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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) | |
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 |
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 | ||
Poor filtration | ||
Green on steps and/or walls | High pH. | Add acid. |
Poor water circulation | ||
High Phosphate level | Treat with Phosphate Remover | |
Algae infestation | ||
Black Spot in corners and/or on steps or black patches on floor | Black Spot algae growing | |
Yellow dust on floor | Mustard algae present | |
Strong Chlorine odour | Chloramines present | |
Sore eyes or Itchy skin | Chloramines present | |
Low pH or Total Alkalinity | Increase by adding Buffer | |
Unable to maintain Chlorine level | Stabilizer (sunscreen) level low | Add stabilizer |
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 | ||
Low salt level | Add salt. | |
Algae in the pool | ||
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 | |
Chloramines present | ||
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. |