growth. These chloramines bind up the free chlorine and significantly reduce its effectiveness. Because of this, your pool water can have plenty of chlorine but still be green and stay green. To shock chlorinate properly, most pools typically need at least 5 gallons of chlorine. This should be done every 6 months. Your pool shop can help you determine the right amount of chlorine needed to properly shock your pool. Shocking at the beginning and the end of the swimming season is a great idea. Finally, shock chlorinating at night will help the liquid chlorine to be protected from the UV light from the sun.
Also Check: How Often To Run Pool Pump
Cause #: Circulation & Filtration Issues
Pool water that isnt being properly circulated is always at risk of becoming cloudy water.
Thats because circulation pushes your pool water through your filter system, so without it, the filter cant work its magic and keep your water squeaky clean.
There are a few moving parts to this, so lets go through them.
Is Your Pump Powerful Enough?
A pool pump is a core part of your filtration system as it cycles your water through the filter in order to remove debris and maintain circulation, this prevents the water from stagnating which eventually breeds other problems.
With that in mind, you need to make sure your pump has the ability to cycle the entire contents of your pool at least once per day. Whats more, youll need a pump that can complete a turnover in an 8 hour period.
The speed at which a pump completes a turnover is based on two factors:
Note: Flow-rate tells you how many gallons of water pass through the pump each minute, and its appropriately measured in gallons per minute .
To properly size your pump, divide your water volume by 8, then divide again by 60. What youre left with is your pools required turnover rate in GPM. The flow-rate of your pool pump should be at least the same.
Is Your Pump Suited To Your Filter?
You wouldnt put all that effort into correctly sizing your pool pump only to neglect your pool filter, would you?
Are You Maintaining Your Equipment?
Shock Those Clouds Away
If there was ever a time , its now. Go ahead and shock your pool to get rid of the excess chloraminesand keep it simple with affordable and effective shock conveniently sectioned into 1 lb. bags. This will also sort out the cloudiness caused by bacteria, algae, and other contaminants.
If youre dealing with algae, get ready to double or even triple the amount of shock youre usingand wait for your water to clear up before swimming, which could take about a day. But at least you know how long itll take ahead of time, and can get to other taskssorry, DMV, jury duty, and every other bureaucratic holding cell.
Recommended Reading: How Do I Make My Pool Salt Water
Lets Clear Things Up About Cloudy Pool Water
Its a warm day, and all you can think about the crystal blue water of your swimming pool. But just as youre about to dive in, you notice something: Cloudy pool water.
Not only is cloudy pool water unattractive, but swimming pools with cloudy water can even pose health risks. Thats because cloudy pool water can contain harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Legionella. Whats more, pool water thats cloudy can even damage your pool and its circulation system.
In this blog, well look at what causes cloudy pool water, and then well explore some solutions to help you clear things up.
Environmental Issues Can Cause Cloudiness
Mother nature likes to kick your pools butt from time-to-time with things you just cant get around, such as monsoons, haboobs, dust storms, bush and tree leaves. All of which lead to more cloudy water in your pool.
If this happens, just ensure your chemistry and filtration are good to go, as mentioned above. You will also need to have a brush and/or leaf rake skimmer to remove any large debris in your pool so it does not clog up your filtration system.
You May Like: How To Fix Above Ground Pool Leak
The Filter Is Your Friend
Oh, pool filter… where would we be without you? For clearing up cloudy water, this part of your pools greater circulation system is huge. Give it the boost that it needs by deep cleaning it out by backwashing your filter , or replacing your filter media before running it againand the best time to do this is after youve shocked your pool to make sure the extra sanitizer has reached your filter.
Is water not pushing through your filter properly because your pumps flow rate is weak? Try a booster pump like the dual-voltage Universal Booster Pump to increase performance. According to customer Jerad Wilson, Great pump, quick delivery, and great pricing. Would buy from here again.
Option : Use A Flocculant To Clear Cloudy Pool Water
Using flocculant is another even quicker way to clear up the water. Flocculant works similarly to clarifier. But instead of the particles gathering into small clumps and staying at the top of the pool, they will form much larger clumps that will sink.
Still not sure on the difference between the two? Read my complete guide on pool clarifier vs. flocculant.
