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What Causes Cloudy Pool Water?

Pool Chemical Icon Blogs
Calendar Icon January 27, 2023

What are the causes of cloudy pool water?

1. Imbalanced pH levels or chlorine
2. Poor filter performance
3. High total of alkalinity
4. Excess particles during your swimming
5. Heavy storms or rainwater

As a pool owner, the last thing you would want to see in your pool is cloudy water — especially before a swim. Unfortunately, this is a common pool problem that many have faced before. It may happen more times than you want it to and even during unexpected times when you invite people over for a swim. If that’s the case, you need to know what causes cloudy pool water. This will help you avoid it from happening again or help you
remedy it before it gets worse.

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the common causes of cloudy pool water and some tips to remember to make your water sparkle and clear again.

What Is Cloudy Pool Water

What Is Cloudy Pool Water

If your pool water looks gloomy, milky, or has an unpleasant appearance, then that’s what you call cloudy pool water. This occurs when a large number of tiny particles reflect sunlight. However, these particles are hard to see as they are ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 microns, which makes them quite hard to clean out.

Still unsure whether or not your pool water is cloudy? Below are some signs for you to watch out for:

● The water looks dull – This is when your pool water begins to lose its sparkle and clarity. It may be a bit more difficult to spot compared to other factors.
● Hazy-looking water– You can still see the bottom part of your swimming pool, but it’s a struggle to vividly describe the details.
● Cloudy – Your pool water appears to be milky and it’s difficult for you to see the bottom of your pool, especially at the deepest part.
● Opaque – You will not be able to see the entire bottom part of your pool.

There are a few reasons why your pool water is cloudy. Here are the most common reasons behind it

Imbalanced pH Levels Or Chlorine

Your pool water may be cloudy because there’s a pH imbalance in the water. Decreasing pH levels affect the efficacy of chlorine. This is not a good sign for pool owners because water with a pH level lower than 7.8 will also result in chlorine becoming ineffective at fighting against bacteria and other natural organisms that affect your pool water’s quality. This may trigger the overgrowth of algae in your pool.

On the other hand, too much chlorine can also cause cloudy water in your pool. Pool owners should maintain the ideal chlorine level of 1-3 ppm.

Poor Filter Performance

Poor Filter Performance

Your pool’s filter may also be a reason behind cloudy pool water. This happens when the pool’s filter is not performing well anymore. This causes the water to become dirty and stagnant.

So when you start to notice haziness in the water, check your pool filter. It may just be clogged or may need a backwash. If that’s not the cause, you can also check if the pump is still working properly. This can help you assess if you’ll need to replace the filter as a whole or simply clean it out.

High Total Of Alkalinity

Just like an imbalance in pH levels, having high total alkalinity (TA) results in the cloudiness of your pool water. This may lead to calcium scaling.
Calcium scaling is when flaky, white appearance in your pool water, sides, and tiles. This can be difficult to remove. To avoid this, make sure your TA is higher than 200 ppm. This lets the chlorine in your pool be more effective against algae and other microorganisms that may live in your pool.

Excess Particles During Your Swimming

Excess Particles During Your Swimming

You might not realize it yet, but excess particles such as oils and sunscreens are the most common particles that can be found in your swimming pool.

When you swim, all kinds of body fluids also make their way to the pool These include body oils, perspiration, and makeup. These particles could be the cause of your cloudy pool water. You will likely see them once they’re reflected in the sunlight.

Heavy Storms Or Rainwater

Lastly, one of the main causes of cloudy pool water is heavy storms or rainwater. It’s because rainwater causes phosphates, nitrates, and other chemicals to run off into your pool, which turns the chlorine to be less effective.

Tips To Prevent A Cloudy Pool Water

After you’ve finally figured out what causes cloudy pool water, it’s essential to remember these tips to prevent it from happening.
● Make sure to keep the chlorine levels and pH levels properly.
● Run the pool pump for 8 hours a day.
● Shock your pool water every week, especially right after heavy rainfall.
● Make sure the water is properly circulated.
● Clean and maintain the pool filters to prevent other problems.

Key Takeaway

In this blog, we’ve discussed what causes cloudy pool water. It goes to show that regular maintenance is still the best way to prevent it.

If you’re looking for a provider of high-quality and affordable swimming pool chemicals in the Philippines, look no further than Oktakem! We carry a list of various swimming pool chemicals that you can use for your pool needs. Our products will not only save you time cleaning your pool, but they can give you the best and healthy swimming pool more often! You may purchase our chemical products and raw materials at our official
Shopee page or Chemstore’s Lazada page.

If you have any more inquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us here at Oktakem today!