When your pool water becomes cloudy (sometimes overnight!), it can be a difficult and time-consuming process to return it to its ideal clear state. By learning what causes the water to become cloudy and familiarizing yourself with a few maintenance methods, you’ll learn how to fix cloudy pool water in no time at all! But first...
Is it OK to swim in a cloudy pool?
Yes, most of the time cloudy pool water is caused by particles too small to be captured by your pool filter. But when it is caused by an imbalance of chemicals, this may cause rashes and other skin conditions to individuals that are sensitive to them.
Why Do I Have Cloudy Pool Water?
There are many reasons why you may have cloudy pool water. We’ve broken it down into three main causes:
1. Can a bad pool filter cause cloudy pool water?
Your pool filter system constantly cleans the water in your pool. Without it, you’re left with stagnant water that could become cloudy. Nine times out of ten, pool clarity issues are linked to filtration. If you have a cloudy pool, something may be wrong with either your sand or cartridge filter.
9 times out of 10, you will need to replace your pool filter cartridge.
2. Can your pool surrounding cause cloudy pool water?
Everything that surrounds your pool can cause your water to become cloudy. These environmental factors can include the weather, birds, construction work, trees and plants, the sun, people, and pool algae.
3. Can too much chlorine cause cloudy water?
Yes, not only chlorine but all pool chemicals can cause cloudy pool water. Excessive levels of pool chemicals can cause your water to become cloudy. High pH, high alkalinity, high chlorine or other sanitisers, and high calcium hardness are all common culprits. Often, running your filter as per usual should help even these levels out over time, but if you do have an imbalance, we'd recommend testing your water and fixing it.
How do you clear up a cloudy pool?
The quickest way to clear up a cloudy pool is the use of a pool clarifier. These work with any type of filter and pool surface type.
Getting rid of cloudy pool water quickly is one thing, getting rid of it for good is another.
Once you have investigated all the possible problems that could be causing your pool water to become cloudy, it’s time to find a cloudy pool water solution. Here are three ways to clear your cloudy swimming pool.
1. Check Your Filter
Here is a quick checklist of questions thata you have to ask yourself if you have a cartridge filter:
When was the last time you cleaned your cartridge?
If it’s been a while since you last cleaned your cartridge, take it out and give it a good hose down. If you are after a thorough clean, soak your cartridge in a tub of clean water with some of our Water TechniX Filter cleaner (available in the US Soon!) for at least 12 hours. After that, give it a good rinse and it should be as good as new!
Have you recently added any flocculants or clarifiers to your pool?
As your cartridge filter is made from layers of paper, flocculants and clarifiers will clog your cartridge and should be avoided at all costs. You can use them if it's an emergency, but be prepared to replace your cartridge filter element(s) when you're done.
How old are your cartridge filter element(s)?
Depending on what chemicals pass through them, your pool usage, and how often they are cleaned and maintained, cartridge filters have an average life span of anywhere between one and five years. If your cartridges have seen better days, it could be time to replace them.
So, you need a new cartridge filter element? We can help with that!
Mr Pool Man can assist you with our large range of cartridge filter elements. Though if you're drowning in a sea of cartridge filter choice unsure of the one you need, we've got you covered!
If you get really stuck, contact us with a photo of your system and/or the dimensions of your original cartridge filter element (length, width and hole width) and we'll be able to find it for you.
Do you know the specific model of your filter? Click here to see all of the filters in our collection.
Now if you have a Sand Filter, these are the questions that you have to ask:
When was the last time you backwashed your sand filter?
If it's been a few weeks or months between back washes (depending on the usage of the pool) your sand filter could be due for a good backwash. The general rule of thumb is to backwash once a fortnight. Chances are, you'll notice that the water that comes out of your filter during the backwash is very brown and dirty. This means that you should be doing it a little more often! Let the backwash run for 2 minutes or until the water turns clear. Set the handle back to filter and you're good to go.
