No pool owner would want to have cloudy, dirty, or muddy pool water. It is always a nice scene to see a clear and healthy pool. Commonly, pool owners would like to figure out some questions such as, how do I keep my pool water clear, which we will be answering as we go on with the article.
It is not too difficult to achieve sparkling clean pool water, as long as you are a responsible pool owner, everything is possible. You have to keep in mind that proper maintenance of your pools and keeping a checklist that you will be using as a guide can be important keys to achieving a nice pool. Please practice consistency as well.
In this article, we are going to give you tips to be able to answer the question, how do I keep my pool water clear? We are also going to give you a little idea of what causes muddy or cloudy pools so these things can be avoided and to be sure that there could be no worse effects on your pools.
Part 1. How do I Make My Pool Water Crystal Clear?
There are many possible factors why your pool is cloudy. Once you have noticed that your pool water is already turning green, then you have to make sure to take action as soon as possible. We have listed some tips that you can use as references to answer one common question of pool owners which is, how do I keep my pool water clear? Let us take a look at these tips, one by one.
1. It is A Must to Figure Out Your Pool’s Debris.
If you are a first-time pool owner, you must always be so shocked to see lots of debris from time to time. You can see construction debris, lotion from bathers, dust from the environment, and even dirt from a heavy storm, all of which can affect the chemical balance of your pool, and may cause your pool to be cloudy.
It would be best to execute pool cleaning regularly, or once a week, to make sure all debris is washed off the pool, and pool water cloudiness is avoided. In case there is a heavy storm, or you have a very big pool water party, you have to immediately clean your pool. It is also applicable to check your pool water all the time if your pool is located in areas where many trees shed thick blankets of pollen. If you want to get rid of the debris completely, you have to:
- Initially, chemicals in the pool water must be tested to identify essential levels and to figure out if pool shock is needed. Then, wait for another 24 hours before continuing with the process.
- Start cleaning all the unseen debris by skimming, vacuuming, and scrubbing the walls and floor of your pool.
- It is also needed to see if there is large debris stored on your skimmer basket, this debris might be the cause of why proper circulation is slowed down.
2. Make Sure the PH Level is Balanced.
To make a pool crystal clear, pool owners must be mindful of the pH level, it must always be balanced. The pH level and alkalinity of pools must go hand in hand, once alkalinity is not balanced, it can lead to imbalances in the pH level, growth of bacteria, and even calcium scaling. The alkalinity levels in the pool must be in the range between 80 and 150 ppm, while the pH level must be in the ideal range which is between 7.2 and 7.6. You can use baking soda to increase the alkalinity and pH of your pool and to lower the pH, you can use a pH reducer or muriatic acid.
3. Try Using a Pool Flocculant
Some pool owners would want to clear cloudy water as soon as possible. If this is the case, you can try to use a pool flocculant. If you have made sure that all the needed steps were followed well, then cloudy water can be solved a night! On the other hand, if you have a cartridge filter with paper wrinkles, you need to avoid using pool flocculant, you can use clarifiers instead.
To use a flocculant in a pool with cloudy water, you need to follow the steps below:
- Make sure to check the pH level of your pool water. Once there are irregularities, balance them.
- Based on your pool size, start adding the flocculant.
- Using the filter system, you have to let the water circulate for almost two hours. If you have a multiport valve, you have to bypass your filter. Then you have to turn off the pool’s filter system which also includes the automatic system, for eight to twelve hours.
- You will notice that particles that have caused cloudy water have settled or gathered at the bottom of your pool, you can now start vacuuming these particles manually. In case you have a multiport valve, you can change it to a waste setting, or to let your water drain, open the drain port. You also have to add a running garden hose to your pool in order to replace the pool water.
- Start testing chemical levels once more, and balance levels as needed. Start adding chlorine as well.
- Then once done, and once chemical levels are back to range, you can now bring back your filter system to normal.
4. Use a Pool Clarifier.
A pool clarifier can be bought from pool supply stores and is used to take out particles that turn your pool water cloudy. To use a pool clarifier, you need to execute the steps below, one by one.
- Make sure that you have cleaned your pool, skim, brush, and vacuum it as necessary. Start testing your pool water, do balance, and execute pool shock if needed. You can wait for a night to make sure that the pool shock is properly dissolved.
- Check your filter, you have to make sure that it is running for days while the clarifier is still working. You have to start adding the clarifier to your pool water, and always check the manufacturer’s label for the instructions on how much should you add to your pool water based on pool size.
- In case that cloudiness is still present, you have to keep adding a pool clarifier every day. A significant effect must be observed within two to three days.
- Use the backwash setting and clean your filters, and then do water testing once more, and balance pool chemicals as needed.
These are only some of the useful tips to finally answer your question, how do I keep my pool water clear? Once these tips are taken into consideration, you can immediately gain control of your pool, and can easily adjust when it comes to all the essential things to consider.
To help you prevent possible causes of cloudy water, we have listed some of them below. Being aware of such causes can help you formulate precautions and can also help you solve existing problems easily.
- There is algae growth.
- Your pool has lots of debris.
- The chlorine level of your pool is imbalanced.
- The alkalinity and pH levels of your pools are not in the ideal range.
- Your pool’s filter is not running well, or there are possible issues in the filtering system that can block off the debris from being washed off.
- The water hardness ideal range or level is not reached.
- Your pool equipment is damaged. You have stains on your pool’s walls and floors.
Part 2. FAQs
1. Can Too Much Chlorine in a Pool Make it Cloudy?
Yes, once there is too much chlorine in your pool waters, it can become cloudy. Once chemical levels in your pool are not in the ideal range, it can happen.
2. Will Shock a Pool Clear Cloudy Water?
Hazy-looking pool water or cloudy one can be caused by chlorine issues. It is recommended to add a dose of pool shock based on your pool’s size to have clear pool water. If your pool has issues concerning its water circulation and filtration, there can be water clarity issues as well. It is a must to check the pumps and filters of your pools.
3. Why is My Pool Water Balanced but Still Cloudy?
Once you have made sure that all the chemicals and components in your pool are of the ideal ranges and are balanced, the cloudiness may be caused by particles on your pool’s surface. You can use your pool’s clarifier to solve it right away!
