One of the responsibilities of owning a swimming pool is to make sure it looks irresistibly clean. A bit of cloudiness in the water might not be harmful to a swimmer if the chlorine levels are good. However, the sight of it may be off-putting. Cloudiness may be the most obvious sign, but there are other, less noticeable issues that also mean your pool needs treatment.
A Cloudy Pool
A cloudy pool can be caused by a variety of issues. These include not having enough chlorine to kill bacteria and algae, a buildup of particles, a pump that doesn’t run long enough, or a dirty filter cartridge. Too much alkalinity, the wrong pH level, and too much calcium can also cause cloudiness. Pool water can progress from being merely cloudy to green, brown or even black as algae and other pollutants start to build up. Though water treatment can solve these problems, you’ll need to get your water tested by a professional pool contractor first.
The Smell of Chlorine
People think that the smell of chlorine means that the pool water is clean. It actually means that there are too many chloramines in the water and that the water might be pretty filthy. Chloramines happen when chlorine binds with the nasty stuff that comes from people swimming, such as sunscreen, sweat, and body oils. Shocking the water with chlorine gets rid of chloramines.
The pool water can also go from a chlorine smell to a smell that’s downright fetid. This happens when the filter stops working, and the water lies stagnant. Algae, bacteria, and other forms of grossness start to proliferate.
Slimy Pool Surfaces
When the pool’s coping, walls, floor or other hard surfacing feels slimy, that’s a sign that algae has started to build up. The remedy for this is to have a professional scrub away all the algae in and around your pool, shock the water with chlorine then test it for a few days to make sure that the right chlorine levels have been reached.
A Clogged Filter
The swimming pool filter needs to be cleaned regularly, especially if the pool is busy during the season. Signs of a clogged filter are water that’s cloudy or turbid even though the chemistry looks normal. The filter’s pressure gauge is abnormally high, the return jets don’t bring enough water, and the water that returns is sometimes dirty.
A pool that looks uninviting or unsafe to swim in needs immediate attention. If your pool needs water treatment, get in touch with our professionals at Pools & Spas by Van Brill in Richwood, New Jersey.