Recommended Reading: How To Clean Kool Deck Around Pool
Some Final Tips On Keeping Your Pool Water Clear For Good
To keep your pool looking flawless all year round, remember these tips:
- Routinely deep cleaning will help prevent the water from getting cloudy and keep it from losing its sparkle.
- You can also keep the water looking fresh by stirring it and skimming a few times a week for debris or manually using a pool brush to push the particles down towards the filter.
- Regularly shocking your pool and backwashing the filter will go a long way in preventing cloudiness.
- You can also anticipate cloudiness by taking a pressure gauge reading and backwashing whenever the pressure reaches 5-7 pounds per square inch above average readings.
Remember, treat your pool like an art project. Clean the area regularly and make yourself aware of the common threats that change the waters properties.
Keep up with hygiene codes for family and friends, and keep tabs on your equipment for constant monitoring and maintenance. If you take the time to keep your pool looking beautiful, it will look as clear as glass for the summer months!
Scrub It A Little Bit
While youre adjusting chemical levels, making sure pool pH levels are proper, and using clarifyer, you might as well go ahead and do a little bit of cleaning. You might as well skim the water, and break out the pool brush and give the floor and walls a little bit of a scrub. That way the pool not only looks clean but is actually clean.
Don’t Miss: Why Does My Inground Pool Keep Losing Water
Cloudy Pool After Shocking: What To Do Next
posted on January 10, 2022
Have you just woken up to milky pool water after shock treatment the other day? This relatively common phenomenon can be linked to a shock treatment with chlorine. And now, the question youre asking is, does shock make the pool cloudy?
Applying a super high dose of shock chlorine can turn your pool water milky blue temporarily while killing contaminants. If your pool pH, calcium hardness, or alkalinity are high, the pool is likely to get cloudy after shock chlorination.
Is your pool cloudy after shock chlorination? Find out why and how to fix it.
How To Balance The Ph In Your Pool
To lower pH, you need to use a pH reducer , such as muriatic acid or sulfuric acid. Anything below a pH of 7.0 is too low, and apart from turning water cloudy, this environment brings about harmful bacteria causing ammonia and algae.
To increase low pH levels, you need to use a pH Increaser with soda ash.
You May Like: How Much Is Pool Service
Ways To Clear Green Pool Water
Pool water troubleshooting can be frustrating. Dont worry though, when your pool water turns green and causes your swimming pools water to get disgusting were here to help! Well have your pool back to crystal clear water in no time.
Below weve outlined the first six things you need to do to help turn your not clear, cloudy pool into a beauty!
Which Pool Filter Is Best For My Pool
Example of how it should look by Moller Architecture, Inc.
If your pool is still cloudy after shocking, you may wonder what filter system is best. There are three types of filters: DE , cartridge and sand. Each filter has its own benefits. DE filters are great for filtration, followed by cartridge filters and sand filters.
Here is a short description of different pool filters and what would suit your swimming pool. Selecting the right pool filter will help you to prevent dirty pool water.
Read Also: How To Take Care Of An Inground Pool
Have You Shocked Your Pool Lately
- Powerful chlorine shock treatment that is great for regular maintenance
- Quickly eliminates algae, bacteria, and other harmful contaminants from your pool water
Sometimes, the best way to correct issues with the water in your pool is to “shock” it.
If you notice that your pool has a powerful chlorine odor or if the levels of combined chlorine are higher than they should be when you take a water sample, shocking the pool is in order .
Shocking your pool raises the chlorine to up to 10 ppm, and the super high dose of chlorine leads to the breakdown of dangerous chloramines .
The high level of chlorine also kills bacteria and pool algae in the pool or pool’s filter system.
An undesired aftereffect of shocking your pool is this: it can cause cloudy pool water.
In some instances, the cloudiness is a temporary thing .
Running your pool’s filter right after shocking can help it quickly clear away the particles and debris that cloud the water.
The condition of your pool’s water before you shock it can also play a role in whether or not it ends up as cloudy pool water afterward.
For example, if the water is fairly basic, with a pH over 7.6, shocking the pool can disrupt the solution of bicarbonates in the water.
To keep that from happening, test your pool’s pH before you shock and only use the treatment if the pH is 7.4 or lower .
Having hard water in your pool can also present a problem when you go to shock it.
