A cloudy pool doesn’t look enticing for anyone looking to enjoy a good swim. Besides, it could signal the breeding of bacteria or damage to your pool. Knowing how to clear a cloudy pool can help you avoid potentially serious illnesses and expensive damages. While there are several ways to do so, the right solution will depend on the reason your pool is cloudy in the first place.
What Makes a Swimming Pool Cloudy?
There are several reasons why a pool turns cloudy. Some of the leading causes include:
Circulatory system issues
As your pool’s circulation system gets older, it may start experiencing problems as a result of neglect or wonky chemical levels. Bad circulation can lead to a lot of debris in your water, which can make the pool turn cloudy.
Filtration problems
A dying pump, clogged filter or just not running the filtration system for at least eight hours a day can result in a cloudy pool. An unclean, clogged, malfunctioned filter retains debris, resulting in cloudy pool water.
Imbalanced water chemistry
If your water chemistry is not balanced, you can end up with high alkalinity, high calcium hardness or high PH where the water is less acidic than it should be. The soft water can form scales inside the plumbing and on the pool surfaces, making it difficult for your sanitizer to work. This can lead to filtration problems, growth of bacteria and cloudiness.
You can use a pool testing kit to get all the chemistry readings you need before plotting the way forward.
Algae
Your pool water turns cloudy if you have got an algae bloom. It can be full of suspended debris, making it impossible to see through the water. This is a drowning hazard as you will not be able to see when someone has fallen into the pool.
Check this too: How To Get Algae Out Of The Pool Without A Vacuum
How to Clear Your Cloudy Pool
There are several ways you can deal with the cloudy situation and get your pool water back to its crystal clear days without draining the entire pool.
Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning should be the first thing you do before trying anything else. Use a skimmer to remove debris in the water. Brush the walls of the pool with a brush, and the vacuum. Vacuum to waste if you think you have an algae problem.
Shock your pool
If you are chlorine sanitizers, use a mega dose of chlorine to shock it. For pools using other sanitizers, use non-chlorine shock. This will get rid of the cloudiness caused by algae, bacteria and organic contaminants. Double, or triple shock, for pool algae depending on the type of algae in your pool.
Filter your pool water
Filter your water for about eight hours per day. Make sure you deep clean or replace the filter before running it. Doing this after shocking the pool ensures the extra sanitizer is rinsed through the filter and circulation system, and clean water is distributed.
Balance your water chemistry
If you still have cloudy water after shock and algaecide application, try balancing your water chemistry. Adjust the chemicals as needed until your pool water is balanced. Use chlorine stabilizer to protect your chlorine levels.
Flocculation
If the cloudiness isn’t that bad, using a pool flocculent is a quick way to solve the problem. The suspended debris will sink to the bottom of the pool, after which you will then vacuum it out.
Besides the chemical cleaners, there are also ways for clearing a cloudy pool naturally that can help solve the problem. Baking soda can serve as a replacement for chlorine, and it is a natural cleaning agent. Hydrogen peroxide is a reliable replacement. You can also use salt at levels that are barely detectable by swimmers to provide the necessary acids to stop algae growth.
Check this too: How to Heat a Pool Fast
Clearing the cloudiness in your pool water may require some work, but it pays in the end. Whether you have a cloudy saltwater pool or are dealing with a cloudy pool after rain, any one of the above solutions should be able to get your pool back to its former glory.