Unfortunately, water issues are inevitable when you own a swimming pool. Even with dedicated care and maintenance, there can still be unforeseen incidents that affect the water in your pool. It’s best to resolve water issues as they happen instead of allowing the problem to intensify. Let’s troubleshoot some common swimming pool water issues you may come across:

• Cloudy Water

Many people commonly mistake cloudy swimming pool water as a sign that the water has not been properly maintained or cared for. However, in many cases, it is a sign that your pool’s filter isn’t working properly. Check that your filter is clean and doesn’t have a build-up of debris that needs to be removed. This can cause your water to appear cloudy. You also need to check that the filter is the appropriate size for the pool that you have.

Sometimes it is just a matter of running your filtering system more frequently throughout the day. If you have a large number of pool guests, you will want to increase the filtering time to accommodate for the extra debris and oil that can accumulate in your water.

• Black Spots

If your pool water is clear but starts showing black spots in it then you more than likely have algae developing in it. Be sure to act immediately as algae can spread very easily. As soon as you notice the black spots you want to shock your water. Scrubbing the locations with a robotic cleaner or by hand every day for a week will help in preventing the algae from recurring.  For more information on removing algae from your water visit Swim University.

• Reddish/Brown Coloring

If you see signs of reddish/brown coloring in your pool water this is an indication that your iron level is too high. An excessive amount of iron in your water can permanently stain your swimming pool so you want to act quickly with chemicals that specifically remove the iron. If you live in an area where the iron amounts exceed the normal range, then your options are limited about the water you have to use to fill up your swimming pool. There are some good chemical products available to treat this.

• Irritated Eyes

If you find your eyes begin to become red and irritated odds are that your chlorine levels are off. If that is the case, then something is definitely out of balance and needs your attention. Often times pool owners assume that the irritation is caused by too much chlorine and begin to cut back on it going below the recommended amount. This is not going to solve your problem or give you the results you want. If you haven’t recently shocked your water, then you need to do that first. Check your chlorine level the next day after you complete it and adjust accordingly.  The American Chemistry Council  provides in depth information on chlorine treatments.

It is best to act as soon as you begin to notice your pool water looks or smells abnormal. Paying attention to the early warning signs allows you to get your water back in shape right away. If you don’t address the issues right away, they will only get worse costing you more time and money to resolve.