Cloudy water?
There are several things that you can easily do to discover why your
pool has cloudy water
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Check to make sure the pH levels are in proper range
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Check the pool filter. Clean or replace if needed.
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Check the pool sanitizer’s level. If it’s low, raise the level.
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Call your local dealer from Pool People USA for additional help
for chlorine stabilization, alkalinity, calcium hardness and heavy metals.
Test frequently
Depending on your usage, you should test the water frequently. Some users test
the pH and chlorine every other day - others test once a week. During heavy
usage and summer months, you can perform a daily test. And anytime you notice a
change in water quality, get your test kit out and check the water quality.
When to clean, when to replace
Periodic backwashing will remove most dirt from a clean filter; however, over a
period of time, grease, oils and scale can attack and build up on the elements.
When this occurs, you should clean or replace your filter depending on the type
of filter. NOTE: Check the filter if water is murky or water
quality decreases.
Water clarifiers
A clarifier is designed to aid efficient filter operation by
coagulating most materials that cause cloudy and hazy water. Because the
presence of these materials increases the disinfectant demand, the use of a
water clarifier can decrease pool maintenance costs.
Why filtration is important
Filtration is the mechanical way to remove visible matter from the
water. The filter medium is designed to remove hair, dirt, tiny skin flakes,
metal or calcium precipitates and other visible debris that would otherwise
cause the water to be hazy and cloudy.
What does "Vacuum to Waste" mean?
When you “Vacuum to Waste” you are pumping the debris you vacuum out of the
pool and sending the water to the waste line, and not through the pool filter.
This method removes a large amount of water from the pool in a short time, so
be sure the pool is full before you begin. Vacuum to waste is used for large
amounts of debris and dirt.
The proper way to get rid of algae
First, you must add the algaecide according to the directions. If you don't add
the correct dosage amount, it won't kill any of the algae. Also know that using
the entire bottle of algaecide is ineffective. Not only will you spend
additional money, large doses can lead to staining and foaming in your pool.
In addition to properly dosing your water, it is also recommended
that the algaecide be added in the morning on a bright, sunny day for best
results. Algae grow in the presence of sunlight. Adding algaecide during
algae's best growth time will increase intake of the algaecide and make it more
effective. If black algae is present, brushing the algae at least once daily
will also help expedite algae removal. Brushing the dead cells away makes the
living algae more vulnerable to the algaecide.
Shock Treatment
Pool water composition always includes some undesirable elements that
actually contaminate the water and reduce the efficiency of the disinfectant or
sanitizer. Materials such as hair spray, suntan oil, cosmetics, perspiration
and other organic material react to combine with the chlorine in the water to
form “combined chlorine.”
Once “combined chlorine” forms, it acts as a very poor
disinfectant, contributing to eye and skin irritations and the forming of
unpleasant chlorine odor. Pools with this problem are often inaccurately
accused of having too much chlorine.
Routine shock treatment is necessary to destroy combined
chlorine compounds and restore the chlorine sanitizer to “free chlorine”
efficiency. A pool can be shock treated by adding large doses of chlorine,
commonly referred to as superchlorination, or by adding a non-chlorine shock
such as GLB OXY-BRITE or Applied Biochemists SHOCKTRINE.
Knock out the chlorine smell
Most pools contain both good chlorine and bad chlorine. The good chlorine is
called free chlorine and is capable of killing germs. Bad chlorine, on the
other hand, is called “combined chlorine” and is a poor germ killer.
Too much combined chlorine in your pool causes the strong chlorine
odor. When the combined chlorine level reaches 0.2 ppm or more, it is time to
shock your water. Shocking will eliminate the odor.
How long before I can jump in?
With the exception of superchlorinating (which requires waiting until
the chlorine level drops to recommended levels), you generally can use your
pool when the chemical is dispersed. Fifteen minutes to one hour should be
about right.
Get more pool facts!