Time For Some Shock Therapy
If your free chlorine levels are low and your combined chlorine levels are high, its time to shock the pool with a super high dose of chlorine. You can also use non-chlorine shock. The added chlorine goes to work breaking down the chloramines and killing off any algae, another source of cloudy pool water. If algae are the main cause of your cloudy pool water, you may have to shock the pool two or even three times to kill it all. Make sure you wait to reenter the pool until the free-chlorine levels have dropped back below 4 ppm.
There are other options that are a little less drastic than shocking the pool. If the pool isnt too murky, you can usually use pool clarifying agents or flocculant to get it clear again. Both of these chemicals work by binding to the organic compounds that are floating in your pool and causing cloudy pool water. The difference is in what they do after they attach themselves to the compounds. Clarifier binds to the tiny organic molecules and clumps together to form larger chunks, which the pool filter can more easily remove. Flocculant works by clinging to the organic compounds and them causing them to sink to the bottom of the pool. Once the flocculant has gathered at the bottom of the pool, you will need to vacuum up the debris.
Also Check: How Big Is My Pool
Can I Use Algaecide To Clear Cloudy Pool Water
You can use an algaecide to kill early stages of green algae that might make your water appear cloudy, but the best method of getting rid of algae is to scrub and clean your pool using a large leaf net, vacuum, and kill algae with liquid chlorine shock.
You should only use algaecide once in a while for preventive measures and when green algae is just starting to show upit is not useful when algae outbreak is immense and very visible.
Furthermore, if you have full green, black, or yellow algae, you may end up using a lot of algaecide, which can be very expensive and the best result is not guaranteed like when you use liquid chlorine. Some algaecides may also cause foaming or deposit copper metal in your water when used in large quantities.
FAQs
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.
Read Also: How To Fix Ph In Pool
How To Balance Total Alkalinity
Finally, ensure that total alkalinity is within the required range of 80 ppm and 120 ppm to avoid bringing up pH levels and causing calcium scaling. To lower total alkalinity without extra equipment, add muriatic acid and aerate the pool to restore pH levels without having to add a pH increaser, which will increase alkalinity levels too.
Can A Shop Vac Be Used To Drain A Pool
Although you normally clean your pool with a manual pool vacuum or a vacuum device often called a creepy crawler, you can clean it with a standard wet/dry shop vac. The very big plus is the dirt and debris in the pool can be dumped directly into the grass, as opposed to sending it through the pool filter.
Don’t Miss: How Much Is Pool Sand
Consider Recent Ammonia Use
Here, you will need to ask yourself the question of whether you have recently dumped a lot of ammonia in your water, and if thats the case, simply adding excessive amounts of chlorine can clear the water. That said, you have to be cautious that youre not going overboard and overcorrecting. Adding chlorine is also a great way to get rid of microscopic life forms. You might also want to concentrate efforts on getting rid of young algae or bacteria in the process.
Using high-speed circulation and a fresh filter panel can help with this, though these are steps within themselves that you need to undertake if the waters pH is fine and barely above or below the recommended limit while the cloudiness is too high. If the water is too cloudy, while the pH levels arent that off the recommended range, it could be due to two different causes, resulting in the same symptom. Thats when you need to treat or test for debris.
To test whether debris is responsible for the cloudiness of the water, you need to turn off the circulation. Let the water sit for a few minutes and see if any debris settles at the bottom of the pool. If the pool water starts to get clear at the surface, then the chances are that there is debris in the water. Simply waiting for five to ten minutes and then taking a bucket out of the pools surface can be a great test for whether the cloudiness has any correlation with debris.
Ph Is Too High Or Too Low
The second most likely cause of your cloudy pool water is that your chemistry is out of whack, is that your pH may be too high or too low. Now, pH does not directly cause cloudy water, but it does affect the chemistry of your water, which leads to cloudiness in your pool water.
If pH is too high, it will lead to calcium scale or calcium not dissolving properly, which will create the cloudy water situation.
If pH is too low, your chlorine will become extremely reactive to biologicals and deplete faster than usual. This will create chloramines fast and place your pool water into another cloudy water situation again.
pH Range should be between 7.4-7.8.
But what will usually happen, is that pH will rise over time in your pool, and the normal range will end up being closure to: 7.4 to 8.2. So, you will want to keep an eye on this once or twice a week to avoid letting things build up.
Read Also: How To Treat Pool Water
