7 Signs Your Pool Needs Major Cleaning

Having a swimming pool that is too dirty manifest itself in several ways. Even if conscious swimming pool owners do their routines religiously, there are instances that one or two parts of the system may not function ideally, leading to the swimming pool's water dirty enough to be too dangerous to use. To prevent more extended swimming pool (click here) downtimes, swimming pool owners should watch out for any of these seven signs. Any occurrence of these will prompt major cleaning and thorough checking of the entire swimming pool system.

Chemical Imbalance

Ideally, it will take 1 to 3 ppm of chlorine-based chemicals to keep the pool's chemical balance. However, of the readings for alkalinity, calcium content, free chlorine, and bromine levels skew, it is time to look at other factors that caused skewed readings. The primary causes are insufficient water circulation and filtration. However, leaks in the system could also contribute to poor chemical balance.

Murky or Cloudy Water Appearance

The murky appearance of the swimming pool's water is a serious indication of poor chemical balance. That is, there is not enough free chlorine to react with suspended pollutants in the water.

Persistent Pungent Chlorine Smell

Though it may sound counterintuitive, having a persistent strong chlorine smell is a sign that you don't have enough chlorine in the water (anymore) to react with the remaining contaminants. The reaction between chlorine and pollutants produces chloramine, which you can smell. If it persists, you won't have enough chlorine to react with the remaining suspended particles in your swimming pool.

Green Water in the Pool

A green pool is a severe indication of uncontrolled algal growth, mainly green algae. However, algae are persistent organisms that cling to rough surfaces all over the pool, maintaining chemical balance and keeping their population level low. However, once the water turns green, your swimming pool is a perfect breeding ground for algae and other microorganisms, many of which are dangerous to your health. Once you experience a green pool, you shouldn't waste time cleaning the pool surface and replacing the pool's water. Moreover, you must thoroughly check your pump, piping, filtration system, and skimmers for leaks, malfunction, and clogs. Less than ideal function from any of these essential parts of the swimming pool led to the unabated population of algae growth in the first place.

Yellow or Brownish Water

The immediate cause of yellowish or brownish water is similar to what causes green pools. However, this time, a different set of algae species is prevalent in your swimming pool's water.

Bubbles and Foam Forming on The Water Surface

Water gains surface tension once enough contaminants are present in the swimming pool. Users of pools bring them in through sunblock, lotions, body oils, urine, and minerals. In an ideal scenario, sufficient water circulation, chemical balance, and filtration prevent this. Once the pool is unused, the pool cleans itself. However, if the problem persists, you must check the entire pool system for malfunctions, clogs, or leaks.

Presence of Living Organisms in the Pool

If you detect animals such as mosquito larvae, water beetles, water mites, and others, your water carries even more unseen organisms these creatures feed on. Insufficient chemical balance and water circulation make the swimming pool a breeding ground for these organisms. Most of these organisms are dangerous to your health.

Takeaways: Call a Pool Professional If The Problem Persists

Swimming pools are complicated systems that maintain a delicate balance to ensure a safe environment for swimming. However, one or two of these components might fail and will cause a few of these signs to appear. Ignoring these signs may result in your swimming pool becoming a health hazard. Many experienced pool owners can take prompt action to address these tell-tale signs. However, if the problem persists, you may need to call a pool professional to help you.