| SYMPTOM |
POSSIBLE CAUSE (in order) |
CURE |
| |
| Test shows no residual chlorine level |
Test reagents or get new test kit |
Replace reagents or get new test kit |
| |
Too much chlorine/bleach out (reagent briefly pink, the clear) |
Allow chlorine levels to drop or neutralize FAC |
| High Bather Load |
Chlorinate |
| Not Enough or No Free Chlorine |
Superchlorinate (Breakpoint or Shock) |
| Not Enough Free Chlorine |
Raise chlorine to 2.0-3.0 ppm FAC |
| Chlorine has lost its strength |
Replace chlorine (more common w/liquid chlorine) |
| Pool not stabilized |
Add cyanuric acid to 30-35 ppm (check state code) |
| |
 |
| |
| Rapid Loss of Chlorine |
|
High Bather Load |
Chlorinate |
| |
Pool not stabilized |
Add cyanuric acid to 30-35 ppm (check state code) |
|
| Chlorine has lost its strength
| Replace chlorine (more common w/liquid chlorine) |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
|
| Strong chlorine "Chloramine "Smell |
Not Enough or No Free Chlorine |
Superchlorinate (Breakpoint or Shock) |
| |
High Bather Load |
Chlorinate |
| Chlorine has lost its strength |
Replace chlorine (more common w/liquid chlorine) |
| |
|
| |
| Green color, pools feels "slimy" |
Not Enough or No Free Chlorine |
Superchlorinate (Breakpoint or Shock) |
| |
Growth of Algae |
Superchlorinate, if not effective use specific algaecide |
| Chlorine has lost its strength |
Replace chlorine (more common w/liquid chlorine) |
| Improper Water Balance |
Determine Saturation Index, adjust pool accordingly |
| |
|
| |
Green, brown or black algae spots
on wall |
Not Enough or No Free Chlorine |
Superchlorinate (Breakpoint or Shock) |
| |
Growth of Algae |
Superchlorinate, if not effective use specific algaecide |
| Chlorine has lost its strength |
Replace chlorine (more common w/liquid chlorine) |
| pH too high |
Adjust downward (7.4-7.6ppm) |
| |
|
| |
| Bad water taste or smell (not chlorine odor) |
Inadequate Filtration |
Clean filter, check for problems with valves, gauges or pipes |
| |
High Bather Load |
Chlorinate |
| High Total Dissolved Solid Levels |
Test for total dissolved solids |
| Too much calcium |
Test for calcium levels. If more than 400 ppm, drain some of pool water to waster and re-fill pool
(if high calcium fill water, truck fresh water from outside source) |
| Not Enough or No Free Chlorine |
Superchlorinate (Breakpoint or Shock) |
| Not Enough Free Chlorine |
Raise chlorine to 2.0-3.0 ppm FAC |
| Chlorine has lost its strength |
Replace chlorine (more common w/liquid chlorine) |
| |
|
| |
| Skin Irritation |
Not Enough or No Free Chlorine |
Superchlorinate (Breakpoint or Shock) |
| |
pH too low |
Adjust upward (7.4-7.6ppm) |
| pH too high |
Adjust downward (7.4-7.6ppm) |
| Too much chlorine/bleach out (reagent briefly pink, the clear) |
Allow chlorine levels to drop or neutralize FAC |
| Chlorine has lost its strength |
Replace chlorine (more common w/liquid chlorine) |
| Total alkalinity too low |
Adjust upward (80-120 ppm) |
| |
|
| |
| Severe Eye Irritation |
Not Enough or No Free Chlorine |
Superchlorinate (Breakpoint or Shock) |
| |
pH too low |
Adjust upward (7.4-7.6ppm) |
| pH too high |
Adjust downward (7.4-7.6ppm) |
| High Bather Load |
Chlorinate |
| Chlorine has lost its strength |
Replace chlorine (more common w/liquid chlorine) |
| Total alkalinity too low |
Adjust upward (80-120 ppm) |
| |
|
| |
| Corrosion or Etching of Plaster |
Improper Water Balance |
Determine Saturation Index, adjust pool accordingly |
| |
Too little calcium in water |
Test calcium level, adjust upward (200-400ppm) |
| pH too low |
Adjust upward (7.4-7.6ppm) |
| Total alkalinity too low |
Adjust upward (80-120 ppm) |
| |
|
| |
| White Scale Deposits |
Improper Water Balance |
Determine Saturation Index, adjust pool accordingly |
| |
Too much calcium |
Test for calcium levels. If more than 400 ppm, drain some of pool water to waster and re-fill pool (if high calcium fill water, truck fresh water from outside source) |
| High Total Dissolved Solid Levels |
