Common Pool Problems, Prevention and Treatment
Stymied with Pool Problems?
Those Texas homeowners who have a pool know that proper maintenance is crucial to keep the swimming pool water crystal clean and healthy. However, if you have opted in to take care of your pool without the help from a pool cleaning, care and maintenance company, you may be stumped at times, not knowing why and how to get the pool’s water clear, get rid of pool stains and more.
This article aims to make you aware of why it’s happening and how to fix common pool problems.
Algae, Algae, Algae!
Algae is one of the most common swimming pool issues people face. It can be easily seen as it grows on the pool inside surface. It can be mustard yellow, green or black. This problem arises from poor sanitation due to a chemical imbalance that causes a low level of chlorine and poor circulation of the pool’s water.
To minimize the chance of algae growth, it’s critical to maintain chemical levels such as pH (7.2-7.8), chlorine (1-3 ppm), calcium hardness (180-220 ppm), alkalinity (80-120 ppm) and cyanuric acid which is stabilizer (60-80 ppm).
If algae start to grow, the chemical levels need to be adjusted to where they should be, and the pool must be shocked to kill the algae. In addition, you must check the filter to ensure it is working correctly for thorough sanitization. Finally, the pool will need to be brushed and vacuumed.
Cloudy, Cloudy, Cloudy!
Cloudy water happens due to the microorganism algae growth. In addition, sun, extreme heat and rain affect the pool’s water. Therefore, checking the pool’s water chemical balance daily is vital to ensure correct levels. In addition to shocking the pool, you may need to add algaecide and a clarifier.
Are you preparing for a pool party and finding your pool is cloudy? Adding flocculants may help clear the water quickly; however, it can be challenging. Flocculants will enable the sediments to drop to the bottom of the pool so you can vacuum them up. Again, ensure the filter works at its optimal level so the residue does not filter back into the pool. The filter may need to be back washed. Do not use excessive flocculants and clarifiers as the pool water will look milky.
Irritation to Eyes, Skin and Throat
Burning and irritated skin, eyes and throat can result in a pH imbalance. In addition, the combination of ammonia and chlorine (chloramines) can cause irritation. The pH levels must be between 7.2 and 7.8, with the ideal level at 7.4-7.6, to be safe and so as not to cause any skin, eyes and throat irritations.
Calcium Buildup and Scaling
If you are seeing white flaky scales (carbonate) or white grey scales (silicate) there could be a number of reasons why.
A silicate build-up can mean there is a leak in the foundation of the pool. Both can be removed by scrubbing and using a calcium remover and pumice stone. The carbonate will be easier to remove because the deposits are not as heavy as silicate.
To avoid this problem you must ensure the calcium levels stay within 200-400 ppm.
Surface Staining
Stains can appear for several reasons. Most often it’s from dirt, however, if you cannot get rid of them it can be due to something more serious such as rust from a crack in the foundation or an excess amount of metal in the pool.
Solutions To Common Pool Problems
These five common pool problems can be avoided with the proper pool cleaning, care and maintenance. Hiring a pool maintenance company to keep your pool’s water crystal clean and safe may come at an added expense, but it can be well worth it. Your time is worth every penny and should be considered. And let us not forget the stress.
For the best pool cleaning, care and maintenance services reach out to BPS The Backyard Pool Specialists. We can assure you our pool services are top-notch.
