DIY Tips

5 common causes of cloudy pool water and how to fix them

15 June 2017

You regularly maintain your swimming pool to make sure the water is crystal clear and healthy to swim in. But without rhythm or reason, you wake up one morning to find it has suddenly turned dull and cloudy. Sound familiar? Well, you’re not alone. It’s a surprisingly common occurrence that is caused by a number of factors, which sometimes makes it tricky to detect and treat.

To put it simply, the water in your swimming pool becomes cloudy when large numbers of small, almost invisible particles reflect back sunlight, which creates an unsightly, murky appearance. And by small we're talking anything from 0.5 to 5.0 microns (a grain of sand is roughly 1,250 microns).

Swimart pool technicians have tested all types of 'cloudy' water, which starts off slightly dull and, when left untreated, can turn completely opaque. Here's how you can tell the difference:

Dull – you hardly notice this stage but this is when pool water starts to lose its lustre

Hazy – while you can still see the bottom of the pool, it's hard to make out the details

Cloudy – the water looks milky and, while you might be able to see the bottom of the shallow end of your pool, you're unlikely to see the bottom of the deep end

Opaque – at its most extreme, you can’t see the bottom of the pool

These microscopic particles can be caused by a number of factors, including:

  1. Environmental reasons like bird droppings, flower pollen and run-off
  2. The chemistry of your pool water, including chlorination, pH and alkalinity levels
  3. Inadequate circulation caused by blocked skimmer boxes
  4. Dirty or damaged filtration equipment that needs repairing or replacing
  5. Insufficient filtration time where your pump isn’t running long enough to filter the water properly

How to clear a cloudy pool

Once you have identified the cause – be it environmental, mechanical, or chemical – then we recommend using Poppit's liquid clarifier, which helps improve filter efficiency and maintain sparkling water. Special features include:

  • Works fast, usually within 24 hours
  • Is a simple four-step procedure
  • Effectively clears murky and cloudy water
  • Can be used at any time of the year
  • Reduces maintenance time

If heavy rain is the cause of your pool water turning cloudy, then follow Swimart’s tips to help bring your pool water back into balance, and mitigate further damage to your investment.

If you're still unsure of what has caused your cloudy pool water, bring a sample of water from elbow deep into your local Swimart store and we'll thoroughly test it for you. You can also call us on 1300 991 104 to book an appointment for an equipment check in case there is an underlying issue that needs to be addressed and dealt with immediately.

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