How to Clear Cloudy Pool Water
Have you ever gone down to the pool for a deep cooling swim only to be greeted by cloudy water and then realised that you have a problem – cloudy pool water?
Don’t worry; we have got you covered. There are steps to resolving this issue that does not include draining your pool. We’ll go over three typical reasons for cloudy pool water, what you can do to resolve it, and how to avoid it from happening again. Get ready to go from cloudy to clear pool water. Let’s get started!
Why is your pool water cloudy?
It’s common for pool water to become foggy at least once throughout the swimming season. The problem may appear suddenly after a severe downpour. While the degree of cloudiness varies from drab and foggy to milky and opaque, one thing for sure is something is wrong with your pool. So, what exactly?
1. Issues with filtration
Your pool filter keeps debris, such as dust, insects, and bacteria, out of the water. When your filter is old, clogged, or broken, it has difficulty filtering those particles, resulting in cloudy water. This can also happen if your filtration system needs to run longer. Your pump should run for at least 8 hours every day on average. If you use less, your filter won’t be able to do its job correctly.
2. Chemical imbalance
If your pool lacks enough free chlorine, it loses its capacity to control germs and algae, resulting in murky and green pool water. However, there are other imbalances that you need to be aware of. High Alkalinity, pH, or calcium hardness can harm swimmers and equipment.
If the pH of your pool water exceeds 7.8 or the Alkalinity exceeds 200 ppm, the free chlorine in your pool will become ineffective, clouding the water. Scaling and filter degradation can occur when calcium hardness levels exceed 400 ppm.
3. Natural Factors
Pollutants such as hair products, body oil, sunscreen, make-up, and urine can alter the equilibrium of your pool, making it appear murky if used regularly. Leaves, dust, pollen, and bird droppings can all cause this. Rainfall has a similar effect, especially when it is heavy or long-lasting. It dilutes your pool’s chlorine and adds nitrates and phosphates, clouding the water.
How to fix cloudy pool water
Step 1: Assess your Filter
Assess your filter to see if it needs to be cleaned, serviced, or replaced. Cartridge filters need to be soaked for at least 12 hours for a thorough clean, and keep in mind that cartridge filters need to be replaced every two years. If you use a sand filter, it may be time for a backwash if it has been weeks or months. Backwashing should be done every two weeks or once a month as a general maintenance rule. Sand filters can last anywhere between 5 to 7 years. Remember you need to run your filter for 6-8 hours during the hot and 4 hours during the cold seasons.
Step 2: Make sure the pump is working
After checking your filters and their good working condition, the problem might be with your pump. If it is too small for the pool size or too old, the filter will need to be able to filter enough water regularly. If your filter is old, it might need to be replaced or serviced, and if it is a new pump, you may need to run it more frequently. Your pump should run for at least 8-10 hours daily during summer. Your pool should be cleared in a few days, depending on the size of your pool.
Step 3: Balance your chemicals
Your pool chemistry should be examined once a week, but if life gets in the way, it could make your pool water look cloudy. Common imbalances include low sanitiser levels – low chlorine level resulting in bacteria or algal growth and high pH, Alkalinity, and calcium hardness – with high pH, the efficacy of chlorine is reduced, as a result of which the water may seem cloudy. To solve it, add Blu52 HI-Strength Pool Acid to the deepest part of the pool and switch off the pump for 2 hours before putting it back on till the level reaches 100-200 ppm.
Step 4: Remove debris
Remove any leaves or other material from your skimmer or pump basket to begin. The water flow and circulation will be improved by emptying the baskets. Remove any visible leaves and debris using a skimmer, brush the pool walls, and vacuum. Use a pool clarifier if there are tiny particles that a skimmer or filter can’t remove. It works like a magnet, enabling particles to cluster together so your filter can effectively remove them. The debris may take a few days to vanish, so make sure your pump runs for at least 24 hours to get the greatest results.
It can take up to three days for the chemicals to balance this will depend on the severity of the cloudiness. Keep testing chemical balance until your pool water starts to look crystal clear.