Here, you'll find a list of some common pool problems.  If you click on the heading of the type of problem you are experiencing, you'll find some useful maintenance and preventative tips.  Of course, if this doesn't solve your problem, give us a call at the store.

Algae

Black Spots

Chlorine Odor

Filter Doesn’t Seem to be Working

Cloudy Water

Corrosion

Eye or Skin Irritation

Green but Clean Water

High Chlorine Demand

High Chlorine Reading

High Calcium or Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

Losing Water Level

pH Bounce

pH Tests Too High

pH Tests Too Low

Pink Slime

Foamy/Sudsy Water

Staining

Algae/Black Spots

Algae are single-cell plants. They need sunlight, carbon dioxide and warm water to grow.  Most algae begins with a slippery slimy feel on pool or spa walls before it is visible. In just a few hours it can multiply to the point where it completely overtakes the water and causes cloudiness or haze. This is called "Algae Bloom".

There are 3 main types of algae that are usually found in pool and spa water.

GREEN ALGAE - This type of algae floats in the water or forms on the sides of the pool or spa as Green Dust. The water can become so cloudy or turbid that it is unsafe because you can't see the bottom.
YELLOW ALGAE - Also called "Mustard Algae" because of the mustard color, appears as yellow powder deposits usually on the shady sides of the walls.
BLACK ALGAE - This type of algae also appears as a Blue-Green color and forms very adhesive dime to quarter size spots on pool and spa surfaces.

Algae does not form in the presence of adequate levels of free chlorine. Algae is an indication of poor chlorine level maintenance. However, once established, algae may become chlorine resistance in concentrations up to 5 PPM Free Chlorine.

The best algae prevention is prudent maintenance of free chlorine levels.  Algaecides can also be used to control algae but they do not destroy the organic waste nor do they sanitize the pool after an algae bloom. However, they can be used to make up for sloppy chlorine maintenance.

 
Treatment
Once algae is established you must treat the water with shock. This kills the algae and destroys the organic waste left behind.  Then brush and sweep the pool thoroughly.

Make sure the pump, filter and Chlorinator are working properly. Run pump continuously for 24 hours and then vacuum thoroughly. Do not use the pool until all chemical levels are back to normal and the water is crystal clear.

 
Prevention
Maintain proper levels of chlorine.  Follow Basic Routine Maintenance Schedule.

Chlorine Odor

Free Chlorine at levels up to about 15 PPM has no detectable taste or odor and it causes no irritation. Free Chorine that reacts with ammonia, bacteria and other waste products is converted into Combined Chlorine or Chloramines. Ammonia is a normal by product of the body from waste and sweat.  Combined Chlorine has a strong offensive smell which is what most people smell when they complain of a strong chlorine odor. Combined Chlorine also causes eye and skin irritation.

Combined Chlorine can be eliminated by shocking the pool appropriately. There should be NO Combined Chlorine in your water! 

Treatment
Test both the Free and Total Chlorine levels and shock as needed.

Filter Doesn’t Seem to be Working

Possible reasons:

*Pressure may be too high

(Assuming that the pressure gauge is working correctly, a high pressure reading is one that is 10 lbs. above your normal pressure level while the filter is clean.)

*Filter may be dirty

*Skimmer and/or pump baskets might be full

Treatment

*If pressure is too high:

CARTRIDGE FILTER
Remove filter and clean it with filter cleaner.  It may have to be soaked overnight. Look for general condition of the filter.  Are there cracks or rips?  Remember that the typical life of a cartridge filter is one season.

SAND FILTER
Backwash the filter according to the manufacturer’s directions.  Note:  You don’t want to backwash a sand filter too often because they clean more thoroughly when they are a bit “dirty”.  Unfortunately in this case, you trade off the turnover rate for filtration ability.  To help you determine the correct frequency for backwashing a sand filter, give us a call.

Ensure that air is not entering the pump.  This can cause channeling and it makes it easier for dirt/debris to pass through the filter.

Sand should be changed every 3-5 years because continued use causes sand to become rounded.  Rounding reduces the efficiency of sand to trap dirt and debris.

DE FILTER
Bump the filter (only if you have a Perflex DE Filter).  If that doesn’t work, backwash. If backwashing does not work, you may have to take the filter apart and hose off the grids.

At least once per year, chemically soak the fingers/grids.  (If you are a Baquacil user, we recommend that you chemically soak the fingers/grids twice per year.)  Check for tears, rips and cracks.  Any of these will allow DE back into the pool.

After cleaning, add the appropriate amount of DE.

NOTE:  NEVER run a DE filter without the proper amount of DE.  You can ruin your grids/fingers.

*If filter is dirty, clean it:

 
CARTRIDGE

Remove the filter and soak it.  Replace if necessary.

 
SAND 

Backwash the filter.

 
DE

Bump the filter (if you have a Perflex DE Filter) and then backwash.

*If the skimmer and/or baskets are full, empty them of debris.

Cloudy Water

This can be caused from a number of problems. Here are some possibilities:

*Clogged Filter or Poor Circulation

*Algae

*Excessive Organic Waste

*Low Sanitizer

*Improper Water Balance

Treatment
1.) Inspect pump and filter to verify it's working properly.

2.) Test all water factors and balance water.

3.) Double-shock pool.

4.) Maintain proper levels of chlorine. Verify that the chlorinator is working properly.

5.) If algae is a problem, see Algae Problems

6.) Follow Basic Routine Maintenance Schedule

Corrosion

Corrosive water causes etching of plaster pitting of concrete and dissolving of grouting. Plastic liners wrinkle and crack. Pump and filter equipment corrode, rust and eventually freeze up or leak or both.

This is caused by improper water balance.  

