Troubleshooting for pool and spa water

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)
	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
High pH	Acid not being added weekly	Test and adjust pH weekly
High pH	Not enough acid being added	Acid demand test in 4 in 1 test kit will tell you how much acid to add
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
	Algae present	Undertake algae treatment
	Poor filtration	See pool & spa setup troubleshooting page
Green on steps and/or walls	High pH.	Add acid.
	Poor water circulation	See pool & spa setup troubleshooting page
	High Phosphate level	Treat with Phosphate Remover
	Algae infestation	Undertake algae treatment
Black Spot in corners and/or on steps or black patches on floor	Black Spot algae growing	Undertake Black Spot treatment
Yellow dust on floor	Mustard algae present	Treat mustard algae
Strong Chlorine odour	Chloramines present	Superchlorinate
Sore eyes or Itchy skin	Chloramines present	Superchlorinate
Sore eyes or Itchy skin	Low pH or Total Alkalinity	Increase by adding Buffer
Unable to maintain Chlorine level	Stabilizer (sunscreen) level low	Add stabilizer
Unable to maintain Chlorine level	Low pH	Adjust pH to 7.2 to 7.6
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
	Cell clogged with scale	Clean cell in proprietary brand Cell Cleaner
	Cell not producing bubbles	Cell faulty. Take to your pool shop
	Heavy bather load	Superchlorinate
	Low salt level	Add salt.
	Algae in the pool	Undertake algae treatment
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	Superchlorinate
Eye (red eyes) and/or skin irritation	pH too high or low	Adjust pH
	Total Alkalinity too low	Increase Total Alkalinity
	Chloramines present	Superchlorinate
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
	Air leak in suction line	Get professional help
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.

Troubleshooting for pool and spa water

Pool water problems

Salt chlorinator pool water problems

Pool problems

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