How to Clear a Cloudy Swimming Pool
On a hot summer day, cloudy pool water is an uninviting sight. Pollen, algae, dust or other factors could be the culprit of the less than sparkling water in your swimming pool. To turn your cloudy pool water back to crystal clear requires a little work. By using products from the local pool store or home improvement store, you can quickly turn your water clear again. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Water testing kit
- pH increaser (optional)
- pH reducer (optional)
- TA increaser (optional)
- TA decreaser (optional)
- Pool skimmer
- Pool vacuum
- Water clarifier
- Shock treatment
- Scrub brush
- Algaecide
Instructions
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1
Test the pool water with a water testing kit. One version of water test kits use test sticks. After dipping the strip in the pool water and waiting the designated time, compare it to the control strip on the test kit. Verify all levels are in proper range. If ranges are high or low, add the required chemicals, such as chlorine. If the pH (acidity level) is too high or low, add pH increasers or reducers. If the total alkalinity (TA) level is off, add a TA increaser or decreaser, as needed. Purchase pH and TA adjusters at a pool supply store.
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2
Swipe a skimmer over the surface of the water to remove any sticks, leaves or solid debris. Empty the contents of the skimmer between passes across the water.
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3
Allow the pool to settle for two to three hours. During this time, debris sinks to the bottom. Use your pool vacuum to clean the pool.
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4
Apply 32 ounces of water clarifier, or floc, for every 10,000 gallons of water in the pool. Floc pulls together small pieces of solids into one tight mass. Let the water sit undisturbed for 30 minutes to allow it to work. Remove the coagulated debris with the skimmer. Since directions vary by brand, check instructions on the bottle before application to verify specific times and application amounts.
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Apply 1 pound shock treatment, a form of chlorine, to the pool for every 10,000 gallons of water. Shock treatments clear up cloudiness in the pool. Like the floc treatment, double check specific dosing amounts for the brand you purchase.
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Use a scrub brush to clean along the water line, removing any surface debris or algae growing on the pool's walls.
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Run the filter for four to five hours. Filtering the pool cycles the water through the filter basket, removing additional debris. Empty the basket as needed. Re-skim the surface of the water after the filter cycle to remove any remaining debris.
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Apply a bottle of algaecide to the pool's water. Leave the water sit for 24 hours. Algaecide will kill any algae in the water that may be causing cloudiness.
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Tips & Warnings
When determining the number of gallons of water in your pool, use a gallon calculator. A rectangular pool measuring 18 feet by 8 feet with a depth of 3 feet at the shallow end and 8 feet at the deep end holds approximately 35,000 gallons of water.
References
- Pool Solutions: 100 Reasons for Cloudy Swimming Pool Water
- Pool Wizard: Algae Problems in Pool Water
- In the Swim: Pool Shock
- LookD.com: Shocking Your Pool
- "Pool Life" Magazine; Clear Up Your Cloudy Water; John Mulligan; July 2008
- American Chemistry Council; Pool Treatment 101; Introduction to Chlorine Sanitizers
Resources
- Photo Credit Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
