Solving Common Problems Associated With Your Swimming Pool

Everyone who owns a pool pictures sparkling clean swimming water. But this is a privilege that must be earned and maintained. Once you have a new pool installed, it is important that you learn how to maintain the water to keep it sparkling clean and safe for swimmers. If you notice that your pool water is lacking clarity, it could be caused by your filtration system being clogged up or not running in long enough intervals. Clean out your filter system and make sure that it is running for longer periods of time. Another issue that could be causing this problem is diatomaceous earth, or DE, leakage from the filter. Even high levels of total alkalinity and pH can make pool water a bit cloudy. Stabilize your pool water to a total alkalinity between 50 and 150 ppm and your pH level between 7.2 and 7.6 to resolve this problem.

If you have pool water that is discolored and you know for a fact that it isn’t algae causing it, it could be due to the presence of metals. Metals are known to stain plaster and plastic parts in your swimming pool, so make sure to get rid of the source right away. Water that is green or blue-green may be contaminated with copper-based algaecide or copper plumbing and/or heating components. The first thing you will need to do is balance the pH level and wait a couple of hours. Take a pH level reading to ensure that it is stabilized, then apply a metal chelating agent; follow the directions indicated on the product. The filter should be ran for 72 hours once the pH level has been restored.

Swimming pool water that is reddish-brown indicates that iron metals are in the water.The usual culprit for this problem is underwater lights, rails or plumbing that have started to corrode (caused by acidic water). Stabilize the hardness and total alkalinity, then the pH level of the water. Following the instructions of the metal chelating agent, place it into the water.

The presence of manganese or other heavy metals would turn your pool water a blackish-brown color. If you were using products for algae control or another similar product, it could be the source of the problem.Take a look at the algae control products that you have used in the past to see if any of them are the cause. Just like with getting rid of iron metals in the water, you will need to adjust the total alkalinity and pH level, then place in a metal chelating agent.

Another problem that pool owners commonly face is staining. If you own a plastered concrete pool, debris like leaves, algae, mineral deposits and metal objects can leave unsightly stains in your pool. Rust stains can be prevented by removing metal objects from your swimming pool. You can buffer away the stains on pools made with plaster, using water-proof sandpaper. You can also use pumice stones to scrub away algae, which can be purchased from your local pool supply store. Some people dive to the bottom of the pool to scrub the floors with the stone, or you can use a long pole instead. Either method you use, try to minimize the amount of damage that is done to the plaster finish. If crevices are created, it could end up being a breeding ground for algae. You should not use pumice stones on tile. Instead, you can use chlorine or a strong detergent to remove the stains.

If you have a problem with scale, which occurs when calcium carbonate has accumulated, you can get rid of the stains caused by using wet-or-dry sandpaper or an acid solution. Scale usually happens when the pool water is imbalanced, so make sure to check for this and fix the problem to prevent further staining. The acid solution or sandpaper will only remove the fresh scale deposits. If you have deposits that are set-in, you will need a pool cleaning company to do a professional acid wash or power sanding.