Swimming Pool/ Spa Water Problems, Causes, Solutions and Preventions

There is a formula for anything that you need to accomplish with regards to swimming pools, spas and hot tubs. Whether it’s a chemical adjustment or a piece of equipment that you need to replace and you want to be sure it’s the right size.

This article, as is stated in the title, is about the many commons problems found when maintaining a pool or spa, what may be the cause, common solutions and what you can do to prevent it happening to you again.

Problem: Cloudy Water

Possible Cause: Early algae growth, High pH, High Total                        

                              Alkalinity

Suggested Solution: See “Algae” section below, Lower                 

                                       pH to 7.2-7.8, Lower Total                     

                                       Alkalinity to 80-125

Preventative Maintenance: See “Algae” section below,                      

                                                     Maintain pH in ideal range,                     

                                                     Maintain Tot. Alk. in ideal                                

                                                     Range

Problem: Discolored Water

Possible Cause: Green/Hazy= algae, Green/Clear=                                 

                               Copper or Iron,                               

                               Black/Purple/Red/Brown= Manganese

Suggested Solution: See “Algae” section below, Adjust                                    

                                       pH, Shock treat, Run filter,            

                                       continuously, until water is clear,                    

                                      Use a metal remover followed by a                     

                                      filter clean.

Preventative Maintenance: See “Algae” section below,           

                                                     Maintain proper pH, Use a             

                                                     sequestering agent

Problem: Algae

Possible Cause: Insufficient Chlorine

Suggested Solution: Adjust pH, Brush walls with steel          

                                       or nylon brush, shock, run filter          

                                       until water clears, clean filter. If         

                                       Yellow or Mustard algae- use an                             

                                      algaecide.

Preventative Maintenance: Maintain a minimum free           

                                                     chlorine reading of 1-3ppm            

                                                     in all cases

Problem: Eye & Skin Irritation

Possible Cause: Improper pH, Chloramines

Suggested Solution: Adjust pH to 7.2-7.8, See “Chlorine                     

                                       Odor” below

Preventative Maintenance: Maintain pH in 7.2-7.8                              

Range

Problem: Chlorine Odor

Possible Cause: Insufficient chlorine (The cause is,             

                                 not too much, but rather, not               

                                 enough chlorine.)

Suggested Solution: Adjust pH to 7.2-7.8, shock pool              

                                          to 10ppm of Free Chlorine (use                   

                                          DPD test kit)

Preventative Maintenance: Shock treat pool weekly                         

                                                         or bi-weekly in the         

                                                         summer.

Problem: Scale Formation

Possible Cause: High pH, High Total Alkalinity, High         

                                 Calcium Hardness

Suggested Solution: Lower pH to 7.2-7.8, Lower Tot.                  

                                         Alk. to 80-120, Use sequestering                

                                         agent, Partially drain pool

Preventative Maintenance: Maintain pH at 7.2-7.8         

                                                         range, Maintain T.A. at               

                                                         80-120 range                

                                                        (depending on type of        

                                                         pool)

Problem: Corrosion of Metal Parts

Possible Cause: Low pH, Low Tot. Alk., Low Calcium                 

                                 Hardness

Suggested Solution: Adjust pH to 7.2-7.8, Raise Tot.                     

                                         Alk. to ideal range, Raise              

                                         Calcium Hardness to ideal range

Preventative Maintenance: Maintain pH at 7.2-7.8,               

                                                         Maintain Tot. Alk. at 80            

                                                         -120, Maintain Calcium          

                                                         Hardness at 400-600                

                                                         Ppm

Article by: Jef Kirchmaier, CPO, CPT, AEA, WQM

                 

                          http://www.cpo2go.com