Aside from the obvious — who wants to swim in THAT? —cloudy pool water can result in some serious issues. It can stain the sides of your pool, and corrode some components of your pool, including the accessories. It can also cause some health concerns if bacteria is the cause.
When you add pool sanitizer – like chlorine or bromine -- to the water, you increase its ability to attack the debris that ends up floating on top of or sinking to the bottom of your pool. Debris includes falling leaves, dirt, and pollen. But it also comes from the people who use your pool: think sunscreen, beauty products, sweat and even urine (it’s gross, but it’s true).
Chlorine and bromine both act to battle the bacteria in your pool, but bromine is more resilient. Once chlorine combines with bacteria, it is eliminated from the pool water. But bromine continues to sanitize your pool even after combining with bacteria. For this reason, bromine is more expensive than chlorine.
But here’s the deal: As your pool sanitizer break downs all of that debris and organic matter, it depletes over time – and this means it’s less effective at breaking down that dirt, debris, and bacteria.
The sun also depletes the pool sanitizer levels. When the ultraviolet rays hit the water, they break up the hypochlorite ions, which work to sanitize the water as you add chlorine to your pool.
And finally, algae can also affect your pool sanitizer’s ability to keep the water clean. Not only does algae make it difficult to see what’s in the pool, but – like other organic matter – it depletes your pool sanitizer, making it less effective.
The takeaway: Pool sanitizer isn’t meant to be added once and then forgotten. To keep it working effectively – and to keep your pool water from becoming cloudy -- you will need to add bromine or chlorine regularly.
Although chlorine might be the better-known pool sanitizer, bromine is equally effective when it comes to killing bacteria. The main difference: Bromine has a lower pH, which means it’ll help keep your water chemistry stable. It also performs better in high temperatures. Chlorine, on the other hand, delivers faster results and is slightly more affordable than bromine.
If your pool filter system is clogged up or your pump isn’t 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 isn’t clean – whether you have a cartridge filter, a sand filter, or a diatomaceous earth (or “DE”) filter -- the water filtered through it won’t 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.
If your pool chemicals are out of balance, your pool could develop cloudy water. For example, high levels of pH mean your water isn’t acidic enough — and that can lead to cloudy water. High pH will also cause a scale buildup on your pool’s plumbing and surfaces, as well as problems with filtration and bacteria growth.
And if your pool alkaline levels are too high, it could also cause cloudy water. That’s because a high level of alkalinity won’t help stabilize the pH balance, and that causes the water to form scale. What’s more, a high alkaline level can cause metal pitting and possible damage to the vinyl.
Low levels of free chlorine - chlorine in its purest form - can also lead to cloudy water. If a test strip indicates that your free chlorine levels are low, you probably have chloramine, which is combined chlorine. That makes your water smell like chlorine, and you guessed it, turns it cloudy.
The takeaway: To ensure your pool chemical levels are correct, use a test kit that comes with test strips. By testing your water periodically, you can help ensure that your pool water never goes cloudy.
Your first step in eliminating cloudy pool water is to give your pool a deep clean. Start by removing all of the large debris from the pool. You can use a heavy-duty skimmer or your hands if you can reach it. Next, using a good pool brush, clean the walls of your pool. After you have removed all of the debris and dirt, use a pool vacuum to clean it.
Which pool brush is right for you? That depends on your pool’s surfaces: If you’ve got a gunite or concrete pool, you might want to choose a brush with stiffer bristles, such as stainless steel. If you’ve got a vinyl liner, a nylon or polypropylene brush, which will do the job without damaging your pool’s walls. Need more ideas? Check out our buyers' guide to pool brushes, nets and poles here.
Pool shock – also known as pool clarifier -- is essentially a super-high dose of chlorine that removes combined chlorine molecules and takes away the cloudiness caused by debris, bacteria, or algae in the process.
If you don’t use chlorine in your pool, anon-chlorine pool shock will have the same effect. Keep in mind that if you shock your pool to get rid of algae, you may have to double or even triple shock it, depending on which type of algae is in your pool.