Treatment
Test all water factors and balance water before it is too late. 

Eye or Skin Irritation

This can be caused from a number of problems. Here are some possibilities:

*PH Too Low or Too High

*Improper Water Balance

*Combined Chlorine

*Excessive Organic Waste

*High Total Dissolved Solids

*Algaecides

*Algae

*High Chlorine (above 10 PPM)

Treatment

Test all water factors.  Balance water.  If necessary, shock pool

to remove any traces of organic waste.

Green but Clean Water

If your Total Alkalinity is out of balance, you may see clear green water.  Metals in your water can also cause this.  A possible cause of iron in the water may be that your chlorine or shock is oxidizing in the water.  Rain water can add metal content to your water. 

 
Treatment

Try bringing your pH and TA back into balance.  If that does not clear up the green water, bring in a water sample for us to test.  Depending on the cause, we may have you add a chelating agent like Metal Out by Natural Chemistry to the water.  Remember, it’s important to adjust your pH AFTER the chelating agent is added. 

High Chlorine Demand

This can be caused by a number of things. Some factors may be:

*High bather load

*High water temperature

*Stabilizer is low

*Improper water balance

*High pH

*Phosphates

*Nitrates

 
Treatment
1.) Test water for all factors (including stabilizer/conditioner) and adjust to balance the water

2.) If the pool is exposed to sunlight, use a stabilized chlorine or add stabilizer/conditioner (cyanuric acid).  Initially add enough to bring the concentration up to 25 PPM.

3.) Verify that the chlorinator is working properly.  The proper level of chlorine is 1 to 3 PPM for pools.

High Chlorine Reading

This can be caused by a number of things. Some factors may be:

*Pool recently Shocked (this will dissipate by itself)

*Automatic Chlorinator needs adjustment

*Reduced bather load (lower usage requires less sanitizer)

*Reduced water temperature (lower temperatures, typically in the spring or fall, require less chlorine)

 
Treatment
Adjust the automatic chlorinator, floater or adjust the number of chlorine tabs you use. The chlorine level will reduce by itself.  Don't use the pool until the chlorine level is back to normal.

High Calcium or Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

The maximum recommended level of Calcium Hardness is 400 PPM. The maximum recommended TDS is 2,000 PPM.

EVERYTHING that you add to the pool INCLUDING TAP WATER has residual chemicals that eventually build up in the pool.

High calcium can be caused by using Cal-Hypo shock.  If you are approaching the higher limits of Calcium Hardness, you may want to switch to a lithium based shock.

Treatment
Drain water and refill with fresh water of lower Calcium Hardness. You can reduce the TDS to half by draining 1/2 of the water and refilling with fresh water.
It won't do any good to drain and refill the pool with tap water that is 400 PPM or higher. You may need to find another water source such as by delivery truck. Depending on the cost, if this water is low enough in calcium it will probably last years.

Losing Water Level

Keep the water level up to mid-skimmer.  Add water when it has dropped an inch or two (normal due to evaporation on hot days).  If you are constantly losing water, give us a call to schedule a service visit.

pH Bounce

pH is a measure of the amount of acid or base in solution. Adding acid lowers the pH. Adding base raises the pH. Adding too much acid one day may require adding base or pH Down the next day. This up and down cycle is referred to as "pH Bounce"

Total Alkalinity buffers or absorbs both acid and base in pool water preventing "pH Bounce". Therefore, increasing the amount of Total Alkalinity can improve this situation.  The exact amount of Total Alkalinity depends on the Saturation Index, type of sanitizer, temperature, whether it's a spa or pool, stabilizer and other factors but is normally somewhere between 60 and 180 PPM.

Treatment
Test all water factors and balance water. Ensure that Total Alkalinity is balanced before adjusting the pH.

pH Tests Too High

This is usually because the Total Alkalinity is too high. 

Treatment

Test all water factors and balance water.

pH Tests Too Low

This is usually because Total Alkalinity is too low.

Treatment

Test all water factors and balance water.  Be sure that Total Alkalinity is balanced and then adjust pH as necessary.

Pink Slime

Pink Slime is a form of water mold usually brought into the pool by another swimmer who picked it up around a lake or ocean.

Treatment
Double shock the water.  Be sure to add brushes, solar cover, toys and anything else that has been contaminated with pink slime to the water before shocking. 
This will prevent the reintroduction of the pink slime bacteria.

Foamy/Sudsy Water

This can be caused by a number of things. Here are some factors which contribute to this:

*Algaecides (too much)

*High Total Dissolved Solids

*Soap residue in swimmers clothing

*Improper water balance

*Air in return line

Treatment

1.) Test all water factors and balance water as necessary. 
2.) If using algaecides, switch to a non-foaming type.

3.) Time and filtration will usually clear foamy/sudsy water.

Staining

Water which causes stains on the pool or metal surfaces is caused by either improper water balance or heavy metals in solution.
Metals can come from the source water. Metals such as manganese and iron are common is some water supplies. DO NOT USE UNCHELATED COPPER ALGAECIDES as they are also a source of metal staining.

Treatment

Before you can treat a stain, you must determine the type of stain—either organic or metallic—you have.  To determine the type of stain, follow these steps:

1.)  Rub a puck of chlorine on the stain.  If the chlorine lightens the stain, it is organic.  Shocking the pool should fix it.

2. )If rubbing chlorine on the stain does not lighten the stain, you can test the stain using pH Decreaser.  Put a handful of pH Decreaser in a sock and rub the sock on the stain.  If the stain lightens, you have a metallic stain.  You can use a product like Stain and Scale Remover to correct this problem.

 
**NOTE**

Do not shock the pool if you have a metallic stain.  Shock will cause metals to come out of solution.