When was the last time you changed the sand or media in your filter?
Filter sand lasts for anywhere between five and ten years. If you're back washing your filter and still noticing dirty water coming out after 2 to 3 minutes, or no clarity in your water following the backwash at all, this could mean it’s time to change the sand or media
2. Use a Pool Clarifier
Pool water clarifiers are a good quick fix, but they should not be used if you have a cartridge filter as it will clog the paper pleats, leaving you needing to replace your cartridge filter element. Pool clarifiers work to gather the tiny particles that have made your pool water cloudy, bringing them together to create bigger particles that will be easier for your filter to pick up. They are a form of a coagulant. Most swimming pool chemical retailers will carry more than one form of swimming pool clarifier. Confirm if the chemical is a coagulant and you will be well on your way to a crystal clear swimming pool.
3. Use Pool Flocculant (Floc)
A chemical known as flocculant, or floc, is a good idea if you’re in a rush, or would like to see your swimming pool water cleared quickly. Again, flocculant should be avoided if you are using a cartridge filter as it will clog the paper pleats. You can use it in an emergency, but be prepared to replace your cartridge filter element in the weeks to come.
Let's say you have a pool party tomorrow and your swimming pool is cloudy. By using pool floc and a little extra work on your part, you can clear your cloudy swimming pool overnight. Pool flocculants work by gathering all the particles that are making your pool water cloudy and sending them to the bottom of your pool, creating a cloud of particles on the floor of your pool. Unlike a water clarifier, this chemical will not help your filter trap the particles as they settle at the bottom of your pool.
Once the particles have settled, you will need to manually vacuum them out of the pool using your pool pump instead of an automatic pool cleaner. When vacuuming, you want your filter setting to be on the ‘waste’ or ‘backwash’ setting if you are using a sand filter.
The idea is to vacuum the cloudy water right out of your pool, as putting that much dirty water through your filter will not work, sending the dirty water right back into your pool. By vacuuming out to “waste,” it will never run through your filter system. You will lose a fair amount of water from your pool, so be sure to keep a fresh hose of running water in your pool during vacuuming.
A manual vacuum must be used for this process. Automatic pool cleaners will not work and will end up blowing the larger particles formed at the bottom of your pool, right back up. It is a difficult process and a lot of water is wasted, but it will clear your pool in 24 hours if done properly.
4. Vacuum Waste Out of Your Pool
Water TechniX Vacuum Set
Your pool’s main skimmer is located at the top of your pool, helping to clear the upper portion of your pool water. It does not help to collect the cloudy particles situated at the bottom of your pool. Knowing this, we need to help your filter get to those particles.
Simply hook up your manual vacuum cleaner as if you were about to vacuum your pool, but instead of using it as per usual, leave the vacuum centred at the bottom of your pool and turn it upside down. Now your pool filter will be pulling water from the bottom of your swimming pool and releasing the clean filtered water at the top.
5. Will baking soda clear a cloudy pool?
Yes, but only if the cloudiness is caused by low alkalinity in your pool. If cloudy pool pool water is caused by something else, adding baking soda will just increase the problem so it's best to test your water to see what chemicals are out of balance before trying baking soda.
What method would we recommend?
Number one, checking your filter, is the clear winner in our eyes. Having a good quality filtration system and staying on top of cleaning your system regularly will help you to avoid cloudy pool water. And of course, making sure that your pool is clean is also a great idea.
How long does it take to clear a cloudy pool?
If you're using a clarifier to clear up a cloudy pool, it should take no more than 24-48 hours to clear up your pool.
Using standard filtration and other techniques, it may take up to a week for your pool water to fully clear up.
How to I keep my pool water from becoming cloudy?
The key to keeping your pool from becoming cloudy is proper filtration, proper maintenance, and proper chemical dosing.
If you have any questions, product suggestions, or things that you would love to see sold on Mr Pool Man, let us know through the form below.