Every pool clarifier is a little different, so it’s important that you read the instructions that come with your pool clarifier before you start using it. If you need help selecting a clarifier for your pool, check out our buyers' guide to pool clarifiers here. In general, though, you’ll follow the similar steps no matter which product you choose:
Gold CoastAdd clarifier to your pool water. The package will tell you how much clarifier to use. The amount you need depends on the size of your pool and how many gallons it holds.
Wait. Most pool clarifiers take several days to work, so there’s not much for you to do but sit back and wait. Be sure to leave your filter running, though!
Vacuum. If you use a traditional clarifier, you might be able to skip this step (when you use a clarifier, particles float on top of the water, where they find their way to your pool filter). If you use a flocculant, however, the particles will settle at the bottom of your pool, where you can vacuum them away.
Test your water. Once you’ve given your clarifier (and your filter) time to work, it’s time to test your pool water. Remember that even if your pool water looks clear, you should test it anyway to make sure that the chemicals are properly balanced.
After you’ve deep cleaned your pool and shocked it, you should ensure that you run your filter at least eight hours a day. That’s how long it takes a typical pool pump to filter your backyard pool. But remember: A clogged or dirty filter is much less effective. Before you start it up, be sure the filter is clean. If not, deep clean it (this should be part of your regular pool maintenance routine). Depending on the type of filter you have, you might want to replace or replenish the filter media.
No matter how good your skimmer and pool vacuum is, they probably won’t be able to rid your pool of all the bottom sediment. But by turning on the bottom drains in your pool, you can allow them to divert all the sediment to your filter.
And if you don’t have bottom drains, hook up your vacuum cleaner and place it at the center of your pool on the bottom. Then flip it upside down. Doing this will cause your filter to pull water from the bottom of the pool. Then you can release it through the return jet.
But don't jump in quite yet! If your pool has been closed all winter, you'll need to do a little prep work to get your pool ready for another season of fun. Don't worry, though. Opening an inground or above ground pool is easy. Follow a few easy simple and you'll be perfecting your cannonball in no time!
Before you open your pool, take some time to survey the area around your pool. Trim overgrown trees and hedges. Sweep away nearby leaves. Check your deck for damage, wear, and tear and address any issues before you open your pool for the season. Be sure to clean and repair any deck furniture so that it is safe for use. You should also check pool equipment like safety rails, slides, rescue equipment, ladders, and diving boards.
During the fall and winter months, your swimming pool cover can accumulate water and debris. Use a pool cover pump to remove that old, dirty water and keep it out of your swimming pool. Once the cover is removed, hose it off and give it a thorough cleaning (we recommend using a specially formulated cleaner, such as PoolStyle Clean-N-Store), then allow it to dry.
You can prolong the life of your pool cover by storing it safely away from insects, rodents, and the elements. Once your swimming pool cover is clean and dry, tightly roll it and store it indoors or in a garage.
Check your tile and remove calcium build up and stains with the appropriate swimming pool scale removal product. Please contact your local pool professional for the best products to use.
Hairline cracks are normal in fiberglass pools. Because fiberglass pools have a gel coating, these small cracks typically won't affect the integrity of your pool. However, if your fiberglass pool has large cracks or holes you should call your local pool professional right away.
Grab a garden hose and fill the pool until the water level reaches the midpoint of the waterline tile or middle of the skimmer opening. Once you've got the water level where it needs to be, you can now clean leaves, twigs and debris from the pool's bottom by using a pool brush. Also be sure to remove any debris from the basket.
You're almost there! All you have to do now is get the filter up and running. Turn on the filter and run it for 12 to 24 hours to circulate the water before testing or adding chemicals (remember to use new testing strips and not expired ones).
It is recommended to have your water tested professionally when opening your pool and once monthly throughout the season. You can always bring a water sample to a pool professional for proper analysis. Your pool professional will provide you with instructions for balancing your pool water. They can test the water's pH level, alkalinity, calcium hardness and chlorine levels. In addition to shocking the pool, they may be able to also recommend that you add a stabilizer, phosphate remover, metal treatment product or algaecide to your pool before it's ready for the warm weather.
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