What causes cloudy water and how can I prevent it?

Usually a drop in chlorine levels is the primary cause of cloudy water. As the water warms, chlorine consumption increases. Also, increased usage means more chlorine is needed. A large amount of rain will also contribute to extra chlorine consumption. All of these factors can cause a dip in your chlorine levels which in turn can result in cloudiness. But, there are other water chemistry issues that can cause decreased chlorine levels or cloudy water so you should bring your water to one of our stores for a mid-season analysis.

It is important to remember that water clarity is 50% chemistry and 50% filtration. If you are not running your filter long enough or if your filter is not working efficiently, then proper water chemistry will not solve your problem. During the summer you should be running your filter 10-12 hours per day if the water is clear & blue and 24 hours a day if it's not. Chemical cleaning of your filter is a preventative maintenance step to keep your filter working its best. You can improve filter efficiency by chemically cleaning your sand or filter grids once or twice a season. Mid-season and at closing are the perfect times to do this. Use Strip-Kwik degreaser, followed by Kleen-It to dissolve calcium scale deposits. Additionally, the sand in sand filters should be replaced every 5-7 years.

Remember, the best solution to a cloudy pool is not to let it get cloudy. Following a routine like the Once-A-Week 3-Step Maintenance Program is the foundation for clear and blue water. Another product that helps prevent problems is new Optimizer Plus which will not only keep your water looking brilliantly clear but will also reduce your chances of getting algae. We've found that when your pool is on Optimizer Plus and your chlorine drops to the low end of the scale, you are less likely to experience problems like cloudy water. We've also found that pools that are on Optimizer Plus will clear up much faster and easier than pools that are not on it in the event that they do have a problem.