Pool Water Problems | Troubleshooting
Pool water problems
Problem |
Possible Cause |
Solution |
---|---|---|
Low chlorine levels |
Check PH level |
Adjust PH to 7.2 – 7.6 Keep Total Alkalinity at 80 to 120 ppm |
Low stabilizer (sunscreen) level |
Add stabilizer (sunscreen) |
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If not a salt pool, not adding enough chlorine or floating enough once a week tablets |
Add more daily chlorine or float more once a week tablets |
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High pH |
Acid not being added weekly |
Test and adjust pH weekly |
Not enough acid being added |
Acid demand test in 4 in 1 test kit will tell you how much acid to add |
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Low pH |
Using once a week tablets |
Keep Total Alkalinity at 120 ppm. If using once a week tablets you will need to add buffer weekly |
Water Cloudy |
High pH |
Add acid |
High bather load |
Check chlorine level -Add a dose of clarifier- Check calcium hardness level |
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Algae present |
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Poor filtration |
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Green on steps and/or walls |
High pH. |
Add acid. |
Poor water circulation |
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High Phosphate level |
Treat with Phosphate Remover |
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Algae infestation |
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Black Spot in corners and/or on steps or black patches on floor |
Black Spot algae growing |
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Yellow dust on floor |
Mustard algae present |
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Strong Chlorine odour |
Chloramines present |
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Sore eyes or Itchy skin |
Chloramines present |
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Low pH or Total Alkalinity |
Increase by adding Buffer |
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Unable to maintain Chlorine level |
Stabilizer (sunscreen) level low |
Add stabilizer |
Low pH |
Adjust pH to 7.2 to 7.6 |
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Foamy water |
Detergent type product added e.g., Algaecide, duck repellant, bug killer |
Should biodegrade in a week or 10 days in summer |
Salt chlorinator pool water problems
Problem |
Possible Cause |
Solution |
---|---|---|
No Chlorine in water |
Salt chlorinator not working |
Check power, check fuse, check water flow |
Salt chlorinator not running long enough |
Increase running time. Turn up Chlorine dial to max |
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Cell clogged with scale |
Clean cell in proprietary brand Cell Cleaner |
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Cell not producing bubbles |
Cell faulty. Take to your pool shop |
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Heavy bather load |
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Low salt level |
Add salt. |
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Algae in the pool |
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No or low Chlorine (below 2.0 ppm) at eyeball. |
Cell past its use by date (+/-3 years) |
Repair or replace. |
Salt chlorinator cell needs cleaning often (weekly, rather than monthly) |
High Calcium level in water |
Dilute water with fresh or use Calcium Add Hardness Decreaser |
Strong Chlorine odour |
Chloramines present |
|
Eye (red eyes) and/or skin irritation |
pH too high or low |
Adjust pH |
Total Alkalinity too low |
Increase Total Alkalinity |
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Chloramines present |
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Air bubbles from cell |
This is normal for a salt chlorinator |
NA |
Pool problems
Problem |
Possible Cause |
Solution |
---|---|---|
Water Leak in pool. Allow water level to drop to see if it stops at some level, indicating where the leak may be. |
Pipe connection at the bottom of the skimmer box has failed |
Try proprietary brand Leak Sealer. Consult your local SPASA pool shop |
Air leak, air bubbles entering pool in return water. Pump not filling with water. |
Pump lid “o” ring perished or not greased properly |
Replace “o” ring or grease with silicone grease |
Flexible connectors at pump perished |
Replace |
|
Pool cleaner sucking too hard |
Loosen pool cleaner valve in skimmer box |
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Air leak in suction line |
Get professional help |
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Tile line or water line dirty and greasy |
Normal pool operation |
Clean with proprietary brand tile and vinyl cleaner |
White scale deposit above tile or water line |
Normal pool operation |
Clean with citric acid stain remover. Use on damp cloth like a scourer. |
Brown stains on white pool fittings and pool surface |
Iron/Manganese stains from impurities in the salt |
If stain is less than 1 month old. Use proprietary brand Stain Remover. If 1 year old, use Nail the Scale. If older, undertake acid removal process, visit your pool shop to get advice. |
Original pool surface discoloured. Grey or sandy film in patches over the surface. Streaky appearance. |
Scale deposits |
Use Nail the Scale If scale is 1 year old, or if older, undertake acid treatment, see your pool shop. If pool is more than 5 years old, empty and acid wash. |
Small (10 cent piece) size white pimples on floor or dribbles on walls |
Calcium intrusion from shell of the pool |
Scrape off with paint scraper. Not curable; pool will have to be re-surfaced within 2 years. |
Black stains |
Copper stains from copper-based algaecide and chlorine too high |
Keep Chlorine level at 3.0 ppm if water temperature is above 26° or 1.5 ppm if below. Then adjust pH to 7.2 and add Nail the Scale and wait up to 3 weeks for a result. |
Metal fittings rusting |
Water balance incorrect |
Correct pH and Total Alkalinity. Add more Calcium if required. |
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