Swimming pools should be a source of fun and entertainment — especially in this summer heat! But they can sometimes cause homeowners stress when problems arise. The good news is that many common swimming pool problems are easily fixable.
Green Water or Algae Buildup —Pool owners will likely experience algae in their pool at some point. It’s important to keep a close eye on the pool’s chemicals to ensure the chlorine levels are high enough to keep algae at bay. However, if a pool owner notices that the water appears to be green rather than crystal blue, or they notice black spots on the pool’s sides or even on pool equipment such as the vacuum hose, it’s important to act fast! Algae is easy to combat with a shock treatment and some algaecide, and if caught early pool owners can achieve sparkling blue water again.
Dirty or Clogged Filter — If a filter isn’t functioning properly, the water may start to appear cloudy or debris may not be getting cleaned up. This is generally another easy fix. Checking the filter on a regular basis and keeping it cleared out can ensure that the filter continues to work to keep the pool water clean and clear of debris. Homeowners should note that if they have a lot of foliage or trees with dropping leaves and/or flowers surrounding the pool, their filters can become more easily clogged so regular checking and clearing out of the filter should be done more often. After a heavy wind or monsoon storm, filters should be cleaned out as well.
Stinging, Red Eyes or Irritated Skin — If the kids (or adults!) are experiencing red, irritated eyes or skin after swimming, this is a sign of an unbalanced pH level. Safely balanced water for swimming should be between 7.2 and 7.6. Testing the water with a kit or having a pool service manage this can help homeowners ensure their water is perfectly balanced for painless swimming.
Cloudy Water — Everyone wants their pool water to be crystal clear for visual purposes, of course. But when the water starts to appear cloudy or murky, it’s also a sign of unbalanced pH levels. This can occur for many reasons such as after a good rain because rainwater can be acidic and affect the balance of the pool water. It may take some time to readjust the levels to regain that clear blue water again, but it’s a fairly easy fix.
Water Loss — While some homeowners might naturally attribute water loss to a leak, that’s not necessarily the case. Especially during the summer when the pool is being used more often, water loss can simply be caused by splash out, exposure to sunlight and even lack of humidity. In general, pools lose about a fourth-inch of water daily so homeowners be conscious of that maintaining a consistent water level. However, if they feel that they are losing water more quickly than usual, they should call a professional pool technician to ensure there is not a larger underlying cause at work.
Prevention is key when it comes to evading even common pool problems. Ensuring equipment is properly installed at the get-go is as important as making sure it’s working properly on a regular basis and that the pool water is properly balanced with chemicals. If pool owners prefer an expert to handle these potential issues, the technicians at Aquaman Pools are standing by to help!
