Troubleshooting Water Problems in Swimming Pools

Equipment Malfunction

• This first factor can be a system part that is defective and no longer able to function due to one thing affecting another, or simple human error. Cloudy water can result because of a bad pump motor, or the sand has developed channels and is not filtering the dirt. Each is different, but the net result is the same. Other examples include a leak in your equipment that stops the filtering process without your knowledge by running the pump dry; the return eyeball fitting that isn't pointing downward to create good filtering; or adding the wrong type of sand to the filter.
  
  

Chemical Imbalance

• If your alkalinity, pH and calcium hardness levels aren't correct, your water will be cloudy. Know how many gallons your pool has and adjust these three readings in that order before doing anything else. If they are too low, the chlorine shock treatment that you put in will produce cloudy water. Do you smell chlorine when near the pool? What you smell are chloramines, which are molecules of chlorine that have attached to a foreign particle such as dirt. They are leaving the pool as combined chlorine. Your pool needs more chlorine added to it so the level of free chlorine will rise and be around to disinfect.
  
  

Outside Influence

• Cloudy water can be caused by leaves, pollen, crop spraying, metals in your source water, insects and bather load, to mention a few. Good filtration and attentive pool care--such as emptying the skimmer and pump baskets, and weekly vacuuming--can help to fight against these outside contaminants and influences.
  
  

Weather

• Alkaline rain and acid rain change your water chemistry. A heavy downpour that lasts for hours can overflow your pool, adding untreated, balance-altering water--perhaps in large quantities. Heat can bring an algae bloom overnight that will overwhelm an apparently clean pool, leaving the owner frustrated and panicked. Always access the problem and try to figure out logically what may have caused it, and then take steps to correct the situation.