Owning a pool is supposed to be fun and games, but sometimes an issue crops up that doesn’t have a quick solution. Waking up one morning to see your once-pristine pool looking like a swamp might seem like the end of the world, right?
But for most pool issues, there’s really an easy fix. Let’s take a look at some of the most common problems for both salt water and chlorine pools to pop up during the life of your pool, and how to get rid of them—fast and easy.
Green water might look like radioactive waste, but don’t worry—it’s usually just green algae.
Luckily, these little freeloaders are easy to eradicate if caught early. Check out our full guide on eliminating green algae ( plus pesky mustard and black algae) right here.
Speaking of which…
Those are black algae. Unfortunately, black algae isn’t quite as easy to eliminate as their green friends. Black algae requires a specially formulated algaecide to penetrate its protective coat, which acts as a shield against your eviction efforts.
Black algae is also really tough to remove because it can lodge itself in the tiny cracks and crevices in your pool walls. Check out the link above for detailed black algae removal tips.
Last of the algae trio is mustard algae. Like black algae, it too requires a special type of algecide to remove effectively and quickly. However, it isn’t quite as stubborn and it’s easier to treat.
Again, check out the link above for our full guide on algae annihilation.
Surprisingly, that slimy pink stuff isn’t considered algae. Nope, the culprit is actually another type of bacteria native to some coastal areas. Pink slime bacteria can hitch a ride back to your own watering hole on traveling swimmers.
To get rid of pink slime, hit it hard and fast—give your pool a double dose of shock (2 pounds for every 10,000 gallons of water in your pool). Exactly two days later, follow up with an all-in-one algaecide (6 ounces for every 10k gallons of water).
Smoky, cloudy, or hazy pool water has several causes. Here are the most common:
Salty pool water (if you don’t own a salt water pool), sudsy pool water, or irritating pool water are common issues with fairly simple solutions:
Your chlorine test is finished, and the result is bright orange/blue. What does it mean?
While troubleshooting and maintenance come with the territory of owning a pool, choosing an elite pool builder is the best way to minimize the costs and headaches of maintenance down the road.
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