Test for total dissolved solids, If more than 1000 ppm off some pool water to waste and re-fill pool |
| |
| Unwanted minerals or metals |
Allow 12 hr turnover of pool water close skimmer lines if can isolate. If no improvement, determine saturation index, adjust accordingly. If still no improvement, use sequesteration to hold in solution orchelating to help remove them. |
| |
| pH too high |
Adjust downward (7.4-7.6ppm) |
| Total alkalinity too high |
Adjust downward (80-120 pm) |
| |
|
| |
| Cloudy Pool Water |
High Bather Load |
Chlorinate |
| |
Not Enough or No Free Chlorine |
Superchlorinate (Breakpoint or Shock) |
| Not Enough Free Chlorine |
Raise chlorine to 2.0-3.0 ppm FAC |
| Inadequate Filtration |
Clean filter, check for problems with valves, gauges or pipes |
| Improper Water Balance |
Determine Saturation Index, adjust pool accordingly |
| High Total Dissolved Solid Levels |
Test for total dissolved solids, If more than 1000ppm off some pool water to waste and re-fill pool |
| Too much calcium |
Test for calcium levels. If more than 400 ppm, rain some of pool water to waster and re-fill pool (if high calcium fill water, truck fresh water from outside source) |
| |
| Unwanted minerals or metals |
Allow 12 hr turnover of pool water close skimmer lines if can isolate. If no improvement, determine saturation index, adjust accordingly. If still no improvement, use sequesteration to hold in solution or chelating to help remove them. |
| |
| pH too high |
Adjust downward (7.4-7.6ppm) |
| Total alkalinity too high |
Adjust downward (80-120 pm) |
| Chlorine has lost its strength |
Replace chlorine (more common w/liquid chlorine) |
| |
|
| |
| Greenish Water Color (not algae) |
Improper Water Balance |
Determine Saturation Index, adjust pool accordingly |
| |
Inadequate Filtration |
Clean filter, check for problems with valves, gauges or pipes |
| Unwanted minerals or metals |
Allow 12 hr turnover of pool water close skimmer lines if can isolate. If no improvement, determine saturation index, adjust accordingly. If still no improvement, use sequesteration to hold in solution orchelating to help remove them. |
| |
| High Total Dissolved Solid Levels |
Test for total dissolved solids, If more than 1000 ppm off some pool water to waste and re-fill pool |
| pH too low |
Adjust upward (7.4-7.6ppm) |
| Total alkalinity too low |
Adjust upward (80-120 ppm) |
| |
|
| |
| Reddish or Brown Stains |
Improper Water Balance |
Determine Saturation Index, adjust pool accordingly |
| |
Inadequate Filtration |
Clean filter, check for problems with valves, gauges or pipes |
| Unwanted minerals or metals |
Allow 12 hr turnover of pool water close skimmer lines if can isolate. Ifno improvement, determine saturation index, adjust accordingly. If still no improvement, use sequesteration to hold in solution or chelating to help remove them. |
| |
| High Total Dissolved Solid Levels |
Test for total dissolved solids, If more than 1000 ppm off some pool water to waste and re-fill pool Determine Saturation Index, adjust pool accordingly |
| |
|
| |
|
| Water turns blue, brown or blackish when chlorine is added to the pool |
Improper Water Balance |
Determine Saturation Index, adjust pool accordingly |
| Inadequate Filtration |
Clean filter, check for problems with valves, gauges or pipes |
| |
Unwanted minerals or metals |
Allow 12 hr turnover of pool water close skimmer lines if can isolate. If no improvement, determine saturation index, adjust accordingly. If still no improvement, use sequesteration to hold in solution or chelating to help remove them. |
| |
| High Total Dissolved Solid Levels |
Test for total dissolved solids, If more than 1000 ppm off some pool water to waste and re-fill pool |
NOTE: This guide is intended for basic solutions. There are other reasons which could cause these symptoms, Every pool is different and will have unique problems. The purpose of this guide is to provide an initial check and troubleshooting to eliminate common causes found.
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